Getting redress for over-tightended wheel bolts

davej311

I've taken my car in to get new front tyres fitted, the locking wheel bolts have been tightened so much that they destroyed the wheel nut key getting the first one off, costing me £30 for a new one, and are struggling with the other wheel.

The tyres being replaced were part worns, it was a cash job with no receipt. Don't suppose I have a leg to stand on do i in terms of claiming against the guy who over tightened them?

DUTR

Erm , let me get this straight, the key was damaged removing the wheel, which parhaps means the wheel nuts were secure before arriving at the tyre place? Unless you checked them , how do you know they were over torqued?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Doesn't the sensible car owner check their own wheelbolts when they get home after the wheels have been removed, making sure they can undo the locker and applying common sense torque to it?

londonTiger

they will definately deny it even if you were in the wrong. Nothing you can do about it I'm afirad. Other than buyer beware and go to a proper tyre place and not those who will just impact drive everything and anything with max speed and strength.

AdrianC

Cheap dodgy back-street cash tyre place employs chimps. Hold the front page.

"Nah, mate, never seen you before in me life. You didn't buy 'em from here."

DUTR

AdrianC wrote: »

Cheap dodgy back-street cash tyre place employs chimps. Hold the front page.

"Nah, mate, never seen you before in me life. You didn't buy 'em from here."

I'm not so sure, the independants I have used, always ensure they use a wheel protector to prevent scratching the rims, and the torque is usually preset, there are usually signs up to suggest bringing the vehicle back after a week for the bolts to be checked.
I more suspect the OP didn't have the locking wheel nut covers on, and they have corroded from the elements and harsh cleaning chemicals .

AdrianC

DUTR wrote: »

I'm not so sure, the independants I have used, always ensure they use a wheel protector to prevent scratching the rims, and the torque is usually preset, there are usually signs up to suggest bringing the vehicle back after a week for the bolts to be checked.

Somehow, they sound as if they might not be occupying the same seedy end of the market as the OP's cash-no-questions part-worn emporium of doom.

'course, the other question needing to be asked is exactly how knackered were these part-worns if they're needing to be replaced already before the car has been serviced or even had the brake pads checked?

force_ten

when were the part worns fitted and when did you discover that the wheel nuts would not come off

what sort of time scale are we talking here

specialboy

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Doesn't the sensible car owner check their own wheelbolts when they get home after the wheels have been removed, making sure they can undo the locker and applying common sense torque to it?

No the sensible car owner doesn't, they trust that the job has been done correctly by the professionals. Would you have an exhaust fitted and then go home and check its tightened up properly? no you wouldn't so why doubt their ability to tighten your wheels?

marlot

davej311 wrote: »

...The tyres being replaced were part worns, it was a cash job with no receipt...

You'll always struggle to enforce legal rights against a black market transaction!

Inch_High_2

specialboy wrote: »

No the sensible car owner doesn't, they trust that the job has been done correctly by the professionals. Would you have an exhaust fitted and then go home and check its tightened up properly? no you wouldn't so why doubt their ability to tighten your wheels?

So what happens when said professionals inform you the wheel nuts should be checked after X miles?