Recomended tire balancing expert in London/North London?

[TB404]

Hello,
I installed new tires and think I may have a balancing issue, I don't want to take them back to where I installed them so I'm looking for a recomended, profesional place.

The car (BMW 330e, F30) is vibrating at speed above 70 MPH, it shoulnd't)

Ideas are welcome, thank you!

[S54B32]

Tyre balancing really doesn't need an expert, you put the tyre on the machine, press the button, then stick the weights where it tells you. Rinse repeat until it's golden.

Perhaps your weights weren't stuck on properly and have since buggered off. Your car sounds quite new though so who knows just how much balancing was needed...

As for recommendations, I can't give you that, only that this task is very basic, perhaps your first call should be to the garage who fitted the tyres..

[Ron99]

The last time I had a car with vibration at speed, the tracking was out.

[Polite M135 driver]

Mr Bottas,

just drop by the garage, we can give you a new set before anything terrible happens.

[TB404]

Ron99 said:

The last time I had a car with vibration at speed, the tracking was out.

Thanks, incidentally I also did a 4 wheel alignment at the same tiem as installing teh new tires so that shouldn't be the issue...

[mygoldfishbowl]

The problem with wheel balancing is people think the machine does it all for you and the human element is only there to load the wheel onto the machine. This isn't always the case and the operator needs a certain level of experience to know right from wrong.

The other problem being you as a customer never know if the place you take your wheels has anybody with experience or they just have a button pusher. Do you have any family or friends who are into cars that you could ask where they take theirs?

[Fatball]

Surely any ATS or Kwikfit can sort this out?

[Pupbelly]

TB404 said:

I don't want to take them back to where I installed them

Why not? If they have not balanced the wheels correctly they should at least have the option to rectify the issue??

[S54B32]

Ron99 said:

The last time I had a car with vibration at speed, the tracking was out.

That makes no sense at all, but I'll leave it open for Max_Torque to come and tell us how that can be possible

[832ark]

Which part of the US are you in?

[TB404]

832ark said:

Which part of the US are you in?

London, UK

[832ark]

TB404 said:

832ark said:

Which part of the US are you in?

London, UK

TYRES FFS

[TB404]

832ark said:

TYRES FFS

Why thank you Sir

[don logan]

Elite Tyres in Rainham, no Rainham isn’t London but it’s pretty close if you are the right side of it (I’ve got there surprising quickly from NW London) and they can do forced variation balancing if you need it, maybe the tyres ate out of shape, I’ve had it when cars have sat for long periods, maybe the tyres were stored / transported with too much weight on them https://www.elitedirect.com/wheel-balancing

[TB404]

don logan said:

Elite Tyres in Rainham, no Rainham isn’t London but it’s pretty close if you are the right side of it (I’ve got there surprising quickly from NW London) and they can do forced variation balancing if you need it, maybe the tyres ate out of shape, I’ve had it when cars have sat for long periods, maybe the tyres were stored / transported with too much weight on them https://www.elitedirect.com/wheel-balancing

Thanks mate, you're a star!
Went to Elite right after seeing your post - and they discovered ALL my tires were wrongly balanced and one has a serious flat spot and shouln't have been installed at all!

Top guys in Elite Tyres, you can see the difference between pros and well...

Edited by TB404 on Tuesday 4th August 16:43

[Pupbelly]

TB404 said:

don logan said:

Elite Tyres in Rainham, no Rainham isn’t London but it’s pretty close if you are the right side of it (I’ve got there surprising quickly from NW London) and they can do forced variation balancing if you need it, maybe the tyres ate out of shape, I’ve had it when cars have sat for long periods, maybe the tyres were stored / transported with too much weight on them https://www.elitedirect.com/wheel-balancing

Thanks mate, you're a star!
Went to Elite right after seeing your post - and they discovered ALL my tires were wrongly balanced and one has a serious flat spot and shouln't have been installed at all!

Top guys in Elite Tyres, you can see the difference between pros and well...

Edited by TB404 on Tuesday 4th August 16:43

And why did you not go back to your original fitter to rectify the initial problem?

Surely they should rebalance and exchange the defective tyre, but you've (I assume) paid out again for balancing and a new tyre??

Seems a bit strange. Its like buying a telly from Currys but then go to Argos to get it checked due to a problem???

[TB404]

Pupbelly said:

And why did you not go back to your original fitter to rectify the initial problem?

Surely they should rebalance and exchange the defective tyre, but you've (I assume) paid out again for balancing and a new tyre??

