Hi Folks,

Not really a Skoda topic but is it just me or does nearly every tyre shop nowadays damage your alloy wheels when changing your tyres?!

With my company car the lease company uses the Kwik Fit mobile service. I appreciate Kwik Fit are a bit of a cheap and cheerful bunch but on my last two cars they've damaged my wheels. On my old Golf damage was so bad I had to get both front wheels refurbished; admittedly Kwik Fit pickeed up the tab and the mobile outfit they use for the repairs said it happens loads and that Kwik Fit effectively keep them in business!

On my MK6, asked the bloke (same guy who damaged my MK5) to be really careful. Admittedly he only left a small chip on one of the front wheels but instead opened my drivers door with my keys in his hand and damaged the silver trim. Couldnt get anyone to admit blame so have had to live with it.

Missus took her Polo to the Henley on Thames branch a couple of weeks ago, being Henley (and their headquarters I gather) and having to change tyres on lots of nicer cars than ours I was expecting better, but no they've scored the hell out of her wheels too and they now need a refurb. Her car only has 195/55 R15's on it so cant imagine to an experienced tyre fitter that their that difficult to get off and on, not like a wider 45/40/35 profile tyre (which are pretty common nowadays). Incidentally similar thing happened to this car at an ATS as well when having a puncture fixed, though admitedly not as bad.

I hate kerbed alloys so it does my head in when I take my mint wheeled car somewhere to have something routine done and have to put up with damage caused, or the stress of getting it fixed. Sure i'm not alone here.

I'm worried with the Fabia vRS having ordered the dark chrome wheels that we're in for a nightmare when getting tyres changed on it, dont fancy being in a position where we have to get those wheels refurbed.

I dont suppose i'll be all that keen on using Kwik Fit or ATS again for the Fabia but can anyone recommend a good tyre fitter in the Oxford/Berkshire area that wont damage my wheels? Also is there a good mobile refurb service that would be able to deal with the Dark Chromes or would they need to be taken off and sent somehwhere to be re-machined and laquered etc?

Cheers

Paul

Same experience here.

I've still to find a place that'll do it properly.

I'm considering using BlackBoots next time, as Wheels-in-motion who've done alignment on a couple of my cars are their sister company and can't be faulted for professionalism.

I have had to Octavia’s (L&K and Elegance) in the past and alloys on both

Both had new tyres fitted by Kwik Fit and they did a great job with no marks on the alloys

So it does look like some branches are better than others

Might add that one branch was in Clacton and the other in Eccles

John

Edited 10 March, 201115 yr by JohnLD

I have had to Octavia’s (L&K and Elegance) in the past and alloys on both

Both had new tyres fitted by Kwik Fit and they did a great job with no marks on the alloys

So it does look like some branches are better than others

Might add that one branch was in Clacton and the other in Eccles

John

Yeah all luck of the draw I think. Still think most independants, particularly those that deal largely with expensive cars do the best job though.

I had to use Kwik Fit just before Christmas for a puncture and they chipped one of my alloys. Unfortunately, I didn't see it at the time. I'd never use them again. I've since found a really good place in Tadworth which also uses the hot vulcanising method when doing punctures. Unfortunately, Tadworth, Surrey is no good for the OP.

One of the reasons I use a one man outfit. He is more expensive than camskill (local to me) or gates another local, however, he will not leave a mark on the alloy.

On my motorcycles (mine all have very very expensive allow wheels) the dealers use rim protectors when removing and fitting new tyres. I've seen them used on car wheels too. I think I'll gonna make sure they use them on my car wheels. If they haven't got them, I won't go there.