I'm having real trouble finding a decent tyre fitting company at the moment. Here's the problems I've had lately:
Tyre place 1 - Bought a 'premium' tyre, all in cost around £90, it was a brand I had never heard of, sales guy was confident it was a good tyre. The tyre wore unevenly very quickly (properly inflated and tracking all ok) and caused the car to tramline/wander really badly. The cheap £50 chinese tyre it was replaced with was far better.
Tyre place 2 - This is the place I've used for many years. However, new management meant all the staff were sacked and replaced with polish workers. New machines installed, one of which grips the inside the wheel with 3 'prongs' and leaves loads of digs on the inside of the alloy.
Tyre place 3 - First problem was that they didnt seem to hold any stock and tyres had to be ordered in. Went in yesterday for them to be fitted, on my way in I picked a new tyre weight from the floor (clip on type) and handed it to manager with a comment of "someones lost a weight already, better put it in the bin before it gets stuck in someones tyre". My tyres were fitted, I paid up and went off home feeling happy that maybe I had found a decent tyre place. Later on I spotted a new clip on weight on the drive, I assume this is from one of my wheels (I'll check later this morning). I get the feeling they are using clip on weights for alloy wheels, IMO you should only use stick on for alloys.
Am I just unlucky or are all tyre places this crap nowdays?
Edited by Pugugly on 12/06/2009 at 19:50
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I think you're unlucky.
I've used several high street and specialist tyre fitters without any major problems (except the prices they charge). I've now gone to Event Mobile, because they're cheaper, they do it at your home/workplace and they do a damn good job.
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When I replaced the tyres on my CRV the first garage did not balance the wheels resulting in bad steering shake. I took them to another tyre garage and they rebalanced the wheels (and told me one wheel was buckled) they used clip on type weights and driving back from the garage up the M3 I heard an almighty bang and when I got home I noticed 2 of the wheels had lost their weights! I hope the lead weight did not hit any other cars when it jumped off my wheel at 70mph.
In the end out of frustration I took the wheels to an alloy wheel refurb specialist who balanced all the wheels (including the so called buckled wheel that wasn't) he cleaned the wheel and stuck on a sticky weight and the car has been perfect. He blamed young pimple faced lads just out of school who have not been trained properly for these problems and he gets quite a few people each week experiencing similar problems.
In future I shall buy my tyres online and take them to him for fitting and balancing.
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I think you're just unlucky moonshine but with a lot of tyre places really, you're reliant on who is fitting the tyre rather than the place itself.
Purely out of interest, can you remember what brand was sold to you as a premium?
Adam
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Purely out of interest can you remember what brand was sold to you as a premium? Adam
I think it was a millennium.
Update - went back to the tyre place this morning and they checked the balancing - confirmed a weight had come off. I wonder how many balance weights come off and never get noticed...
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A Millennium is not a premium tyre. If you have never heard the name before it ain't premium.
Michelin, Goodyear, Pirelli, Continental etc are premium. You were done paying £90 for a lower grade tyre.
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Millennium is not a brand/make I've heard of before so would not call it premium. It might be a "performance" tyre. I wonder what size of tyre including profile moonshine bought.
I'd expect the replacements on my Mazda6 to be around £80-90 each. And they are only 16" wheels (probably 205R16s)
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they should use continental type clip on weights
or stick on
standard steel rim weights shouldnt even go on never mind be used
i reckon they are hammering the weights on the rim but the rim is opening them up so its only the edge of the tyre holding them in place till you build your speed up
stick on weights are very dear so you try not to use them
plus poorly trained staff dont help
no answer to the standard of tyre bay fitting though is there baring in mind the safety issues involved
hope youve checked your wheely nuts since OP
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I go thorough 3 sets of tyres every 2 years. ALWAYS go to a local independant. Best for price, usually service and will normally do wee favours for free such as switching wheels back to front.
Look after them they will look after you.
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£25,990was £26,095Details
£15,795was £16,881Details
£20,561was £21,642Details
£30,450was £30,995Details
