Tyre fitter damage - happened to you?

[anonymous-user]

[redacted]

[Alorotom]

I have, and they denied it was them.

Plus as it was identified after I’d driven away they pushed the blame back onto me.

The fact the wheels were brand new and never shod made it even more annoying.

It was the blue logo’d fitting company that can’t spell “quick” correctly for reference.

I’ve never been back, not that it matters to them.

[stevemcs]

Scuff marks look consistant with the wheel being turned when removing the tyre, the chips, possibly fitter damage when levering the tyre off the rim.

It can happen, Tesla and 20" runflats are normally the worst.

[joropug]

Yup. I had managed to go two years since the refurb without even the tiniest mark.

First tyre change, this happens - I started a fight after the fact as I didn't notice either, they kept delaying responses until I got bored. I touched it up in the end and you couldn't see it. Think mine was a lever mark, I accidentally did similar damage shortly after with pressure from a tyre iron - Must be delicate to flaking once powder coated if pressure is applied.

[joropug]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

With me, the tyre fitting took almost an hour for 2 tyres and there were no other customers there. I kept asking why it is taking so long. I actually think they touched it up with a marker pen or something and that's why I didn't notice it until a week later whilst washing the car.

I paid £360 for all 4 to be stripped and powdercoated, which included removing and refitting tyres. I timed it quite well, I needed 4 tyres pretty much so I bought them for black circles and had them delivered direct to them the day before. Meant I saved £20 per corner having them fitted at a garage which offset the cost a touch.

[Alex_225]

Yes, twice at two separate fitters.

I literally went in for a tyre swap and used a local Kwik-Fit where I knew the guys there but I'd turned up and they took the car. Realised the whole lot had changed. I got my Megane 225 back with a freshly scuffed wheel but not just the edges but the centre of the spokes, clearly been bounced off something as it's been carried.

The second time was another fitter who again was swapping out two front tyres, this was on my old E Class Merc. I knew the wheels were un-marked as the faces had been re-painted a few months earlier. I watched the fitter take the wheel off, call me over then place it face down on the machine. Which made me cringe a bit anyway. Then as I watch him put the wheel up on the car, he's gouged the spokes and both wheels had damage round the edges.

I raised this immediately and the manager quite literally said, 'We didn't do it but we'll pay for it as if you got to head office they'll just pay out anyway.'

I got both sets of damage covered but I was mightily p!ssed off the second time as the car was mint, the wheels were before they got hold of them but they were insistent they didn't do it yet still paid me out for them to be repainted again.

[ARF8885]

Local tyre shop swapping over old tyres for new, 20” runflats which are tricky for most tyre fitters and they gave it to the Saturday lad. He struggled and got help from others numerous times.

Tyres fitted, wheels and tyres caked in lube, drove home and cleaned it all up. Noticed both wheels had multiple marks and scuffs.

Drove back to the garage (who I’d used for 10+ years), owner of the garage came out, looked at them and asked how much it would be to get them refurbished. No questions asked, I think he knew!

Got them refurbed by BMW, who tried twice to get a satisfactory finish and both rejected due to poor condition. Back and forth with BMW and resulted in both wheels being replaced as I argued that with them being diamond cut, they couldn’t be ‘cut’ again and would need replacing if they were kerbed or damaged again.

Did the decent thing and offered the garage their money back as a result of the wheels being replaced FOC by BMW and the owner of the garage insisted I kept the money for my troubles.

I still use the same garage to this day. The only difference and a suggestion I made, was get a cheap camera and take photos of any wheels before removing tyres. Significantly reduced the illegitimate claims they had caused damage from chancers trying it on!

Edited by ARF8885 on Thursday 17th November 18:59

[stevieturbo]

With the modern tyre changers that are available, there really shouldn't be any excuse for damaging wheels. Hell there are some now where the user barely needs to do anything.

Unless they're using old junk machines ?

And of course, they'll always deny they caused the damage, so unless you inspect it before you leave the place, you're in a difficult situation.
If it is a chain/franchise, you could try contacting a head office if they have one

[E-bmw]

This could well be a "me thing" but from the pics you post, you obviously don't keep your wheels pristine anyway, so what is the real issue here.

You want to blame someone for leaving your non-pristine wheels being not perfect?

I don't really have an issue with the condition they are pictured & as has been said above without immediately "pre-job" pictures & pointing it out before driving away, the burden of proof is very difficult.

[darreni]

I need some tyres changed onto some brand new rims. My local Kwik fit say they now have touchless machines so no damage. I’ve not had them swapped over yet - anyone else used them recently?

[andybracing]

judging by the cut in the sidwall on the tyre next to the wheel damage, i would say it looks more like kerb damage, and to damage a wheel like that on a tyre machine would take some effort.
the pic the other poster posted of rim damage does look more like a tyre leaver caused it, although the lever should never be near the rim itself, there is a rim on the trye machine to lever against, but it is possible for the lever to slip.
but the damage to the op wheel for sure looks like kerb damage im afraid.