Seems a bit strange. Its like buying a telly from Currys but then go to Argos to get it checked due to a problem???

Just to give you an idea of how bad of a job that first place did (whom I won't name),
When Elite ran all 4 wheels through their proper balancing set up, ALL 4 were seriously out of balance (including the use of counter balances which is wrong I am told) and one tyre was actually deformed (had serious flat spot) and they shouldn't have installed it.

To their credit Black Circes immediatly offered to replce both rear tyres.
That first place was a premier partner of BC in London and had over 100 glowing reviews (I do appreciate that most normal people won't notice their car vibrating, but then again they won't be buying expensive high performance tyres either...).

I guess that's what you get for 'free installation' - better to pay pros a bit more and get a proper job done.
So to answer your question: 'Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...'

Images from Elite checking the first 'balace':



Deformed tyre

Edited by TB404 on Wednesday 5th August 15:53

Edited by TB404 on Wednesday 5th August 16:57

Edited by TB404 on Wednesday 5th August 21:59

[don logan]

TB404 said:

don logan said:

Elite Tyres in Rainham, no Rainham isn’t London but it’s pretty close if you are the right side of it (I’ve got there surprising quickly from NW London) and they can do forced variation balancing if you need it, maybe the tyres ate out of shape, I’ve had it when cars have sat for long periods, maybe the tyres were stored / transported with too much weight on them https://www.elitedirect.com/wheel-balancing

Thanks mate, you're a star!
Went to Elite right after seeing your post - and they discovered ALL my tires were wrongly balanced and one has a serious flat spot and shouln't have been installed at all!

Top guys in Elite Tyres, you can see the difference between pros and well...

Edited by TB404 on Tuesday 4th August 16:43

Fantastic, I’m really pleased it worked out, there is a difference isn’t there!

[mygoldfishbowl]

TB404 said:

Just to give you an idea of how bad of a job that first place did (whom I won't name),
When Elite ran all 4 wheels through their proper balancing set up, ALL 4 were seriously out of balance (including the use of counter balances which is wrong I am told) and one tyre was actually deformed (had serious flat spot) and they shouldn't have installed it.

To their credit Black Circes immediatly offered to replce both rear tyres.
That first place was a premier partner of BC in London and had over 100 glowing reviews (I do appreciate that most normal people won't notice their car vibrating, but then again theu won't be buying expensive high performance tiers either...).

I guess that's what you get for 'free installation' - better to pay pros a bit more and get a proper job done.
So to answer your question: 'Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...'

Images from Elite checking the first 'balace':



Deformed tyre

A lot of people are driving about on badly balanced wheels but never know partly because they never reach a speed they wobble, add 20mph limits popping up everywhere and some people probably never need to get their wheels balanced in the first place.

They're right about counter balancing as well. This happens when the machine indicates the need for weight in one location and then indicates another need for weight in a different location on the same wheel face, so opposing. Never works but an experienced operator will know how to deal with the situation and eliminate one amount of weight.

Edited by mygoldfishbowl on Wednesday 5th August 18:38

[Pupbelly]

TB404 said:

Pupbelly said:

And why did you not go back to your original fitter to rectify the initial problem?

Surely they should rebalance and exchange the defective tyre, but you've (I assume) paid out again for balancing and a new tyre??

Seems a bit strange. Its like buying a telly from Currys but then go to Argos to get it checked due to a problem???

Just to give you an idea of how bad of a job that first place did (whom I won't name),
When Elite ran all 4 wheels through their proper balancing set up, ALL 4 were seriously out of balance (including the use of counter balances which is wrong I am told) and one tyre was actually deformed (had serious flat spot) and they shouldn't have installed it.

To their credit Black Circes immediatly offered to replce both rear tyres.
That first place was a premier partner of BC in London and had over 100 glowing reviews (I do appreciate that most normal people won't notice their car vibrating, but then again they won't be buying expensive high performance tyres either...).

I guess that's what you get for 'free installation' - better to pay pros a bit more and get a proper job done.
So to answer your question: 'Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...'

Images from Elite checking the first 'balace':



Deformed tyre

Edited by TB404 on Wednesday 5th August 15:53

Edited by TB404 on Wednesday 5th August 16:57

Edited by TB404 on Wednesday 5th August 21:59

Thanks for the reply, and that really is shocking. At least Black Circles sorted the tyre situation out. Lesson learnt I suppose, as you say many folk won't or don't give a hoot but that shouldn't mean garages can offer substandard workmanship.