GT3 Tyre Fitting: Who Do You Trust?

[jeremyc]

Any recommendations for tyre suppliers/fitters in the South East who will be able to safely get the wheels off my Mk1 GT3 and fit replacement tyres without ruining my lovely wheels?

Anyone used Bracknell Tyres or Micheldever and have experiences that indicate they know what they're doing?

[Vesuvius 996]

Bracknell Tyres did mine a week ago.

£530 sheets for 4x PZero Asymmetricos.

No complaints - they took care of them.

[RRG]

Used Micheldever several times for my 993RS - they are excellent

[flemke]

If you just take the fitter or manager aside before the wheels have been removed, and together you scrutinise your wheels for flaws, I think you'll find that they take care to ensure that they don't cause any damage for which they will manifestly be responsible.

[jeremyc]

Thanks for all of the recommendations.

flemke said:

If you just take the fitter or manager aside before the wheels have been removed, and together you scrutinise your wheels for flaws, I think you'll find that they take care to ensure that they don't cause any damage for which they will manifestly be responsible.

I agree, I'd just like to have the conversation with someone who has actually managed to take the wheels off a GT3 and change tyres successfully before.

[slippydiff]

I seem to recall a report from 911 and Porsche World saying that they'd had some tyres fitted by Micheldever and the wheels had been damaged during the process. As I recall Micheldever had or still have ? two tiers for tyre fitting : - a basic one whereby you get a fitter with a brain one step up from an amoeba doing the job or you pay extra for the "privilege" of having someone qualified to actually do the job properly
All the above allegedly

[peterpeter]

elitedirect.com...dagenham is an utter shithole, but they are nice people.

make sure keefe deals with you ..he is a great guy.

[warmfuzzies]

Tyre tech of braintree did mine.

His maner can be a bit brusque, but his work is good. Priced my GT3 wheels at £10ea. he also owns a piece of pork, currently a 996,


Kevin.

[flemke]

slippydiff said:

I seem to recall a report from 911 and Porsche World saying that they'd had some tyres fitted by Micheldever and the wheels had been damaged during the process. As I recall Micheldever had or still have ? two tiers for tyre fitting : - a basic one whereby you get a fitter with a brain one step up from an amoeba doing the job or you pay extra for the "privilege" of having someone qualified to actually do the job properly
All the above allegedly

I've had numerous low-profile tyres fitted by Micheldever.
They've never scratched a wheel, and they've never asked for a higher rate for a proper job.

[clorenzen]

Same as flemke. I have used Micheldever, most recently on my DB9 and thoese are very difficult wheels and have had no problems. They inspected the rims together with me before they took them off. Swift service and very fair price. Computerized wheel alignment was thrown in.

[robmug]

You also want someone who understands balancing. On a wide rim, the position of the weight across the width of the wheel makes a difference, and they can only do this if the balance dynamically. Most don't bother, many don't even know how to do it.

[kayc]

Colin at Central Tyres in Tonbridge did my tt,30 years tyres experience,competitive price, and even let me take the car in before the official opening time so he could work on it with it being the only car in the workshop.

[DanH]

JZM can fit tyres on site, although I've not used them for that. Very handily, they are happy to fit tyres supplied from wherever.

I've also used Elite in Dagenham and they did a great job. I went back into the workshop with them and made sure they jacked up the car properly and used the ally pins to slide the wheels off etc.

[silver993tt]

GT One in Chertsey have the equipment to do the job properly, specialising in Porsche servicing also helps.

[tr7v8]

Never been overally impressed with Bracknell T & E, cheap yes but always curt & rather surly service. Not particularly careful with alloys either.
Always use RM Tyres on the Medway City estate in Strood, about 5 mins from J1 M2.
Brilliant service father & son team & mega careful with alloys, also willing to discuss the best tyre if required & good prices. 01634 716336 Talk to Barry or Phil & say Jim with the 944 sent you.

[Vesuvius 996]

tr7v8 said:

Never been overally impressed with Bracknell T & E, cheap yes but always curt & rather surly service. Not particularly careful with alloys either.
Always use RM Tyres on the Medway City estate in Strood, about 5 mins from J1 M2.
Brilliant service father & son team & mega careful with alloys, also willing to discuss the best tyre if required & good prices. 01634 716336 Talk to Barry or Phil & say Jim with the 944 sent you.

They might be curt and surly, but jesus they save you hundreds!!

[PTE993]

I've consistently had good service at Micheldever. And they always have had the tyres in stock and when I've compared prices they've been marginally cheaper than Bracknell T&E. Although depending on time of day/day of week/some other random force you can turn up and get seen to straight away or sometimes wait in their queuing system for ages... so give yourself plenty of time when you go down there.

[s3am]

Used these guys several times in the GT3 (mk2) and they are used to dealing with Porsches

Red Star Tyre & Exhaust Centres
Unit 38, Broomhills Industrial Estate, Braintree, Essex CM7 2RH
Tel: [phone]

Excellent service, good guys

Sam

Edited by s3am on Thursday 29th June 14:37

[MauriceC2S]

Well, I bought some 18" Assimetricos from a GT3 owning club member via club classifieds (so hardly like eBay) .. when it came to fitting time fitter took one look at rears (all had been removed, allegedly with due care, by Parr Motorsport) and said, 'well that one is totally buggered', and indeed it had a large tear in the bead which rendered it uninflateable.

If I had not been wound up to pay a more than reasonable price because 'they are in fanytastic condition, only 500 miles, blah, blah, only ever touched by Parr as before etc ' I would not be bitter, honest .. when I rang the guy he couldn't give a shit .. you know who you are ...

cheers, Maurice

[Vesuvius 996]

Bad form by gitface vendor.

Second hand boots

Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Thursday 29th June 21:50