I suspect mods might wish to remove this and that's fine by me if they do, but I feel I ought to warn other members of this after my experience.

I have been after some new rims for my Primera GT and settled on some smart Team Dynamics Monza R's. Trying to find a package with the wheels and half-decent tyres though was proving a hard task. Finally found a place which did them at a very competitive price called Hyde Road Wheels. Being in Manchester, they weren't too far away for me to drive.

So we agreed the wheel and tyre combinations, I paid a £50 deposit over the phone and I went in there today. I arrived at the place, took my car in etc.

Then the bloke comes up to me and tells me that in actual fact they're cheaper tyres (apparently the same compound of rubber) that are on the wheels than was arranged (Falken 912's as opposed to 462's I think). I was very displeased at this and asked to speak to the manager for a discount . . . but she was stubborn and refused to budge. I was annoyed, but I'd taken a 3 hour unpaid gap in my working day to travel into Manchester so I stomached the loss.

Wheels on, but no dustcaps! I had to prompt them for those which the then put on. All good, so I set of back to Macclesfield.

There's a strange recurring noise coming from a wheel on the passenger side, sounds exactly like something rubbing against the disc I thought. Pulled over, everything seemed ok, I peeled off the stickers that they left on, and drove back to work with the noise still persisting. Back at work I checked the wheels again to discover the back wheels were both loose. :eek: The bolts took a full turn before they began to tighten up! :eek::eek: I pulled over on a slight slope before so I can only assume that was what prevented my noticing this then, but I was stunned!

Part of my journey from the wheel place back to work (they knew I had come from Macclesfield too) had been 60mph duel carriageways, some with bends too. If a wheel had come off then, I shudder to think at what the consequences could have been!

While I am not entirely sure what to do from my perspective now, I am definately furious at this total lack of care.

I would strongly urge anyone to avoid this place, the next time this sloppy practice is carried out (and I wouldn't have noticed the sound if it wasn't for my windows being down and radio off) the wheel may come off with possibilities that don't bear thinking about.:(

I felt I had to share that with everyone.:(

No problems whatsoever relaying your experiences of a company whatsoever Rob, as long as its factual

Such a shame really, should be the easiest thing in the world to put on a set of wheels. :thumbdwn:

whilst it's nothing like leaving the wheels finger tight, tyrerite on marsh road in Oxford are *****; after they fitted new tyres all 4 of my wheels now have scrapes of varying lengths along the outer edge of the rim, and to make matters worse they're gloss black pro race 1.2s:mad:

Tyre places that do that are infuriating :(

Trading standards I'd suggest Rob as that is goods not as described and also a safety issue with the fitting.

I always check myself now after anyone has had the wheels off :(

Tyre places that do that are infuriating :(

Trading standards I'd suggest Rob as that is goods not as described and also a safety issue with the fitting.

I always check myself now after anyone has had the wheels off :(

Indeed I think it will be Trading Standards. Like you say, it's one thing being poor service, but if one of those wheels came off at speed all sorts of things could have happened.

I went around and checked every bolt and they're sorted now. I think I will be adopting the checking too now after the wheels come off for any reason.

I think I will be adopting the checking too now after the wheels come off for any reason.

A good habit to get into in any case.

Seriously bad news about the quality of service etc :thumbdwn:

I always stand and watch what tyre places are doing with my car since Kwik Fit bent one of my sills.

The equivalent chains here are Tony's Tyres and Beaurepaires.

That's a pretty basic mistake to make, which could have consequences out of all proportion.

If they were any good, they will take it on board and revise their procedures, if the aren't, I expect that they will try to hide behind a disclaimer on the invoice to check the wheel tightness after so many miles.

Kwik Fit put my spare wheel on after concerns over one tyre balding on the edges.

I decided to change the tyres round afterwards and found that I could undo the wheel bolts using just my arm strength. All my others I need to give the tyre iron a good kick or stand on.

I think after that and reading Yashicamats post I'll have to check my wheel bolts are on to my satisfaction.

Kwik Fit put my spare wheel on after concerns over one tyre balding on the edges.

I decided to change the tyres round afterwards and found that I could undo the wheel bolts using just my arm strength. All my others I need to give the tyre iron a good kick or stand on.

I think after that and reading Yashicamats post I'll have to check my wheel bolts are on to my satisfaction.

While not wishing to defend Kwik Fit, I would say that when the wheels are correctly fitted and torqued to the correct setting, It would be normal to be able to undo the wheel nuts/bolts with to tool supplied by the manufacturer. If you have to kick or stand on the wheel brace they have probably been overtightened.

