Tyre Problems - Again

I got two new Bridgestone ER300 Ecopias to replace two on the front. Trouble is after getting the tyres fitted the car pulled to the left quite badly and my mpg's went down! Hmmm. I checked the tyres incase a non low rolling resistance tyre had been fitted by mistake, but they were correct. I then checked the pressures, which again were correct. So I guessed the tracking must have been out so booked it in with the dealers for checking. After a couple hours and a couple test drives later they advised the tracking is fine and the tyres are fine. Odd.

Just filled up for the second time since the new tyres and I'm struggling to get anywhere near 50 mpg! Even after a few long trips where I know from past experience that I could get mid 60's easily. I've inspected the tyres closely and note that one of the new ones is made in Italy and the rest are from France. All the loadings, ratings and the type are the same, just made in a different factory and it is a slightly lighter colour compared to the French ones.

Surely this can't be the cause of my mpg drop? The last time I fitted ER300 Ecopias I fitted them all round and didn't have any mpg hit or need to bed them in. How does tyre manufacturing work? Do Bridgestone outsource the work to Michelin in France and Pirelli in Italy or do they have their own factory in each country? I know I'd be more likely to trust the French tyres as they worked fine for me previously. (Guess which way the car pulls when the Italian tyre is on the left and which way it pulls when it is on the right!).

Also, what are my chances of trying to convince Bridgestone that their Italian tyres are rubbish and can I swap it to a French one?

 

Well they spell it 'tire' on the sidewall so maybe that's the problem?

 

No

But the mileage hit is still there. Maybe I should just stick with it and see if they break in. The mileage hit is between 5-15 mpg!

 

Nah, it's nothing to do with race or country issues. I guess in Europe we look at different European countries in the same way you do with States. The only difference between the almost ideantical tyres was that one was made in Italy and three in France.

 

It says this occurs with new tyres(tires). Does it improve in time or is the tyre a dud and always a dud? Should I make do and it'll improve or as the offending tyre is from a different batch (and factory) should I reject it and ask for a new one? In fact, the mpg drop caused by this tyre would cost me about £300 over its life span, so would be cost effective to change it.