46 replies to this topic

[Ivor Badger]

A story that reflects the intelligence of some tyre fitters.

Many years ago I am in a tyre depot getting a puncture fixed on a 10.00x 20 lorry tyre. These used to be fitted to flat bed rims. You put the tyre on the rim, then put the bead ring on and then the locking ring for the bead ring. it was a very dangerous system if using UK wheels, because if the locking ring didn't fit correctly the whole thing could come apart. Inflation pressure is 105psi and the tyre is supposed to be put in a steel tube cage during initial inflation.
So after fitting the new tube, the tyre fitter inflates the tyre while sitting on the wheel. I ask him if he has ever had the locking ring come off during inflation. Oh yes, but the worst was leaving a tyre lever in the bead and it shooting out, hitting the wooden beam truss in the roof and coming back down and hitting him between the eyes, knocking him out cold. Not a fellow with any form of learning curve.

[HARBER07]

Could always fit them yourselves you know.........


TzbgyRrQybQ&feature

[MR MOL]

hi, i sell tyres at my garage and i go mad at my lads who work for me if they dont jack any car in the right structural place or secure place, no car should be jacked up on the floor unless a jacking point is there . not to cause offense to any one but tyre fitters are called tyre monkeys by people in the trade, even tho its not as simple as it looks you do have to know certain things technical and 10 inch mini tyres are sometimes harder to fit than say a 15 inch tyre. in my experience bigger companies always con people, whereas smaller ones you talk to the owner who has a conscience and wants repeat business [well i do anyway]

[Scallywag630]

Had a problem with a national chain of tyre shops last year and now everytime I go there they could not be more helpful. Pays to complain.

[MR MOL]

Had a problem with a national chain of tyre shops last year and now everytime I go there they could not be more helpful. Pays to complain.

shouldnt have to complain in the first place but no garage is perfect lol

[sweetser]

The little local garage near me is good, took it there to get my tyres changed, he was on the floor looking where to jack it up then finially come over and asked, so i showed him, he took them off changed tyres and valves, balanced them, and told me he didnt want any money and that i should put it towards a heater for the mini as it was snowing haha and he didnt chip my wheels or anything

[Sammy D]

I always take just the wheels and leave the Mini on axle stands at home. I know it's a bit retarded but it saves all this hassle.

[george91]

I got mine done my an indepentant company in the trading estate, my neighbours a mechanic and recomended me him saying he knows his stuff, gave my neighbour my wheels he went down with them and and got them fitted balanced and a set of new valves all round for free when i bought the tyres, i had falkens fitted and they worked out just under £160 for the four inc vat. Not a mark on any of the wheels, have nothing negative to say at all.

Edited by george91, 25 May 2010 - 05:05 PM.

[1977 Loud_Mini]

I always take my wheels down in another car as the jacks some garages have won't fit under my mini because of the bodykit. I recently had some yoko A032's put on 4 genuine magnesium minilite 10x4.5's and they were £12 for 4 wheels with new valves but not balanced as i was only trying the wheels out to see how they looked. Usually it costs £20 for 4 tyres taken off the rim and the new ones installed, balanced and with new valves so my tyre place seems really good.
As for damage to the wheels, none as of yet (maybe it depends if the staff are in a rush?).

[Rented]

Could always fit them yourselves you know.........


TzbgyRrQybQ&feature

thats actually to make the bead seal on tubless rims / tyres , you cant always roll them to make a seal on the bead so you can inflate them .

we do this daily to fit tyres to our fleet and on consent , customers .

fitting tyres is a straight forward process with a machine but is by no means easy , also as most companies do like ourselves is you have a disclaimer signed and / or a notice on the board about damage to rims etc as damage can occur which if deemed feasible we will rectify otherwise you get someone out there bellowing you damaged the paint job on their "nice new alloys" when infact all they want is a free buck as the damage was already there !

[valve bounce]

no i think a non tyre fitter should have a go its not as easy as it looks

Pah!!! How difficult can it be

very trust me im an apprentice at a peougoet main dealership and i have to fit tyres and hate it and it very difficult to do. but i only have to do it until we get another apprentice then its up to him

Edited by valve bounce, 29 May 2010 - 07:13 PM.

[Calman]

no i think a non tyre fitter should have a go its not as easy as it looks

Pah!!! How difficult can it be

very trust me im an apprentice at a peougoet main dealership and i have to fit tyres and hate it and it very difficult to do. but i only have to do it until we get another apprentice then its up to him

I can second this. I've had to do my fair share and it does my head in when people say things like that. Yes i can see the point of, "I pay to have tyres changed and not have the rims damaged..." But it does happen, and when its does the garage is responsible, so dont complain as your getting a new wheel for free and in some cases the tyre change charge disappears to.

RANT OVER

[1984mini25]

Having also worked fitting tires as a day job on and off over the last few years, it’s only easy if you know what your doing.

[panelbeaterpeter]

My tyre fitter rage has been REIGNITED!! One of Flo's tyres had a puncture, so today I went to get it repaired. I took the wheel off myself, and gave it to the guy. They removed the tyre, but didn't fit it to the machine correctly so it mashed one side of the wheel, and tore a hole in the tyre.. The wheel ( a really rare 12" Dunlop D1) is needing ally welded to repair it, because the lip is polished alloy and has a huge slice taken out of it. They have offered to buy me a new tyre, (first tried offering me a Falken ) and get the alloy repaired, so it could be worse, at least I'll have got a new Yoko 1539 out of it.

[Deathrow]

Ughr, that is bad Pete!

What are they doing about the D1? I'm assuming yours are the real deal from back in the day rather than the ones they make nowadays?