Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 23

Thread: Be very wary of where you buy your Tyres

  1. #1
    Super Moderator
    eaglem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Perth Western Australia
    Posts
    1,635
    Thanks
    8,425
    Thanked 999 Times in 399 Posts
    Rep Power
    504
    Reputation
    12610

    Default Be very wary of where you buy your Tyres

    A day or two before we were due to leave on our trip to Exmouth I went to the Ian Diffen's Tyre Centre in Malaga to have the tyres checked for any damage and that the air pressures were correct as I do on a regular basis at that centre. I also buy my tyres there and have done for a long time. When I arrived at the Centre it was closed and 3 men were in the office. I knocked on the door and was told Malaga will be closed for a few days as they were renovating. I left without getting the tyres checked.

    On the 21st of April we headed from Perth to Exmouth for an Anzac Day re-union with 2 Troop 1 Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers. We got half way there and stopped at the Billabong Homestead Roadhouse overnight which we booked ahead. On leaving the next morning at around 7am we got about 7.5 kms north of the roadhouse when we blew the right rear tyre. I pulled to the side of the road, far enough to be safe from passing traffic to change the tyre. It was then I found out that at the last tyre rotation done at Ian Diffen's Tyre Centre in Malaga the person who did the rotation got over exuberant with the rattle gun and the lock nut was on so tight I broke the lock nut key trying to get it off. In this situation the only thing I could do was the ring the RAC to see what to do next. They sent a tilt tray tow truck from Geraldton.

    We sat on the roadside waiting for 3 hours for the truck to arrive. After the truck arrived the driver assessed the situation and decided the only option was to load the car on the truck and take it back to Geraldton Ford to have all the locking nuts removed. We had a 3 hour trip back to Geraldton in the truck, the driver told us the car would be locked up in their compound overnight as it was Sunday and no one was at Geraldton Ford and we'd need to find a room for the night. Being in the middle of School Holidays and knowing rooms would be in short supply we asked the driver if he knew where we may get a room and he suggested the Best Western Hospitality Inn where we were lucky to get a room. The room cost $139.00 for the overnight stay. While there I rang the RAC to organise the second tow from the compound yard to Geraldton Ford as requested by the driver. The next morning at 8am we caught a Taxi to Geraldon ford to get repairs organised. The truck arrived near 9am to drop the car off. We were at Geraldton Ford for approximately 7 hours before the job was finally finished with a bill of $603.87 for which I have the receipt. The mechanic told me he had quite some trouble removing all the locking nuts due to them being exsessively over tight and also mentioned that locking nuts should not be tightened with a rattle gun but done by hand to avoid damage to the key. I also paid the Tow driver the $80 as was requested by the RAC. We rang the Billabong Roadhouse again to book a room as it was now 4.30pm and we would get there just before dark, so that was another $90.00 out of pocket that shouldn't have been needed.

    We finally arrived at the Ningaloo Lodge at 2pm on the 24th of April ( I was booked in for the 22nd to the 29th so I lost 2 days) at least in time to march on Anzac Day with the guys from the troop I was in Vietnam with.

    Once the car was repaired we didn't have anymore car troubles heading up or back. I went back to Ian Diffen's Tyre Centre but it was still closed and no one was around. I have no idea on what's going on at Ian Diffen's or how I can solve the out of pocket expenses they caused me to have, but I do wish to have this resolved.

    I have since found out that the Malaga branch of Ian Diffen's City Discount tyres has gone into receivership and I was offered a chance to be included as an unsecured claimant which as we all know I would then have 2 chances of compensation, mine and Buckleys. So be wary where you get your tyres.
    The Eagle Flies High!


  2. The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to eaglem For This Useful Post:

    Keith (17-05-18),lsemmens (17-05-18),mkhannah (16-05-18),ol' boy (17-05-18),Rick (16-05-18),shred (16-05-18),VroomVroom (17-05-18)



Look Here ->
  • #2
    Senior Member
    Rick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Tassi
    Posts
    4,167
    Thanks
    4,168
    Thanked 3,471 Times in 1,531 Posts
    Rep Power
    1340
    Reputation
    51955

    Default

    Sounds like you had a shit of a time mate $603.87 to remove 4 lock nuts jesus profits not a dirty word, that was way excessive over pricing!, Ive never done wheel nuts up with a rattle gun for that reason, I always remove them with a rattle gun, but manually do them up by hand then torque them up with the torque wrench


    Last edited by Rick; 16-05-18 at 09:41 AM.

