Tyre fitting companies not wanting to fit your tyres?
Discussion
hamp said:
Sure enough arrived at tyre fitters at 8.30 and at 11.08 they’ve not even started! Why is everything and I mean everything so absolutely s@&£t these days!?
Frequently because they no longer keep stock, there are distribution centres for tyres within an hour of everywhere, so they keep very little stock on-sithamp said:
My issue with these tyre places is how long it now takes. At one time you racked up at one of these places for new tyres and your car was in the air with the wheels off within minutes. This morning I found my car with a flat tyre and a screw sticking out of the sidewall and my heart sank. That’s half the day gone. Sure enough arrived at tyre fitters at 8.30 and at 11.08 they’ve not even started! Why is everything and I mean everything so absolutely s@&£t these days!?
I use protyre, make an appointment and they stick to it. (IME)E-bmw said:
hamp said:
Sure enough arrived at tyre fitters at 8.30 and at 11.08 they’ve not even started! Why is everything and I mean everything so absolutely s@&£t these days!?
Frequently because they no longer keep stock, there are distribution centres for tyres within an hour of everywhere, so they keep very little stock on-sitTypical motorist pulls into tyre shop with their white goods povvo engine spec car and says "chuck whatever on there, cheaper the better".
PHer pulls in with something with a much less common wheel size and wants a specific model of a specific tyre, oh and they want the XL load rating because those ones have a stiffer sidewall, plus it better be Y-rated for speed.
I've always had to book ahead, wherever I've used. They phone the day before to say they have the tyres in. It's not infallible as I'll frequently not get the "all done" call for hours, but I try to book somewhere walking distance from somewhere else that I need to be so I'm not just sitting around drinking their coffee.
Tyres are a pain, nobody wants premium, they always want cheap. Puncture repairs - we charge £24, it can take half an hour, or we can do 30 minutes work which brings in £36 ... We are appointment only, so walk ins either get left with us for the day or are rebooked - at the moment thats 2-3 weeks away. We do however call/text when its done and if you are in for 9.30 then thats when the car goes into the workshop.
My most recent experience was with Protyre, booked in to fit 4x brand new tyres, supplied by me and already in their custody, fitting cost provided by them, all good.
Appointment was for 08:30. Arrived and was told they are really busy with walk ins, finally got out at 11:00.
If they’ve got a booking, they have the tyres, why do I get bumped down the line?
Appointment was for 08:30. Arrived and was told they are really busy with walk ins, finally got out at 11:00.
If they’ve got a booking, they have the tyres, why do I get bumped down the line?
I had a puncture on a Friday night recently. Limped home. Saturday morning couldn’t get through to any local tyre places by phone. They all close at 12.00 so I gave up. Monday morning. rather than trying to phone around again a mate gives me a lift to a local fitting company. They immediately sent a van to follow us home. They two guys had the wheel off in a few minutes and returned 30 minutes later with the repaired tyre. Whole operation under an hour. I was charged £60 - it was a Contiseal tyre which some places won’t repair so I was happy to pay that fee - new tyre would have been £230.
Edited by Mark V GTD on Saturday 27th April 19:08
king hate it. PositronicRay said:
hamp said:
My issue with these tyre places is how long it now takes. At one time you racked up at one of these places for new tyres and your car was in the air with the wheels off within minutes. This morning I found my car with a flat tyre and a screw sticking out of the sidewall and my heart sank. That’s half the day gone. Sure enough arrived at tyre fitters at 8.30 and at 11.08 they’ve not even started! Why is everything and I mean everything so absolutely s@&£t these days!?
I use protyre, make an appointment and they stick to it. (IME)FWIW when ever I have a slow flat, all tyre places always say just bring it down first thing/whenever. They never want to book a slot for it. Being there before they open is the best way to avoid hanging around I find.
If you've got access to a second car, a decent jack and a set of axle stands or wooden blocks, you find tyre shops much more cooperative slipping a new set of Camskill supplied tyres on for you if you drop the wheels and tyres off at the tyre bay, obviously ask before don't just turn up.
No waiting around, you can service the brakes etc whilst waiting for the tyre bay to do their thing, plus you won't have overtightened locking wheel nut or sticking wheel issues down the line because you will have set the wheel nut torque yourself and put a wipe of whatever you fancy on the spigot to prevent the wheel corroding on.
No waiting around, you can service the brakes etc whilst waiting for the tyre bay to do their thing, plus you won't have overtightened locking wheel nut or sticking wheel issues down the line because you will have set the wheel nut torque yourself and put a wipe of whatever you fancy on the spigot to prevent the wheel corroding on.
I went to protyre for the last pair I bought. Booked in advance for a friday afternoon when I hoped it would be quiet as I wanted tracking doing too.
Sure enough, turned up and there were no other cars in the bays. Bit of making me wait to be allowed to say who I was and what I wanted, but then I got It'll Be 45 Minutes Mate so I went for a walk and 20 minutes later, got the call to say it was done.
When I was paying, a bloke rocked up saying he'd got a puncture and could they please fix it. Grumpy Counter Bloke says sorry mate, appointment only, I can fit you in a week on wednesday. I looked out at the bays and the fitters were all dossing around or staring at their phones. Still 40 minutes to closing time.
So I can't complain about the service - I booked, didn't have to wait, job done quickly (too quickly...?? I do wonder about the tracking, time will tell) and on my way.
But... Grumpy Counter Man put me right off - he's not actually doing me a favour by wandering around the desk for 5 minutes before finally asking how can he help - as did him leaving some poor sod stranded for the weekend when they could easy have done the work. I certainly wouldn't be dropping by in an emergency if that's the response.
Sure enough, turned up and there were no other cars in the bays. Bit of making me wait to be allowed to say who I was and what I wanted, but then I got It'll Be 45 Minutes Mate so I went for a walk and 20 minutes later, got the call to say it was done.
When I was paying, a bloke rocked up saying he'd got a puncture and could they please fix it. Grumpy Counter Bloke says sorry mate, appointment only, I can fit you in a week on wednesday. I looked out at the bays and the fitters were all dossing around or staring at their phones. Still 40 minutes to closing time.
So I can't complain about the service - I booked, didn't have to wait, job done quickly (too quickly...?? I do wonder about the tracking, time will tell) and on my way.
But... Grumpy Counter Man put me right off - he's not actually doing me a favour by wandering around the desk for 5 minutes before finally asking how can he help - as did him leaving some poor sod stranded for the weekend when they could easy have done the work. I certainly wouldn't be dropping by in an emergency if that's the response.
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