From personal experience, National Tyres near me always use a torque wrench to tighten up the wheel nuts when they've had a wheel off. They also have a line on the invoice which advises you to check the tightness of the wheel nuts after 100 miles.

on the plus side though Rob....

"(Falken 912's as opposed to 462's I think)."

arn't the 912's the new falken tyre that replaces the 452's (462's?) and are supposed to be better all round?

how strange, i too bought team dynamics monza r's from hyde road wheels!

think the 17's in white were 550 including tyres which was a damn good price as everywhere else they were over 600 and some places 700!

I had no problems whatsoever and the girl was quite nice however i took them away and had them fitted elsewhere!

Probably a good idea by the sounds of it!!!!!!!

on another note, these wheels have been on my car for nearly a year now and i have a comment.

15 spoke white wheels!

who in their right mind would buy 15 spoke white wheels?

15!!!!

why?

it takes more time to clean the wheels than it does to wash the car!

15!

IDIOT!

Last time i listen to my brother!

and white too?!?

I do 60 miles a day, it only takes one day and the wheels are filthy again.

Why, why did i buy 15 spoke white wheels?

they do look nice when clean though

on the plus side though Rob....

"(Falken 912's as opposed to 462's I think)."

arn't the 912's the new falken tyre that replaces the 452's (462's?) and are supposed to be better all round?

I thought the 912 was an all season tyre and the 452 a summer tyre that is also good in the wet.

While not wishing to defend Kwik Fit, I would say that when the wheels are correctly fitted and torqued to the correct setting, It would be normal to be able to undo the wheel nuts/bolts with to tool supplied by the manufacturer. If you have to kick or stand on the wheel brace they have probably been overtightened.

Agreed. In fact, for general use, and assuming standard wheels, I would say carry a wheelbrace to handle work-tightening and any corrosion on exposed bolt ends when loosening the nuts.

Use the supplied wheelbrace, and tighten the nuts arm-tight but do not use body weight when refitting. This is because the supplied wheelbrace is specifically designed to deliver about the correct torque when used with arm pressure only.

From personal experience, National Tyres near me always use a torque wrench to tighten up the wheel nuts when they've had a wheel off. They also have a line on the invoice which advises you to check the tightness of the wheel nuts after 100 miles.

And? Have you ever asked to see an in-date calibration certificate for the torque wrench?

And? Have you ever asked to see an in-date calibration certificate for the torque wrench?

Even if it's well out, it is still going to be better than the air gun jockeys :(

Even if it's well out, it is still going to be better than the air gun jockeys :(

Not necessarily; it is possible to get and use torque limiters for air wrenches. In any event, my point was that a torque wrench is not a magical device that stops you over-tightening a nut.

Not necessarily; it is possible to get and use torque limiters for air wrenches. In any event, my point was that a torque wrench is not a magical device that stops you over-tightening a nut.

Agree it isn't magical but a bolt done up to say 45 rather than 38 will still be undoable by hand/foot.

THe same applies to the calibration of the air gun limiter and I'd guess most places don't use them as I've had to take plenty out with a lot of force then grease them and put them back in after letting an air gun near them on older cars.

Agree it isn't magical but a bolt done up to say 45 rather than 38 will still be undoable by hand/foot.

THe same applies to the calibration of the air gun limiter and I'd guess most places don't use them as I've had to take plenty out with a lot of force then grease them and put them back in after letting an air gun near them on older cars.

All true, but the real point is that a gorilla is a gorilla irrespective of what tools he gets, whereas Ross will probably get within actually required (rather than quoted book) tolerances using nothing more than 2 sets of combo spanners.

You've both made good and valid points, although my main point (which I should have included in my post) was that it is the only place where I've personally ever seen someone using a torque wrench when refitting road wheels.

Seeing as having the wheels bolted onto your car is pretty critical to driving it, you'd think that most - if not all - fast-fit tyre places would make the effort and refit the wheels nut/bolts to the correct tightness rather than just 'do them up a bit' or ram them on so tight you need a six-foot extension bar to even have a hope of loosening them.

I did once have a mate's car with front wheel bolts done up so tight it took my (then) 180lb bouncing up and down on a 3 foot breaker bar, balancing with my female mate's shoulders as balance supports, whilst her hubby sat in the car with the engine running and his food hard on the brakes to stop it moving!!! :eek: