changing wheels how hard can that be..

[ptholt]

Well that was a frustrating Saturday afternoon, decided to fit the Estorils that have been languishing in my garage since before Xmas, they have good tyres on so was a swop from current Imola's to the Estorils.

loaded the Estorils in the truck and instructed the wife to follow me to nearest tyre fitters in Crawley..

First place -
kwik fit (shudder) - sorry sir we only fit what we sell.. ok next
ATS - can fit you in one day next week if you book it in... er no thanks next
just tyres - sorry its to low for our jacks, try next door
mr clutch - our centre pole ramp is broken, go to austec (who were shut)
lynx tyres - were closing early sorry

dear lord it was hard work lol, gave up and decided to get them refurbished before fitting them as clearly it needs to be booked in weeks in advance to have your wheels swopped so may as well only do it once when they have been refurbed :s

[Richard 858]

I always use a good independent that I know and trust even though they are over 10 miles away. On the one occasion that I needed to use a national outfit I experienced 2 "we only fit what we sell" and the one that obliged "unofficially" marked both wheels while changing !

I've learned my lesson and will never deviate again, especially as the independent also offers a mobile service.

[phazed]

I get my son to change mine in his lunchtime

Use the web and find an indie.

I also use Total Tyres near Dorking if my son's busy or arsy!

[zed4]

I always use an indie, failing that, try your local wheel refurbish place. I often use The Wheel Specialist if I need to change tyres, they're always happy to oblige.

[roseytvr]

Forgive me if I'm wrong but OP didn't want tyres changing, it was switching wheels that already had tyres on. Unbelievable that they cant be arsed to do it probably because they haven't got a tariff unless it involves tyres!

[phazed]

Well spotted Ian.

If that's the case and you haven't the jacking facilities then call over to my place...................

[ptholt]

I loaded them up into the truck today to take to my local wheel specialist and they closed down at xmas lol..... i must be bloody jinxed!

Taking it elsewhere to get them refurb'd now, they are going to take the best of the 8 tyres and fit them to the refub'd wheels for me once done

[ianwayne]

not very hard at all IMHO.

Doesn't anybody do this themselves any more? A basic trolley jack, wheelbrace and torque wrench. 45 mins tops to change all 4 even if you do one at a time rather than the whole front or rear.

[MethylatedSpirit]

Local indy is the way to go. Show them where the jack goes though.

I'm guessing you have tyres on one set of wheels and want them transferred over to another set?



If you're just looking to change the wheels over, then halfords has a nice low profile jack :P

Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Monday 9th March 17:58

[ptholt]

So the plan was get all 8 wheels off, decide which were the best tyres to keep, get them on the Estorils and fit them to the car.

Have managed to arrange that as part of getting the wheels refurbed, then the lesser tyres fitted back onto the Imola's so i can sell them to anyone who wants a set with proxies on.

[ianwayne]

Apologies. I didn't read the original post properly; you want to move tyres on to different rims. Hardly any tyre place will do this, as said before, they want to flog you tyres.

However, a place that sells 'part worn' tyres may be more accommodating.

[Colin RedGriff]

I have to say I had a completely different experience when I swapped my wheels over. I loaded them up in my daily driver and took them down to the local Kwik Fit the guys were only too happy to help, obviously they charged me for the work but I was expecting that. They were a pleasure to deal with, interested in the wheels and my TVR and we had a good chat while they swapped the tyres from my old wheels to the new ones. I was able to watch them do all the changeovers and they took care with the wheels at all times.

I guess a lot depends on the branch and the staff. This one was a smaller branch which maybe explains their flexible attitude.

Edited by Colin RedGriff on Monday 9th March 22:58

[QBee]

Go to Halfords
Buy low level trolley jack £35
Buy extending wheel brace 17/19mm (it's 19mm you need)
Buy a plastic sleeved wheel nut socket 19mm so you don't mark the wheels
Do it yourself.
Net cost nil, as you still have the tools for future use

[StarmistBlue400]

QBee said:

Go to Halfords
Buy low level trolley jack £35
Buy extending wheel brace 17/19mm (it's 19mm you need)
Buy a plastic sleeved wheel nut socket 19mm so you don't mark the wheels
Do it yourself.
Net cost nil, as you still have the tools for future use

That's what I have got. It's crap but does the job and being so low it takes no time to jack it up

[QBee]

I must have used my low level Halfords trolley jack several hundred times now, with switching wheels for track days etc. It has never let me down and IMHO is a reasonable piece of kit for the price. Ok it's not pro tyre shop quality.....but it's not that price either. Never fails to go under the car, which is more than I can say for most jacks other TVR owners bring to track days.

OP, take your time and shop around for a nice lightweight low level trolley jack. If there is one thing I wish, it is that the Halfords one was a couple of kilos lighter.

[phazed]

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details...

[ptholt]

I think Halfords have stopped selling them (online at least)..

will investigate in store at a later date

[phazed]

phazed said:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details...

Just to add that there are more of these at TDs then any other jack.

[QBee]

Halfords are currently selling their professional range socket sets half price.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring?partnumber=154864...

I bought the 170 piece one three months ago and am thrilled every time I use it. Such a wide variety of quality tools.

[QBee]

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/garage-equipment/...

This is the trolley jack to which I am referring. Not as beautiful as the one Phazed lists, and probably not as light, but 1/3rd the price.