Just had my wheels powder coated, and noticed that the equally worn tyres were not fitted on the same axle, resulting in 4mm & 7mm on each.

I decided I would swap around so the 4's are on the front, as they were beforehand.

Took to Kwik fit, as I thought it would be quicker, and save me damaging my new wheels.

It was to be a simple swap front to back,

When refitting the wheels, the front wheel would not sit flush on the rear hub, in fact they could not get it to sit flush. The new type centre cap was removed in case this was causing the problem, which is wasn't.

On measuring both hubs, there was a difference of around 2mm more on the rear hub

I decided to then just swap the tyres around, which was a very anxious watch and wait for me.

Fortunately, both tyres were swapped and no damage incurred, and the bolts were not gunned in.

I have never had the need to swap wheels around from front to back, so it the hub really a different size on the rear, or is it the powder coating that is affecting how the wheel sits on the hub?

Or is this normal when the wheels have been powder coated due to the increased thickness?

Kwik fit were very good btw.

Thanks

Sorry not an answer to your question.

 

But best get any Powder Coating off the seating face on the wheels, and out of the Wheel Bolt / Nut seatings

They should have been masked off during Coating the same as when painting.

Many have issues as a Coating melts and wheels become loose.

Swapped wheels both steel and Alloy front to rear on both 1.6 FSI and 2 liter FSI without problem.

GoneOffSKi Has a valid point.

all 4 hubs have 57.1mm, so think, it will be your powder coating !

Edited 25 March, 201610 yr by 0ctavist

Seen it loads where the powder coating stuff things up.

Thinking about it logically your spare fits front and rear (assuming you have one) so they must be interchangeable.

I have swapped wheel around a number of times with no problems.  Both standard wheels and aftermarket wheels with my winter tyres.  Powder coating in central bore of wheel would seem to be the likeliest cause of your problem.

??? Question regarding the Kwikfit employee not fit to sweep the floor it seems. The Op says they measured the hub. Was it the centre bore they measured, and did they realky changes tyres on wheels? What was the cost of this fiasco? Good Friday, good **** up more like.

they measured the outer diameter of the hub with digital calipers.

It seems like the powder coating is to blame then, as the back of the wheel where it sits on the hub was not masked.

 

It cost £23 to have the wheels swapped initially then the tyres

 

Learning for me - should have checked this out beforehand, then I would have made sure the correct masking was employed!

 

re the tyre change, I asked them to do this as i would rather change pairs rather than one then another a few months later

Sorry if it is me just  being dim.

So when they measured the rear hubs and the front with Digital Calipers the hubs were not 2mm different?

 

You never had the Hubs Powder coated did you?

 

It was the wheels bore that was different.

I refer to the round protrusion where the centre of the wheel sits - I may be incorrect calling this the hub..

Nothing but the wheel was PC'd.

Thanks

So measuring the hub will prove nothing.

The issue is with the powder coating on the alloy wheels.

The hubs front & rear should all measure 57mm diameter.  The centrebore of the wheel should measure 57.1mm.

My son had this problem with an Audi , we had a hell of a job getting them off after he had wheels refurbished , We had to scrape off all the coating in the centres to get them on again. They had not been masked in the centre. 

As I had to lie underneath and batter the tyre with a hammer to get them off I wonder what would have happened if he had a puncture at the side of the road and had to try to change the wheel, he may not have been able to fit the spare correctly. 

 

Something to remember after getting your wheels refurbished . 

My son had this problem with an Audi , we had a hell of a job getting them off after he had wheels refurbished , We had to scrape off all the coating in the centres to get them on again. They had not been masked in the centre. 

As I had to lie underneath and batter the tyre with a hammer to get them off I wonder what would have happened if he had a puncture at the side of the road and had to try to change the wheel, he may not have been able to fit the spare correctly. 

 

Something to remember after getting your wheels refurbished .

The front had to be hammered off too, just after one day being refitted.

Looks like I will have to do the same at next tyre change

Thanks

My son had this problem with an Audi , we had a hell of a job getting them off after he had wheels refurbished , We had to scrape off all the coating in the centres to get them on again. They had not been masked in the centre. 

As I had to lie underneath and batter the tyre with a hammer to get them off I wonder what would have happened if he had a puncture at the side of the road and had to try to change the wheel, he may not have been able to fit the spare correctly. 

 

Something to remember after getting your wheels refurbished . 

If the wheels are stuck on the hub, the easiest way to shift them is to loosen all the wheel nuts about 6 turns and drive the car (slowly) in a circle.  It usually works.