  • #3
    Super Moderator
    enf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    70
    Posts
    17,752
    Thanks
    16,817
    Thanked 34,961 Times in 9,058 Posts
    Rep Power
    13677
    Reputation
    644429

    Default

    I carry and use a rattle gun (Milwaukee) as my back isn't great so anytime I have to change a tyre I want it done as quickly as possible. I put wheels on and take them off with it, even on my new Redline.

    But I would NEVER tighten a lock nut with one. Jesus mate, it sounds like you scored the apprentice.
    The fact that there's a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about the anticipated traffic flow.

  • #4
    Premium Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Central Tablelands of NSW
    Age
    81
    Posts
    13,824
    Thanks
    1,242
    Thanked 3,806 Times in 2,525 Posts
    Rep Power
    1797
    Reputation
    56986

    Default

    One year I had 'some' new tyres fitted and for some reason a few days later I needed to take one off and I could NOT undo the nuts, even using a star type wheel brace and putting a bar or pipe over to increase leverage.
    I went back to the Tyre service and got them to go around all the wheels and re-tension them.
    I have no idea if the 'fitter' was new and didnt know how to set the Toque on the 'Rattle Gun' or didnt give a shit and worked on the principle that one setting did all, ie Cars, Trucks, Bus's and Trains......(yes, Trains do have Rims and Tyres only they are fitted a little differently)
    The next time I had tyres attended to there or elsewhere, I asked the fitter to make sure I could remove the tyres using a suitable wheel brace.
    Not only does over tightening cause all sorts of dramas as experienced by Egalem but there is the danger the wheel stud(s) could snap if over tensioned.
    Last edited by gordon_s1942; 16-05-18 at 12:46 PM.
    I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!

  • #5
    Super Moderator
    eaglem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Perth Western Australia
    Posts
    1,635
    Thanks
    8,425
    Thanked 999 Times in 399 Posts
    Rep Power
    504
    Reputation
    12610

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick View Post
    Sounds like you had a shit of a time mate $603.87 to remove 4 lock nuts jesus profits not a dirty word, that was way excessive over pricing!, Ive never done wheel nuts up with a rattle gun for that reason, I always remove them with a rattle gun, but manually do them up by hand then torque them up with the torque wrench


    That included a new Tyre which was $250.00 plus fit and balance and they sent out for that to be done as they don't sell Tyres.
    The Eagle Flies High!


  • #6
    Super Moderator
    eaglem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Perth Western Australia
    Posts
    1,635
    Thanks
    8,425
    Thanked 999 Times in 399 Posts
    Rep Power
    504
    Reputation
    12610

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by enf View Post
    I carry and use a rattle gun (Milwaukee) as my back isn't great so anytime I have to change a tyre I want it done as quickly as possible. I put wheels on and take them off with it, even on my new Redline.

    But I would NEVER tighten a lock nut with one. Jesus mate, it sounds like you scored the apprentice.
    I think most of the young guys they hire are not much more than apprentices, some still drag their knuckles.
    The Eagle Flies High!


  • #7
    Super Moderator
    eaglem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Perth Western Australia
    Posts
    1,635
    Thanks
    8,425
    Thanked 999 Times in 399 Posts
    Rep Power
    504
    Reputation
    12610

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gordon_s1942 View Post
    One year I had 'some' new tyres fitted and for some reason a few days later I needed to take one off and I could NOT undo the nuts, even using a star type wheel brace and putting a bar or pipe over to increase leverage.
    I went back to the Tyre service and got them to go around all the wheels and re-tension them.
    I have no idea if the 'fitter' was new and didnt know how to set the Toque on the 'Rattle Gun' or didnt give a shit and worked on the principle that one setting did all, ie Cars, Trucks, Bus's and Trains......(yes, Trains do have Rims and Tyres only they are fitted a little differently)
    The next time I had tyres attended to there or elsewhere, I asked the fitter to make sure I could remove the tyres using a suitable wheel brace.
    Not only does over tightening cause all sorts of dramas as experienced by Egalem but there is the danger the wheel stud(s) could snap if over tensioned.
    I was lucky to be on a main road (North West Coastal Hwy) if I wasn't things could have been much worse.
    The Eagle Flies High!


