I have just got back from the garage after having two new tyres fitted to the rear of the car (and balanced) and the wheels aligned as they said the fronts are wearing unevenly (still got some life left in them that's why I didn't change them). The problem is that when I drive at 75 mph the steering wheel wobbles. I cant take the car back to the garage as it is shut and isn't open again till Monday. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the problem is. Do the wheels need there balancing checked or could it be the uneven wear on the front tyres causing this. There was previously no wheel wobble before.

 

cheers in advance 

 

Ross

The wheels are incorrectly balanced, I would go back as soon as they open and ask them to do it again. Properly.

National speed limit is 70mph so shouldn't be a problem

In all seriousness I would get them to double check them, mine where the same the other week after new tyres.

Are the wheel bolts correctly tightened? Someone sabotaged my car last year at good wood and I nearly lost a wheel :(

Are the wheel bolts correctly tightened? Someone sabotaged my car last year at good wood and I nearly lost a wheel :(

What the F! Why would someone do that? Some people are beyond help, could of killed you and others just doing something stupid like that.

I know mate, just come on to a dual carraigeway when I heard a loud clunk as 3 of the bolts fell out! Managed to find 2 and drive home carefully

Mental.

Are the wheel bolts correctly tightened? Someone sabotaged my car last year at good wood and I nearly lost a wheel :(

yip, the wheel bolts are tight. a similar thing happened to my mate. someone tried to steal his alloys and obviously came to the locking wheel nut and realised they were screwed. he went to drive away the next day and felt something was wrong. the wheel was only held on with the locker. he was extremely luck it could have been a very serious accident.

Having to go back is really frustrating. I'm already having to go back on Friday because they damaged an alloy and they are going to repair it. The reason I picked this garage was because it was a blackcircles premier garage. Don't think I'll ever be using them again. I suppose the good thing is that they are going to repair the damaged alloy but then again how good is the repair going to be?

Having to go back is really frustrating. I'm already having to go back on Friday because they damaged an alloy and they are going to repair it. The reason I picked this garage was because it was a blackcircles premier garage. Don't think I'll ever be using them again. I suppose the good thing is that they are going to repair the damaged alloy but then again how good is the repair going to be?

I work in the Garage Equipment Trade, you'll be suprised on how relaxed the Calibration procedure's are. Any one can do it on some machines, some use a 100g weight that is supplied with the machine, most of the time that weight is not there 6 months down the line.  Their are no proper checks on the accuracy on the calibration or state of the Equipment from vosa, just an engineer or Garage Equipment firms certification..

Most will only investigate further if they have a reasonable cause for doing so I.E. A lot of complaints.

 

It does sound like the wheels have not been balanced properly but that could be either incompetence of the operator, or faulty/uncalibrated machine.

Edited 8 February, 201412 yr by theezenutz

Every time I get new tyres at Kwik fit I always have to return for the balancing to be redone, if the mobile fitter comes out he does not stand a chance of balancing correctly so I tell him not to bother and call in to have them done properly.

 Keep an eye on them too, as some get them close enough and refit your wheel. I stand and watch over them, asking loads of questions like a child, what does that do? why do you do that? I think you have too much weight on there, take them off and start again! 

 

 Useless, most of them, but one or two will make an effort to get it correct.

I find it's worth paying a bit more at a reputable tyre fitter than going to some back street garage for fitting.

 

Most are happy to re-balance them for free if your having issues shortly after new tyres.

Finding a decent Garage is a minefield their are as many dodgy one's as their are decent one's.

 

Word of mouth from a trusted source or previous experience is the only way to know really. Even then mistakes can happen just make sure if they make a mistake they put it right.

It's the tyre fitters brutality I hate. For some reason, unbeknown to me, they have to throw everything about. They throw the new tyres about, they throw the wheel onto the machine, throw the old tyre off, fit the new tyre, and then throw the tyre bar down with a clang, what's all that about?

Take your car back and ask them why they've not done it right, assuming it's not TLC Motors (old joke).

I will be going back after work on Monday to speak to them anyway. Judging by the fact they were willing to repair the alloys without any arguing I'm hoping they will be just as helpful with this problem.

As everyone else has said, either incorrectly balanced, or one of the wheel weights have fallen off on the way home.