I noticed recently that my steering has been vibrating recently at motorway speeds, so decided to get the balancing looked at.

KwickFit charge £5.25 per wheel, so i decided to get both fronts checked out.

Not long after the first wheel was removed i get called into the workshop to check my tyre. I was half expecting the job i wanted doing to turn into a job they wanted to charge more for, so i go to take a look at the problem, and i'm presented with the wheel that has quite obviously had the inside edge of the tyre wiped clean, and told that its got really heavy wear on the inside.

I tell him i'm not concerned and ask how the balance was on that wheel, and he tells me it hasn't been checked yet, and then mentions that the tracking could be out, so i mention that it was done 8 months ago and laser aligned. SPEED BUMPS! was the response. if i go over alot of speed bumps they can knock the tracking out.

By now i can see where this is heading... balancing followed by tracking, then a new tyre.. so i just ask him to balance the wheels and i'll sort the tracking and tyres out another time when i have some speare time and more money.

So i go back and wait 20 mins watching them like a hawk through the glass untill the car is done.

The reception guy informs me its ready and asks if i need a receipt. I say yes i do, and he goes off to speak to the fitter for 5 mins before coming back and informing me there is no charge, and i should put the £10.50 towards some new tyres....

So i gave the car a good inspection before opening the door to get in, and drive away wondering....

WHY would Kwick fit not charge for 30 mins work?

Here are some pics of the tyres taken 15 mins after leaving the workshop...

Drivers side:

Passenger side:

Anyone see any obvious wear on any of the tyres?

they look a little more worn on one edge to me, but not enough to worry about. They will want replacing soon though.

maybe they were giving you the work for free as a goodwill gesture in the hope that you will go back for work in the future, a loss leader.

Strange. You would reasonably expect to pay some charge, seeing as they had done some work.

A photo across the tread would be useful though, to gauge wear as opposed to looking down on it. Also measurements from a tyre gauge across several parts of the tyre would tell you for certain. If you don't have a simple 'analogue' gauge, buy one

Halfords Tyre Tread Depth Gauge from Halfords Price £3.99

Steve

Well I can think of a few reasons:

(1) Just bone idle.

(2) Their 'puters were down and they would have had to do manual paperwork for a receipt so couldn't be bothered for a few quid.

(3) They didn't want to imply any 'warranty' on the balancing - for whatever reason.

(4) They realised you'll need new tyres very shortly and thought if they did you a favour you might come back to them.

I don't think i will be going back to them, i just didn't like the way they did things while i was there.

I also wasn't impressed with the way they misplaced another customers keys.

I'll take it to the boys i trust at Demon Tweeks this week, and get the alignment checked. Tyres have planty left on them and can wait till september at least, and will get the BIG service done at the same time.

perhaps they fancied you?

on a more serious note, they will be hoping you will source your tyres from them, as they offered you a good service this time.

Not sure if good service includes letting a wheel fall over instead of propping it up.

It fell onto the rear of the rim, but i doubt it did the powder coat finish any good.

(5) They did some damage you haven't spotted yet and without a receipt they can deny you were ever there!

(5) They did some damage you haven't spotted yet and without a receipt they can deny you were ever there!

That was my first thought, and i've been looking the car over quite a bit trying to spot anything that looks damaged.

why is everyone so negative and dubious? everyone moans about the lack of customer service etc nowadays so when a company actually treat you with respect and offer a decent service hoping for return business they slate them and accuse them of all sorts?!

I haven't slated them or accused them, but i haven't said i had great service either.

They wanted to get me to have a new tyre (which isn't needed) and also to fork out for tracking. I imagine its a tactic thats used quite alot on people and gets them to spend money where its not needed.

I just find it odd that a company is happy to quote me £10+ for a simple job, but then not give me a receipt or copy of the job card, and let me drive off without paying a penny.

How many companys do you know survive a recession with that sort of 'service'?

they do look worn on the inside more.

lookin they have pos 2mm left in them, over the summer they will be fine, even if they go down a tad too much youll be fin but winter youll need new ones prob,

I would be a bit worried that a company tries their luck to get you to buy things that are not needed then when you say no they dont even charge you for what they have done,

I took mine in to a quickfit like place in glasgow to get a screw out and I was there with them the hole time! I watched everything they did as I didnt want the rins or the car damaging.

I dont trust places like that. Mind I dont trust anywere till Ive seen them work.

Billy

I've had a few little things done for free by Kwikit, they fixed the valve on SWMBO's tire not long ago.

I think it's a combination of cant be arsed and a gesture for more business. They generally don't have the best reputation.

Just looking for some goodwill in tricky times. They know they can be undercut by some of the mobile companies, so they're hoping they'll sell you a couple of tyres.

Our local branch of National Tyres used to be the same, until the manager changed. They'd often do the odd puncture repair for no more than goodwill or a drink for the fitter,

Phil

Has anyone else noticed their silly pricing policy?

There's a (high& insulting because they will cut it at the drop of a hat) 'quote' price, if you just turn up at an outlet & pay. Then a book and pay now online price - which is almost on a par with other on-line tyre suppliers (until you get to checkout and see the price bumped up by additional charges!). Crazy way to try and do business.

They don't list Wheel balancing on the website or at the depot.

Could have plucked a number out of the air for all i know.

I beg to differ about them not being worn - having had several sets of Proxeses in the past, my one criticism is that the shoulders wore really badly unless they were up at about 35psi on the front and 32psi at the back. Once the circumferential grooves disappear (marked in yellow), the shoulders have less than 1.6mm left AIUI - and they're not visible on ANY of yours:

Sure, they're still legal, as the requirement is based on 75% of the tread width, but they're certain not 'not obviously worn' either...

why is everyone so negative and dubious? everyone moans about the lack of customer service etc nowadays so when a company actually treat you with respect and offer a decent service hoping for return business they slate them and accuse them of all sorts?!

because they tried selling him tryes he didnt need?!?!?!?!?

because they tried selling him tryes he didnt need?!?!?!?!?

See previous post...

See previous post...

LOL that wasn't there when i was reading through it!!

i send my apologises

why is everyone so negative and dubious?

Because it's kwik-fit?

LOL that wasn't there when i was reading through it!!

i send my apologises

I beg to differ about them not being worn - having had several sets of Proxeses in the past, my one criticism is that the shoulders wore really badly unless they were up at about 35psi on the front and 32psi at the back. Once the circumferential grooves disappear (marked in yellow), the shoulders have less than 1.6mm left AIUI - and they're not visible on ANY of yours:

Sure, they're still legal, as the requirement is based on 75% of the tread width, but they're certain not 'not obviously worn' either...

Interesting post, as i result i went out to the car to check it more closely.

The middle section of the tyre has 1.6mm left BEFORE the tread bumps are going to meet the tarmac.

I compared the tread on the fronts to the rears, and you are right about the lines where you have drawn yellow ones on my pic. The rears have them still visible, and the fronts have worn them down on both corners on both wheels.

There is a faint mark where they once were, so this is only recently worn away (last few hundered miles i would guess).

As all four corners are equally worn, i find it hard to beleive that tracking is to blame or it would be either the inside edge, or the outside edge.

Its more likely a case of me trusting my tyres alot when it comes to corners and roundabouts

Its more likely a case of me trusting my tyres alot when it comes to corners and roundabouts

lol!!