  • #8
    Administrator
    mtv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    19,893
    Thanks
    7,508
    Thanked 15,066 Times in 6,761 Posts
    Rep Power
    5647
    Reputation
    239305

    Default

    Bugger!!!

    In hindsight, there was really no point in the vehicle going to the Ford dealer at all, given the tyre work had to be outsourced anyway.

    The car could have gone directly from the towies compound to the tyre dealer, as no doubt, the Ford dealer was the major part of the expense... and the greatest waste of your time.

    The tyre dealer could have done the nut removal that you waited all day for the Ford dealer to do.

    Rattle guns are OK if they are set to a low toque range and nuts are then hand-tightened.

  • #9
    Premium Member
    alpha0ne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Mandurah WA
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,443
    Thanks
    3,455
    Thanked 2,988 Times in 813 Posts
    Rep Power
    1427
    Reputation
    59477

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mtv View Post
    Bugger!!!

    In hindsight, there was really no point in the vehicle going to the Ford dealer at all, given the tyre work had to be outsourced anyway.
    Thats what I can't understand, why would anyone go to ANY dealer who are ALL bandits...................why not the local tyre dealer ??

    Glad it was all fixed in time !!

  • #10
    Premium Member
    mkhannah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    2,734
    Thanks
    4,347
    Thanked 1,639 Times in 835 Posts
    Rep Power
    737
    Reputation
    22402

    Default

    Glad you got to enjoy some of your break. That's terrible. I've had the misfortune of breaking down north and south of Geraldton, it's a lonely and expensive place.

    Nearly 30 years ago smoke came billowing out of the engine of my fiat (!) on Great Northern Hwy heading for Kalbarri. I was young, stupid and broke. Limped into a workshop at Kalbarri fearing the absolute worst - death of my car, loss of all money, coach trip home - and out came the mechanic. He looked like super mario, he had done his apprenticeship at Fiat on my old model no less, and fixed the problem (pcv valve) in under an hour for $20. All these years later I still can't believe my luck. Although now I'm old, stupid and broke

  • The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to mkhannah For This Useful Post:

    alpha0ne (17-05-18),eaglem (16-05-18),lsemmens (17-05-18)

  • #11
    Senior Member
    Godzilla's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    59
    Posts
    12,740
    Thanks
    16,580
    Thanked 7,201 Times in 3,648 Posts
    Rep Power
    2198
    Reputation
    79113

    Default

    I use a big 3/4" drive Milwaukee to tighten wheel nuts regularly.

    Difference is i use it just to bring the nuts to the rim softly and then complete the job by hand. (last half turn if that)

    I also tighten lock nuts just like my wheel nuts.

    Its very rare (and special) to see a tyre shop use a torque wrench on wheel nuts.

    I have only witnessed it twice in my lifetime, each time letting the tyre shop owner know he really has a good team working there.

    There have been a few times i have needed to get lock nuts off that had no keys, most cases a spare undersized socket sledge hammered on did the case.

    Not a nice thing to do through regardless.....

  • The Following User Says Thank You to Godzilla For This Useful Post:

    eaglem (16-05-18)

  • #12
    Senior Member
    Rick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Tassi
    Posts
    4,167
    Thanks
    4,168
    Thanked 3,471 Times in 1,531 Posts
    Rep Power
    1340
    Reputation
    51955

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Godzilla View Post

    Its very rare (and special) to see a tyre shop use a torque wrench on wheel nuts.

    I have only witnessed it twice in my lifetime, each time letting the tyre shop owner know he really has a good team working there.
    I have 2 tyre shops in my area that I deal with and both use torque wrenches, so guess we're lucky

  • The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Rick For This Useful Post:

    Al Bundy (17-05-18),eaglem (18-05-18),Godzilla (17-05-18)

  • #13
    Senior Member
    LeroyPatrol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    N.E. Vic
    Posts
    16,229
    Thanks
    3,528
    Thanked 4,710 Times in 2,797 Posts
    Rep Power
    1669
    Reputation
    46551

    Default

    I'm glad there was a tyre in that price because I was thinking wow I never charged that when I was in the car service game.

