Kwik-Fit Tyres

Robisere

To correct impressions about applying Torque wrenches or impact guns when fitting tyres, or carrying out any wheel removal/replacement work: -

I was in the trade for over 30 years, until disability after an injury. After a short time, I learned the 'knack' of removing wheels without using an impact gun. I could whack them off with what we used to call a "cracker bar" - a breaker bar, as referred to here. I could do this even while the wheels were suspended on the lift. Very occasionally, I would come across one that had been tightened with an impact gun without a 'bleed valve' also referred to here. Sometimes these had the wheelnuts rounded off, which I would have to point out to the customer before doing anything else. More often, I would have to use the impact gun if the nuts were OK, but I always ensured that the gun was nearby in case I needed it.

Usually I would find from the customer that he had received some kind of roadside assistance and the wheels had been replaced over-tight, with an impact gun. I never, ever, used a gun or a torque wrench to replace wheelnuts tightly, only to 'spin them up' until the nut made contact with the wheel, then final tighten with the cracker bar.. it simply is not necessary for an experienced mechanic to do this. I was taught many years ago, by my first foreman, to use a Torque setting of "FT", which could mean "Flippin' Tight" but actually meant something "F-" else!

I once met a stranded family on a lonely road in Cornwall, whose large, twin axle caravan had a flat tyre. I was able to remove it with the bar & socket and hydraulic jack I always caried instead of a wheel brace and the usual horrible scissor jack. I took it to a garage which, repaired the tyre, brought back and refitted the wheel. The driver and his young family were on the way to the same place as we were. A good few free drinks later that night, we were bestest friends!

cutandshut

How come they were 'stranded' with a twin axle van. You can still tow them with one flat tyre if you take it steady.
I detect a slight aroma of bulls excrement here!

moses06

Wouldn't touch kwik fit with someone else's bargepole. They once tried to rip me off big style - luckily I took my car to an independent who diagnosed a tyre problem (bulge in middle of tread) which KF should have noticed, instead they chose to try and con me into replacing the front suspension.

I have just ordered 4 new tyres for my 4x4 from an independent tyre place for £360 in vat all in, decent brand of good quality tyres too, so KF can go and multiply with themselves!!

smala01

blackcircles.com - saved nearly £40 per tyre fitted.

Smala01

sillygoose

For our own car my local independent thrashes the Blackcircles and etyres prices every time with a bit of haggling, but the online suppliers are useful if you don't like haggling and just happy to beat 'RRP' prices at the depots.

I would add haggling isn't hard, get a print of the best online quote and stick it on the desk at the local depot and say if you can better that you got the sale, never failed yet.

Company car is tied in with Kwikfit sadly, I refuse to use their grubby depots and be kept waiting for ages (they insist on inspecting the whole flamin car).

Fortunately their mobile service is so much better, decent fitters and a good balance done every time. Also when arranging the visit with their base I can discuss what tyres they can get in my size and specify my preference. At the depot you end up with any old thing as long as the lease company OK it.

poppasmurf_bewdley

I used Kwikfit for two new tyres on my Mondeo Mk4 on Wednesday of this week.

They were the only depot locally that had the tyres I wanted in stock and could fit them right away (Goodyear Eagle F1). They were pleasant and quick, taking about half an hour in total. I asked them to also balance the two rear tyres and they did this free of charge.

The following day I received a phone call from them to ask if I was satisfied with the service I received.

At no time did they try and sell me anything else or try to convince me anything was knackered on my car.

It's the first time I've used them for a long, long time, as I've read other people's comments in the past, but from this experience I will use them again so long as they are competitive.

Johnmcl7

red_eye wrote: »

to be fair your brakes could need replacing. Could of had the minimum amount of friction material at the time of the test, 3 months later they could be 5mm left. How would you know unless you checked your self?

In my case the brakes had been replaced by my mechanic the previous month so needless to say I didn't believe Kwik-fit when they told me the brakes needed replaced along with the new tyres. They were clearly really trying their luck but were aggressive when I refused and there definitely were no problems with the tyres or brakes as they claimed.

Kwik-fit have perhaps realised their aggressive pursuit of replacing as much as possible doesn't work well long term or perhaps some branches are better than others but I won't be taking my car back any time soon, aside from trying to replace parts that didn't need replaced they didn't carry out the work they were supposed to do correctly either.

John

learningaboutinsurance

Lum wrote: »

Most of these tyre places use similar balancing machines, only way to tell if the staff are competent is to watch them working.

Signs to watch for:

If they can't get the tyre to balance after a couple of goes, do they just keep adding weights until the machine says it's ok, or do they actually take some off (the former is bad)

When they pull out a pair of new tyres to go on the same axel do the lines drawn about the tyres match. The lines indicate the run out of the tyre. Some people argue that both should pull the same way. Some argue that you should flip one so that they pull the same amount in opposite directions and cancel each other out. In any case if the lines are totally different to each other then that isn't a good choice of a pair of tyres.

When they put the wheels back on do they just tighten the nuts with the powered impact gun, or do they finish up by getting out a big torque wrench and doing the final tightening by hand until the wrench makes a click sound. Not doing that is bad.

A bit ageist, but in my experience the places that are staffed entirely by teenagers/20-somethins with no-one supervising them tend to do a crappy job.

I too use a local place (EK Tyres in Bulwark) and would recommend them to anybody. Probably a bit far to travel from Islington though

Thank you so much just what i was looking to read, i plan on being right there (that's if they let me to see what they are doing). but to be fair since posting the thread and the recommendations regarding black circles i think i might try them as they are very competitive on price as well as the premier fitting centre (according to them) is next door to KF.

learningaboutinsurance

moses06 wrote: »

I have just ordered 4 new tyres for my 4x4 from an independent tyre place for £360 in vat all in, decent brand of good quality tyres too, so KF can go and multiply with themselves!!

for a 4X4 thats what i would expect, but to be fair and money concious (being very MSE:rotfl:) My car is MK1 focus which is good nick and value is probably at best £800 on the private sale market and i cannot justify to myselve to spend £500 on tyres i got quoted from my mechanic (who i do trust very much) he wanted to put on pirellis. i just want mid range tyres willing to spend upto £250 which i think is right price for me and so far KF and blackcircles (who have local centres to me) match the tyre requirements and importantly price

learningaboutinsurance

Thank you all for sharing your comments, i will be going with black circles with their fitting centre next door to KF and will let you know how i get on