Tire Tracks and Broken Hearts

A couple of months ago I blipped about having to find a new tyre for Mrs C’s car following a blow out on the motorway near Chester. I managed to find a decent part worn replacement at about half the cost of a new tyre.
But it seems that whatever destroyed that tyre may also have affected its opposite number as Mrs C’s car failed its MOT today due to a “bulge” in the inner sidewall of the n/s/f tyre. They didn’t have a replacement Pirelli in stock, so it would have meant a return visit tomorrow if we’d insisted on replacing like for like.
However, they did have Bridgestones in stock and, as I’m not really fan of Pirellis, I suggested that both front tyres were replaced - the one with the bulge that was discovered today and the emergency, part worn one that was fitted in January. It even sort of made sense price wise, as the Bridgestones were considerably cheaper than the Pirellis.
So what should have been a quick, while you wait visit for an MOT turned into a three hour marathon. Fortunately Mrs C had a good book to read and free coffees and cakes were available. And it was a good job the coffee was free as the final bill was, unsurprisingly, considerably higher than anticipated!
But I do like the coloured stripes on the new tyres. Given the current cost of driving around though, it could be some time before they get scrubbed off…