When we were first approached by Sean, Davanti’s sales director, some two years ago now to consider stocking the brand we were initially dismissive. We were at the time selling another brand in the same price range and had been for some time. What did stick in our minds was that it was a British owned brand, and we are, if nothing else, quite patriotic where we can be.
As we have said in previous posts, we don’t make decisions that could affect our customers, and therefore our business reputation, lightly. We sat on it for months, Sean didn’t pester, I tied myself up in knots!
And then, I was invited to the official launch in Portugal. This was at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (you may have seen it used in the first episode of The Grand Tour). Again, why this couldn’t have been done at Oulton Park or some other wind swept circuit we will never know. Needless to say it was a great location and hot, very hot. So hot that we found ourselves in the middle of a forest fire, but that is another story (if you check out our facebook page there are some photos).
Davanti had laid on a vast array of vehicles, BMW’s, Audi S3’s, Mustangs and many others. The tyres were put through their paces on fast tracks, skid pans and tight tracks as well as an off road circuit (for their SUV range). I have to say, the tyres performed impeccably even with a dreadful driver such as myself at the wheel and, considering the range had not been on the market for a year, I was incredibly impressed! But still I procrastinated and it wasn’t until I fitted a set to my own vehicle and travelled across Europe covering roughly 1500 miles in all types of weather on all kinds of roads in the real world was I convinced enough to make the switch.
We have in the two years following that switch seen the Davanti range grow, they now have a winter tyre (which is exceptional and also fitted to my own car) and we continue to have faith in the brand. They aren’t the only brand we sell, and never will be, but they fit the great quality mid range brand segment.
The moral of this post, if there is one, is that we don’t put our name behind just any tyre brand, we need to have faith that when we send you down the road that you will be happy and that we are likely to see you again when you need our service again.
