Goat Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 I had some new tyres fitted to my car a week ago but I had to take it back because there was an excessive vibration at speed. This is at a well known national chain. Just picked it up again, the guy tells me: "sorry, we don't have the equipment to balance those wheels, you'll have to go to xxxxx branch". I politely refrained from asking why the f*** I'd been charged to have them balanced first time around. Apparently I have solid alloy wheels which need specialist machinery to balance. Does this sound at all reasonable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 I had some new tyres fitted to my car a week ago but I had to take it back because there was an excessive vibration at speed. This is at a well known national chain. Just picked it up again, the guy tells me: "sorry, we don't have the equipment to balance those wheels, you'll have to go to xxxxx branch". I politely refrained from asking why the f*** I'd been charged to have them balanced first time around. Apparently I have solid alloy wheels which need specialist machinery to balance. Does this sound at all reasonable? No! Any Kwik-fit should be able to balance the wheels! As they are not connected to the car when they do it! If it's steering alingment you may have to use the main dealer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 doesn't sound reasonable at all and sounds like he can't be @rsed. All you do for wheel balancing is glue some lead weights around the perimeter after rotating it on a wheel. Every tyre place should have a machine - even if it's not an electronic one (or it's broken), you can still do it manually (spin wheel around, see if it settles in the same place, glue weight opposite, rinse and repeat). Having solid wheels will not affect the machine (and hopefully they can glue the weights on the inside). If your problem persists, you may need to look at your alignment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnionTerror Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 I believe someone like like ATS charges 25 quid for wheel balancing...I'd ask for my money back if they cant do it, and go to an independent tyre specialists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone baby gone Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 I had some new tyres fitted to my car a week ago but I had to take it back because there was an excessive vibration at speed. This is at a well known national chain. Just picked it up again, the guy tells me: "sorry, we don't have the equipment to balance those wheels, you'll have to go to xxxxx branch". I politely refrained from asking why the f*** I'd been charged to have them balanced first time around. Apparently I have solid alloy wheels which need specialist machinery to balance. Does this sound at all reasonable? Sound like nonsense. If you have exceptionally large wheels (>21") perhaps an older balancing machine won't fit the wheel, but I can't see this being a problem with a national chain using recent equipment. If they included balancing in the cost, make sure it's all done for free. If these are the front wheels, swapping with the rear should at least reduce the vibration at speed until you can get them balanced properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bear Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 No, does not sound like b0ll0x, some wheels do in fact need some sort of specail fitting to fit them to the machine. No idea what wheels though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Sound like nonsense. If you have exceptionally large wheels (>21") Pimp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hovis Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Why the f* do you go to a national chain? Go to a local independent who has to rely upon the quality of their service and pricing for their trade. As an example - my local garage (not a tyre fitter) always moans about the way the national deals with peoples' catalytic converters. They just can't wait to rip them off the car if they're even remotely close to emission limits (which they usually will be when cold), charge for a new one and keep the old one to sell for its metals contents. I'm not refraining from naming the chain for fear of getting sued, but since I will only use them if there is absolutely no other alternative so I can't remember which one they are. Like eating in McDonalds at small airports when everything else is closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPin Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Why the f* do you go to a national chain? Go to a local independent who has to rely upon the quality of their service and pricing for their trade. My local Kwik-Fit are absolutely brilliant! Some are not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hovis Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Why the f* do you go to a national chain (other than Mr Pin's Kwik-fit)? Fixed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted March 17, 2010 Author Share Posted March 17, 2010 Why the f* do you go to a national chain? Would normally avoid them but it was only a set of tyres, the price looked reasonable enough, I mean how badly could they f*** it up? (Quite badly it appears). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Executive Sadman Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 I had some new tyres fitted to my car a week ago but I had to take it back because there was an excessive vibration at speed. This is at a well known national chain. Just picked it up again, the guy tells me: "sorry, we don't have the equipment to balance those wheels, you'll have to go to xxxxx branch". I politely refrained from asking why the f*** I'd been charged to have them balanced first time around. Apparently I have solid alloy wheels which need specialist machinery to balance. Does this sound at all reasonable? Whereabout s are you located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Stromba Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 They should not have fitted tyres if they could not balance them as this is DANGEROUS. All tyres are imperfectly round and as such when you put them on an alloy one part is heavier than another. You put small weights on the opposing side to the heavy side of the tyre, to balance the imperfection. If you do not do this, the wheel will vibrate (usually between two defined speeds) and this will eventually shake your wheels bearing to pieces and place stress on other components. I have two points: 1. If they cannot provide this service, why did they charge you for