Wheel Alignment
Author
Discussion

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

175 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Car in for a service today.

10k mile service and the car is a Golf R mk7.

I've just received a phone call to say my front tyres have excessive wear on the in side shoulder which is caused by out of alignment suspension and the car should have it's suspension re-aligned.

They recommend I have new front tyres put on. They can do 2 new tyres for £216 each (Michelin Pilot Sport) and the tracking for £49.

I asked them to do the tracking and I will source the new tyres else where.

They then said they would not do the tracking unless I have the tyres fitted as this would be detrimental to the handling of the car and not recommended.

Does this sound right to you lot or are they just trying to get me buy their tyres at over inflated (no pun intended) prices. I can source Michelin tyres at £172 each fitted elsewhere.

Motorrad

6,811 posts

218 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
smiffy555 said:
Car in for a service today.

10k mile service and the car is a Golf R mk7.

I've just received a phone call to say my front tyres have excessive wear on the in side shoulder which is caused by out of alignment suspension and the car should have it's suspension re-aligned.

They recommend I have new front tyres put on. They can do 2 new tyres for £216 each (Michelin Pilot Sport) and the tracking for £49.

I asked them to do the tracking and I will source the new tyres else where.

They then said they would not do the tracking unless I have the tyres fitted as this would be detrimental to the handling of the car and not recommended.

Does this sound right to you lot or are they just trying to get me buy their tyres at over inflated (no pun intended) prices. I can source Michelin tyres at £172 each fitted elsewhere.
Ask them to match/get close to the price for the tyres or tell them to fk off and let them know you'll take your business elsewhere next time. Actually forget that- go and inspect them yourself first.

They sound like the type of fkers who'll tell you anything to protect their little cartel of ripping off mugs. Wouldn't even surprise me if when you come to inspect the tyres there's no problem at all.
Assuming you do go ahead with their offer then tell them you want to retain the old tyres. I bet there's well over the legal tread limit left across them.

Edited by Motorrad on Wednesday 4th February 15:36

steveo3002

11,236 posts

205 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
trakcing needs to be done on good tyres , badly worn ones will sit funny comapred to good ones

are they really worn unevenly?

Impasse

15,099 posts

272 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Get your tyres elsewhere and have a four wheel alignment done at the same place rather than just the tracking.

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

175 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
steveo3002 said:
trakcing needs to be done on good tyres , badly worn ones will sit funny comapred to good ones

are they really worn unevenly?
4mm tread remaining across main body of tread and the inside shoulders are down to 2mm

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

175 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Impasse said:
Get your tyres elsewhere and have a four wheel alignment done at the same place rather than just the tracking.
Yes, probably the best way of sorting it properly - just doing the front alignment is not the best

Swanny87

1,265 posts

150 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Unless you've ttted both front wheels off a kerb and unless the tracking was out from the factory, how can a 64 (am I right?) car already be out of line? Sounds very fishy to me and I would get a second opinion.

Even after such a high mileage relative to it's age, I wouldn't expect the tracking to be out so soon!

Soupie69uk

1,116 posts

248 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Just tell them to poke it and get the alignment and tyres doe at the sametime elsewhere.

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

175 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Swanny87 said:
Unless you've ttted both front wheels off a kerb and unless the tracking was out from the factory, how can a 64 (am I right?) car already be out of line? Sounds very fishy to me and I would get a second opinion.
Car is driven briskly and never bounced off the kerbs. Had the car from new last May.

When I took the car in I asked them to inspect the front suspension as there is a very subtle 'knocking' noise when going over cats eyes etc.

I took the service manager out in it last night and he could hear the noise.

They have informed me the front suspension is all good and no faults have been found with bushes, drop links, top mounts etc..........and now they've told me my tracking is out??!!

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

175 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Soupie69uk said:
Just tell them to poke it and get the alignment and tyres doe at the sametime elsewhere.
That's basically what I told them I'd do and he did sound surprised at that answer.

Garvin

5,659 posts

208 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
steveo3002 said:
trakcing needs to be done on good tyres , badly worn ones will sit funny comapred to good ones . . . . .
Eh? Tracking has nothing to do with the tyres - all the measuring kit sits on the rims. Quite acceptable to get the tracking done on worn tyres and then get the tyres changed.

Most centres that do tracking charge about £30 (unless you go for all out four wheel alignment) so my advice would be to retrieve the car, check the tyres and, if worn, get the tracking and tyres done elsewhere.

Impasse

15,099 posts

272 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Swanny87 said:
Unless you've ttted both front wheels off a kerb and unless the tracking was out from the factory, how can a 64 (am I right?) car already be out of line? Sounds very fishy to me and I would get a second opinion.

Even after such a high mileage relative to it's age, I wouldn't expect the tracking to be out so soon!
You assume it left the factory in perfect alignment. That's rarely the case.

Swanny87

1,265 posts

150 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
smiffy555 said:
Car is driven briskly and never bounced off the kerbs. Had the car from new last May.

When I took the car in I asked them to inspect the front suspension as there is a very subtle 'knocking' noise when going over cats eyes etc.

I took the service manager out in it last night and he could hear the noise.

They have informed me the front suspension is all good and no faults have been found with bushes, drop links, top mounts etc..........and now they've told me my tracking is out??!!
This all seems very odd as it sounds like you've looked after it. As Impasse said though it could have been out from the factory.

+1 for the tyres not making a blind bit of difference when doing a wheel alignment. I would definitely be getting a second opinion from a more reliable source.

Claudia Skies

1,098 posts

147 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Impasse said:
Get your tyres elsewhere and have a four wheel alignment done at the same place rather than just the tracking.
^^^ This is exactly what I would do, unless the garage can give you a properly competitive price for the whole job.

smiffy555

Original Poster:

273 posts

175 months

Wednesday 4th February 2015
quotequote all
Thanks chaps.

Collected car and am going to get it 4 wheel aligned at somewhere like Centre of Gravity.

Get it done properly.