Autotreads Tyres onehunga

We’re Autotreads Tyre Shop, the Richie McCaw of tyre services in Onehunga.

The crew is a legendary team of genuine tyre technicians and experts who’ve done everything from heavy-duty truck tyres for the airport to precision wheel alignments for those high-end European rides cruising the suburbs. You’re looking at a tight-knit team of skilled professionals who live and breathe tyres and everything that keeps your car/ute/truck rolling smoothly on Auckland’s roads. Need new tyres fitted? Easy; matching up the ideal rubber for you and your car is what we do best. Want a local shop to sort your wheel alignment after hitting one too many potholes on a typical Auckland road? We’ve got you sorted.

Maybe your car’s pulling left after that unfortunate encounter with the curb outside the Royal Oak Shopping Mall? You already know who to ring.We take massive pride in delivering service that’ll have your friends asking where you got your tyres done.
There are heaps of tyre shops around Auckland, but none of them bring what we do to the table here in Onehunga.
We do everything in our power to keep you safe on the road – whether you’re commuting into the city, dropping your precious ones at school or heading over to the Coromandel for the weekend.

We might not always be able to drop everything at a moment’s notice, but we never miss an appointment, and we never leave a job half-done.
Onehunga locals know their cars cop a hiding – from the stop-start traffic of Manukau Road in commuter traffic to the chopping and changing with cars whizzing around you on the motorway. Remember that classic Kiwi saying “She’ll be right, mate”? When it comes to your tyres and safety, “She’ll be right” just doesn’t cut it. That’s where we come in. We know your and your family’s safety depends on having proper tyres with good tread, correct pressure, and perfect alignment.
Oh, and by the way, commercial vehicle tyre work is something we absolutely love doing, especially for the hardworking tradies and delivery drivers who keep Auckland running.

Need us for any of that? Call (09) 636-6299.

Complete Tyre Services in Onehunga

Tyre replacement and fitting is our bread and butter here at Autotreads. When locals roll up to our Neilson Street workshop, they know they’re getting more than just new rubber – they’re getting peace of mind.
We stock everything from budget-friendly options for your daily driver to premium performance tyres for those weekend warriors who love taking their rides up to the Waitākere Ranges. Whether you’re driving a trusty Toyota Corolla or a beast of a Ford Ranger (‘Raptor’ version, of course), we’ve got the perfect tyres to match your vehicle and driving style.
Our fitting process isn’t just about slapping new tyres on your rims and sending you on your way. We properly balance every wheel with a high-tech machine, replace your valve stems (unless you have the special pressure sensor values, which stay with the wheel), inspect your wheel condition, and make sure your new tyres are seated correctly. We use professional tyre fitting equipment that ensures your tyres are cared for properly and perform to their potential.
The process starts with understanding what you actually need. If you’re mainly driving around One Tree Hill, popping to the shops at Dress-Smart, or commuting to the city, you might not need those expensive ultra-high performance tyres. But if you’re carrying a load of gear down to the mountain for skiing in winter or for skiing on the water in summer, or towing the horse float in autumn, we’ll recommend something with better load capacity and highway stability.

Wheel Alignment and Balancing Services

Nothing ruins your day quite like realizing your car’s pulling to one side or your steering wheel is vibrating like a paint mixer. That’s usually your car’s way of telling you that your wheels need professional attention.
Wheel alignment is absolutely critical for tyre life, fuel economy, and safe handling. When your wheels aren’t properly aligned, your tyres wear unevenly – and in Auckland’s traffic, that can mean replacing tyres way more often than you should have to. We see it all the time: people coming in with tyres that are completely worn on one edge while the other edge looks nearly new. They end up having to throw away a lot of unused rubber because just one edge has gone.
Our state-of-the-art alignment equipment can measure your vehicle’s camber (how the wheel leans in or out at the top), caster (the degree to which the front suspension tower slopes forward), and toe angles (where the wheels are pointing) to within a fraction of a degree or tenths of a millimeter. We don’t just adjust things until they look roughly right – we set everything back to your vehicle’s original factory specifications.
Wheel balancing goes hand-in-hand with alignment. When your wheels are out of balance, you’ll feel it through the steering wheel (front wheels out of balance) or a shaking in the seat (rears out of balance), especially at around highway speeds. It’s not just annoying – it’s actually wearing out your tyres, suspension components, and steering system faster than normal. We use precision balancing machines to ensure every wheel spins freely and true. Our balancer machine gets you to within 2.5 grams of spot on (a tenth of an ounce, back in the day).

Tyre Repairs and Puncture Services

Let’s face it – punctures happen. It’s Auckland after all. Whether it’s a nail from a construction site, a screw from the neighbour’s DIY project, or just bad luck with road debris, we’ve all been there. The good news is that most punctures can be properly repaired if they’re caught early.
Not all puncture repairs are created equal, though. We follow strict industry standards for permanent puncture repairs. If the puncture is in the tread area and smaller than 6mm, we can usually fix it with a proper plug-patch combination that’ll last the life of the tyre. But if it’s in the sidewall or shoulder area, or if the puncture is too large, we’ll be straight up with you – it needs replacing.
We also inspect the inside of the tyre for any hidden damage that might not be visible from the outside. Sometimes what looks like a simple puncture has actually caused internal damage that makes the tyre unsafe to repair. Your safety is worth more than the cost of a new tyre, and we’ll never compromise on that.

