Thread: Oh No! My Alloys

Can't believe it - had all 4 tyres changed at my local Central Tyres a week ago.

Washed my car at the weekend and I discovered that they've scratched all 4 alloys - I know that it was them as I checked all the wheels the day it went in

I buffed them up and got a lot of the marks off but I have two issues: -

(i) 2 of the wheels have previously been repaired through Audi (about 9 months ago) and they have badly scratched the paint on these

(ii) 2 of the wheels are 'genuine' and even they have scratches on them but not as bad as the refurb's

Wenty back to the garage and they are trying to say it is because I have had them refurbished!

I said so you're telling me that you can't change tyres on wheels that have had refurbs?!??! (What utter Bo**ocks)

They say cos the paint is softer it can't handle the machine that is used to remove/replace the tyre

My reply was that they shouldn't scratch wheels - even the originals - to which they said it would 'cut' out!!

I called back at Audi this evening who understandably are saying the same as me - I've asked them to get the man that comes and refurbs the wheels to call me and also take a look.

Rang the garage back and they are still saying that they weren't baked and only sprayed etc. etc.

Either way I went into the garage with 4 near perfect wheels and came out with two that are buggered and two that are marked.


Also, bought the tyres and fitting service from Blackcircles so waiting for a reply from them as technically I paid them not Central Tyres.


Any thoughts?

i know if it was me in my shop i would do something about it but the paint what wheel companys used has a harder compound than normal 2 pack paints systems.

i would try standing your ground and just ring them every day till they do somthing about it or write to there head office.

Mate the garage are talking utter rubbish, i have a mate who owns his own tyre business and i always stand around when im havin mine done, they can get away without scratchin the alloys but they have to be careful as the machine catches, needless to say...if u take a little bit more care u can get away with no scratches...and thats how it should be!

Just read the post and utterly shocked. Theres no way I would stand for that. You do right chase it to the end and good luck in resolving the issue. We all take pride in our rides and incidents like this are sooo heartbraking.... I personally watch over my wheels when tyres are getting changed, perhaps theres a lesson to be learnt - watch them like a hawk in the future.

Wish I'd read them the riot act before I went in - feel really gutted / annoyed / angry

One thing is that I'm not going to leave it.

Well persistence has paid off....

I went back to Audi and the guy who repainted the two alloys and also went to a local tyre fitter of good reputation who gave me some good information to battle Central Tyres with!
As such I've spoken to Central Tyres a number of times and got to the point where they asked me to get a quote

I've spoken to the guy who originally repaired my 2 alloys and managed to go and see him last week. He gave me a quote for £130 for all three wheels(!) [normally £50 pre wheel but two do need a 'full face' respray whereas one can be 'spot repaired']

I kept at the guys at Central Tyres and today got a call confirming that they will pay the £130 to repair the wheels.

Meanwhile I had given all 4 wheels a really good clean at the weekend and noticed that there are some 'bubbles' where the clearcoat has started to fail so I have now booked the car into www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk 's new branch that opened in Leeds this week - they have an opening offer of 25% off a full refurb rather than having 'just' a respray to the faces.

This works out at £60 per wheel for removal of the tyre; shot blast; powder coat and relaquer (sp?); refit tyre and rebalance with a 12 month guarantee. (Not bad price IMHO)

For all four wheels I am having to put £110 of my own money in but will have four tip-top alloys at the end of it.

I'll let you know my experience of TWS once I get the car back.


CM

I had the front tyres of the family wagon replaced saturday morning. It wasn't until later on saturday that I noticed that one of the is badly scratched. It looks like they have dropped the wheel on it's face. I phoned up the tyre place monday and they said bring it down.

So Claire took it in yesterday and phoned me to say that the tyre place reckons she has kerbed the wheel and it wasn't them.

Needless to say after a few minutes discussion with the manager they are repairing the wheel. These places do try it on...

J.

...seems as though they get the book out and read a couple of standard lines all beginning with "It's not our fault because..."

Good to hear they are sorting for you

i have had TONS of new tyres replaced by my dad who bin working as mechanic for 20 years and NEVER had my alloys damged. he knows how to do it WITHOUT damaging them!!!

I had the same problem with ATS, the fitter and manager of the branch came out with a load of rubbish (I might have compromised with a good deal on tyres or similar) but the area manager arranged to buy a set of steel wheels, fit them to my Range Rover while mine were being refinished (they were colour-coded to a non-standard paint) and paid me my out-of-pocket expenses.

I always shop around for best tyre prices, once purchased I have them fitted at my local Audi dealer, they have a much better equipment than local tyre shops and have always taken a great deal of care, never had any damage to wheels.

Originally Posted by TrevS3

I always shop around for best tyre prices, once purchased I have them fitted at my local Audi dealer, they have a much better equipment than local tyre shops and have always taken a great deal of care, never had any damage to wheels.

the Audi dealer in swindon managed to scracth the hell out of the face of one of my wheels when they repaired a puncher - now they are only willing to split the cost of getting it fixed.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

When you are getting your tyres done find a fitter who has plastic fittings on the tyre fitting machine and always go somewhere that does lots of alloy wheels. Some fast fit places just bang out steel wheel jobs all day and are not used to looking after alloys. Sometimes the lads doing the job are not trained properly!!

Its getting harder and harder to repair punctures/fit new tyres on some alloy wheels. There are certain types of wheels we wont touch as with our machine they are impossible to do without catching the spokes as they sit higher than the rim edge. That coupled with low profile tyres that are so tight to fit they take two people and they bend the arm down onto the wheel, its not worth the risk. I've only marked one alloy and I told the customer on his return, who got it repaired at our expense - £35 IIRC