it? 2. What are they doing fitting tyres they cant balance? I would personnaly wade down there, and ask once politely to do the work / for a full refund. If they refuse i would kick up a hell storm in the public area where everyone can hear until they do something. Just to be clear wheel balancing (described above) is different to wheel alignment. Wheel alignment is the degree of parallel alignment between the two front wheels. Usually the wheel on most cars are nearly parallel. If the wheels are not parallel. the car may pull one way or the other when you drive in a straight line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kool4caats Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 I have the same issue with my wheels. I took them to a national chain once, and had the same problem, although they didn't actually fit the tyres first. The problem is that they don't have the hole in the centre of the wheel, which most wheels have. I now get my tyres done at MERITyre, who are very good. It takes them a lot longer to balance the wheels for this reason, but they do it, and they don't complain about it. I wouldn't take it anywhere else now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6538 Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 No, does not sound like b0ll0x, some wheels do in fact need some sort of specail fitting to fit them to the machine. No idea what wheels though. If that is the case then they should have refused the job from the outset. If they have agreed to fit tyres and balance the wheels and have not done th full job then they are breech of contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6538 Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 No, does not sound like b0ll0x, some wheels do in fact need some sort of specail fitting to fit them to the machine. No idea what wheels though. If that is the case then they should have refused the job from the outset. If they have agreed to fit tyres and balance the wheels and have not done th full job then they are breech of contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bear Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 If that is the case then they should have refused the job from the outset. If they have agreed to fit tyres and balance the wheels and have not done th full job then they are breech of contract. I won't argue with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted March 18, 2010 Author Share Posted March 18, 2010 Update: So I rang the alternative centre today to try and arrange the required repairs, guess what: they do have the machine but unfortunately it's broken (or so the monkey claims). What a load of bulls***; for f*** sakes how can a national tyre company be unable to fit a set of f***ing tyres properly. So, having searched the web, I would like to share the following blog that I've just found. How quick fit risked my life It’s not often – if ever – that I use the blog to have a bash at Mr Corporate: I have no need to, and have worked with a number of outstanding corporates in the last 10+ years.Until today. The story is concerning Kwik Fit. How they attempt to sell non-required expensive items to trusting customers. How they lie about the work they carry out on customers cars. How, in one case, they even left the car as a death trap and sent the customer on their way. That unfortunate customer was me. I’ve given Kwik Fit management the opportunity to address the issues – by email more than 10 days ago, and back in October and November, when the regional director went round all the Kwik Fit Bristol branches to strong-arm the managers regarding their service techniques. He even moved the manager of the branch where my car was turned into a death trap to another branch regionally. Was I, the customer, contacted at any time then? No. Have I been contacted regarding the email below? No. Are Kwik Fit management so concerned about risking customers’ lives they will resolve the issues? No Customer service which risks lives – it’s always going to be worth reporting. Whatever you do, please do NOT take your car to Kwik Fit for repairs. Unless you’re happy to spend excessive money, have your time wasted, and possibly your life put at risk. Pages and pages of comments follow. What a bunch of utter cretins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwest Smith Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Garages I recommend, for Google. http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/ has worked so far for me and BarkersMotorWorks was from personal recommendations from a member at Farncombe Service Station. (Not that this is a legal recommendation, just my personal opinion Hopefully one is close to you.) http://www.davecoles.co.uk/ Dave Coles Garage Gosport Ltd, Unit 6, Elmhurst Road, Gosport, Hants, PO12 1UA http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/search_detail.php?recordID=1541 Farncombe Service Station, Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 3HT Auto Diagnostic Centre, R/O 129 Kingsway, Mortlake, London, SW14 7HN http://www.autodiagnosticcentre.co.uk/ http://www.barkersmotorworks.co.uk/details.html Unit 2 Weydown Industrial Estate Haslemere Surrey GU27 1DW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Stromba Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Not all Kwik fits are bad. The one in Norwich is ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gardener Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Not all Kwik fits are bad. The one in Norwich is ok. I will never use Kwik fit again. There's a few around my area and every one of them has lied to me. Last time they claimed that you couldn't get just the back box for my car but only the whole exhaust. They wanted about £150 for it. Went round to ATS and low and behold they fitted just the back box for less than £50. Nationwide Autocentres are also on my blacklist for similar reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikhail Liebenstein Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Ah don't tell me about tyres. Just spent over a grand on 4 tyres (Pirellis 275/35Y20), £240 each plus fitting and first MOT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwest Smith Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Ah don't tell me about tyres. Just spent over a grand on 4 tyres (Pirellis 275/35Y20), £240 each plus fitting and first MOT. Merc AMG? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikhail Liebenstein Posted March 20, 2010 Share Posted March 20, 2010 Merc AMG? Audi A8 4.2FSi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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