Commercial and Fleet Tyre Services

Tradies, delivery drivers, and fleet managers know that tyres are a serious business expense. When your livelihood depends on your vehicle being on the road, you can’t mess around with cheap tyres or substandard service.
We work with many local businesses – from the courier companies servicing the industrial areas around Penrose / Mt Wellington / Onehunga to the construction crews working on the developments all around Central Auckland. These operators need tyres that can handle heavy loads, long hours, and tough conditions.
Got long-haul trucks? We have a great relationship with a chain of tyre shops the length of the country and you can call us with a blown out tyre in Taihape or a puncture in Ashburton. Last year one of our customers had hired a large forklift to unload cargo coming off a ship due at New Plymouth’s wharf at about 6pm on a Friday. At 4:30 that afternoon we got a frantic call from our customer: the forklift had a puncture and the ship’s berthage charges were $12,000 per extra half-day it got help up!
With our partner tyre shops we had a mobile repair service there within an hour and the hoist up and running before 6:30. On a Friday evening!
For commercial vehicles, we look at the total cost of ownership, not just the upfront price. Sometimes spending a bit more on premium commercial tyres actually saves money in the long run through better fuel economy, longer life, and fewer roadside breakdowns.
We also offer fleet management services where we track your vehicles’ tyre history, remind you when rotations are due, and give you a ‘heads up’ on upcoming tyre replacements. For larger fleets, we can arrange regular service visits to your depot, minimizing downtime and keeping your operations running smoothly.
Our commercial customers particularly appreciate our flexible scheduling. We know that your trucks and vans need to be earning money, not sitting in a workshop, so we work around your schedule whenever possible. For account holders we have a 24/7 callout service.

Performance and Specialty Tyre Services

Not everyone in Onehunga drives a basic runabout. We’ve got plenty of car enthusiasts who take their rides seriously, whether it’s weekend track days at Hampton Downs or just wanting their daily driver to handle Auckland’s winding roads with confidence.
Performance tyres are a different animal from regular passenger car tyres. They’re designed for better grip, more precise handling, and improved braking performance. But they also tend to wear faster and cost more, so it’s important to choose the right performance level for how you actually drive. We are very good at being able to offer a range of options.
We stock everything from sporty tyres that give you better handling to serious track-focused tyres for those who really push their cars to the limit. We can also help with plus-sizing – fitting larger wheels with lower-profile tyres for that aggressive look and improved handling response.
For classic car owners and vintage vehicle enthusiasts, we have access to specialty tyres that maintain the authentic look while providing modern safety and performance. Whether you’re restoring a classic Holden or maintaining a vintage car, we can source the right tyres for your project.

Automotive Suspension and Brake Services

While tyres are our specialty, we’re also your local suspension repair shop. Common WoF fails include leaking shock absorbers and worn/perished bushes.. We’re not talking horticulture; bushes are the rubbers that sit between two pieces of metal that would grind and clank against each other were it not for the bush.
And just as common are brakes that are worn too thin. The majority of cars are straight forward to do for us but beyond most people to do at home. Brakes is an area where you do need to know what you’re doing, for obvious reasons. Just figuring out which one of the several variations of pads and rotors, for your model of vehicle, actually got put on your vehicle in the factory, is a time consuming part of the job and that’s where our long experience and a deep and meaningful relationship with our suppliers really helps out.
We use quality, typically European brands as our default go-to supply source but if your budget is constrained, we understand, and can get in lower-priced alternatives for most models.

Areas We Proudly Serve

Our Onehunga workshop is perfectly positioned to serve drivers throughout South Auckland and the central city areas. We regularly help customers from:
• Onehunga and the harbour areas around Waikaraka Park • Penrose and the light industrial districts •Mount Wellington and the commercial areas • Royal Oak and the shopping districts along Manukau Road • Hillsborough and the elevated areas with harbor views • Three Kings and the mixed residential areas • Oranga and the residential streets off Church Street • Te Papapa and the industrial zones near the Southern Motorway • Māngere Bridge and the coastal communities • Mount Roskill and the family neighborhoods • Epsom and the leafy suburban streets • Greenlane and the areas near the racecourse • Ellerslie and the established residential zones • leafy Remuera and Meadowbank • Panmure and Pakuranga• Otahuhu and the diverse communities to the south

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I replace my tyres?

Most passenger car tyres need replacing every 40,000-50,000 kilometres, but it depends on your driving habits, the roads you travel, and how well you maintain them. Here in Auckland, with our mix of city driving and highway commuting, plus the occasional trip to Piha, we typically see good quality tyres lasting 40,000 km with proper rotation and maintenance. The key is regular inspection – we recommend checking your tyre tread depth monthly and having them professionally inspected every six months. If your tread depth gets down to 2-3mm, it’s time to start shopping for replacements, even if they haven’t reached the legal minimum of 1.5mm. In safety conscious Europe people routinely replace at 3mm.
For those with electric cars, it is worth mentioning that the extra weight they carry (the batteries), and the sudden acceleration many EV cars are capable of, mean the demands on their tyres is ‘next level’ compared with an ordinary petrol car. EV tyre wear is often, therefore, noticeably higher than what could be expected for an equivalent petrol car. Diesels sit somewhere in between.

What’s the difference between cheap tyres and premium brands?

The difference isn’t just about price – it’s about safety, performance, and long-term value. Premium tyres like Goodyear, Michelin, Hankook, Pirelli, Bridgestone, and Continental invest millions in research and development to create compounds and tread patterns that perform better in wet conditions, last longer, and provide better fuel economy. Cheap tyres might save you money upfront, but they often wear faster, provide less grip (especially in the rain!), and can actually cost more per kilometre. That said, there are excellent mid-range options that offer great value without breaking the bank. We’ll always recommend tyres based on your budget, driving needs, and safety requirements – never just the most expensive option.

Do I need to replace all four tyres at once?

Not necessarily, but it depends on your vehicle and the condition of your existing tyres. For front-wheel-drive cars, you can usually replace tyres in pairs. For all-wheel-drive vehicles like Subarus, Audis and some SUVs, it’s often better to replace all four tyres together to avoid drivetrain stress from different rolling circumferences. This is always so for all 4WD vehicles, such as four-wheel-drive utes, where they are driven in 4WD mode, and especially so if driven in 4WD mode on the road.
If your tyres have worn evenly and you’re replacing only one due to damage, we can sometimes find a second-hand tyre to match the tread depth of the others. It’s often a long shot but one we’ll give a go if it helps avoid replacing a set of 4 when only one is not usable. We’ll always give you honest advice about what’s necessary versus what’s ideal for your specific situation.

How do I know if my wheels need alignment?

The most obvious signs are your car pulling to one side when driving straight, uneven tyre wear patterns, or your steering wheel being off-center when driving straight. You might also notice your car feeling unstable or wandering on the highway. However, wheel alignment problems can be subtle – sometimes you’ll just notice that your tyres seem to be wearing faster than they should, or you’ll feel like you’re constantly making small steering corrections. After hitting a major pothole, curb, or being in any kind of accident, it’s worth having your alignment checked even if everything feels normal.
We strongly recommend an alignment every 20,000 km when fitting new tyres to the front.

Can you fix run-flat tyres?

Run-flat tyres are designed to keep you mobile even after a puncture, but they have special construction that makes repairs tricky. If a run-flat tyre has been driven on while flat, the internal structure is usually damaged beyond repair. However, if you catch the puncture immediately and haven’t driven on it while flat, some run-flats can be repaired using the same standards as regular tyres – punctures in the tread area, smaller than 6mm, with no sidewall damage. We inspect each case individually and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. When in doubt, we err on the side of safety and recommend replacement.
Rule of thumb – regular alignments are cheaper than replacing tyres prematurely due to uneven wear.

What tyre pressure should I use?

The correct tyre pressure for your vehicle is listed on a placard inside the driver’s door frame, in your owner’s manual, or sometimes on the inside of the fuel filler flap. Don’t go by the maximum pressure molded into the tyre sidewall – that’s the maximum the tyre can handle, not what your vehicle needs. Proper pressure is crucial for safety, tyre life, and fuel economy. Under-inflated tyres generate excessive heat and wear faster, while over-inflated tyres provide a harsh ride and can be more prone to damage. We recommend checking your tyre pressure monthly, including your spare tyre, and always check when the tyres are cold – before you’ve driven more than a few kilometres.

How long does a typical tyre service take?

For a standard tyre set replacement – say, four tyres on a regular passenger car – you’re usually looking at about an hour from start to finish. This includes removing the old tyres, fitting and balancing the new ones, and a final safety check. Wheel alignments typically take 45 minutes to an hour, depending on what adjustments are needed. Simple puncture repairs can often be done in about 20 minutes. We always try to give you realistic timeframes when you book, and we’ll call if we discover any complications that might extend the service time.

Ready to Experience the Autotreads Difference? Your car is probably a big investment, often number two after your house, and your tyres are literally the only thing connecting you to the road. Why would you trust that to just anyone?

We’ve been keeping Auckland families safe on the city’s roads for over 45 years, and we love our work. Whether you need a simple puncture repair, one tyre or four, or you want someone to finally sort out that annoying wheel alignment issue, we’re your local experts.Auckland’s weather can turn nasty in an instant, and the last place you want to find out your tyres aren’t up to scratch is when you’re driving your family home in heavy rain on the Southern Motorway.

Give us a call on (09) 63 66 299 or pop in to see us at our Neilson St Street workshop (next to the Gulll service station). We’re open Monday through Friday 8am-5pm.
Your car – and your family – deserve better than just “she’ll be right.” They deserve Autotreads. Let’s get you rolling safely. And remember, we always throw in a complimentary tyre pressure check and visual safety inspection, whatever you came for. Because that’s just how we roll here in Onehunga.