    Leroy

  • #14
    LSemmens
    lsemmens's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Rural South OZ
    Posts
    10,585
    Thanks
    11,867
    Thanked 7,061 Times in 3,338 Posts
    Rep Power
    3153
    Reputation
    132592

    Default

    Sorry you had such a sh*t of a trip. At least you made the march, which was the important thing. Good luck getting some return on you expenses. I've never seen a torque wrench at a tyre place, I didn't think that they knew about them.
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

  • The Following User Says Thank You to lsemmens For This Useful Post:

    eaglem (18-05-18)

  • #15
    Senior Member
    Godzilla's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    59
    Posts
    12,740
    Thanks
    16,580
    Thanked 7,201 Times in 3,648 Posts
    Rep Power
    2198
    Reputation
    79113

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick View Post
    I have 2 tyre shops in my area that I deal with and both use torque wrenches, so guess we're lucky
    I forgot to add that one of those places has 2 chinese (no speak engrish) workers fitting the tyres to the cars.

    Got home and noticed my directional tyres were on the wrong way around....at least the wheels were not going to fall off.....sigh, now to drive back and show the shop owner.....

  • The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Godzilla For This Useful Post:

    Al Bundy (17-05-18),eaglem (18-05-18),enf (17-05-18),gulliver (18-05-18)

  • #16
    Super Moderator
    enf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    70
    Posts
    17,752
    Thanks
    16,817
    Thanked 34,961 Times in 9,058 Posts
    Rep Power
    13677
    Reputation
    644429

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Godzilla View Post
    I forgot to add that one of those places has 2 chinese (no speak engrish) workers fitting the tyres to the cars.

    Got home and noticed my directional tyres were on the wrong way around....at least the wheels were not going to fall off.....sigh, now to drive back and show the shop owner.....
    Last time I had Potenzas fitted to my SS (a SA regional outlet) I found this on the back.....and had them stop what they were doing and fix it immediately. FFS, it's such an important thing with most decent tyres now. Basic.
    The fact that there's a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about the anticipated traffic flow.

  • The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to enf For This Useful Post:

    Al Bundy (17-05-18),eaglem (18-05-18),Godzilla (18-05-18)

  • #17
    Administrator
    mtv's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    19,893
    Thanks
    7,508
    Thanked 15,066 Times in 6,761 Posts
    Rep Power
    5647
    Reputation
    239305

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Godzilla View Post
    I forgot to add that one of those places has 2 chinese (no speak engrish) workers fitting the tyres to the cars.
    Wheel nuts and wingnuts... not always a good combination.

  • The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to mtv For This Useful Post:

    eaglem (18-05-18),enf (17-05-18),Godzilla (18-05-18),Rick (17-05-18)

  • #18
    Premium Member
    Al Bundy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tazzie
    Posts
    4,479
    Thanks
    2,005
    Thanked 5,193 Times in 1,905 Posts
    Rep Power
    2204
    Reputation
    92850

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick View Post
    I have 2 tyre shops in my area that I deal with and both use torque wrenches, so guess we're lucky
    Now if only you could get them to use them on your wheel nuts instead....
    Last edited by Al Bundy; 17-05-18 at 07:06 PM.
    Cheers
    Ted (Al)

  • The Following User Says Thank You to Al Bundy For This Useful Post:

    enf (17-05-18)

  • #19
    Senior Member
    Uncle Fester's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Commonly found in a pantry or the bottom of a fridge, searching for grains, fermented or distilled
    Posts
    6,405
    Thanks
    2,289
    Thanked 4,414 Times in 2,517 Posts
    Rep Power
    2046
    Reputation
    81778

    Default

    Bob Jane T-marts crossthreaded two wheel nuts on my old Pajero. Luckily I am pretty skilled with the Dremel. Probably could have done those lock nuts with it as well.

    If I get tyres changed these days I always loosen them and tighten them myself again.
    They all use high pressure rattlers.
    Another tire company wacked in almost 50psi in my new 32psi designeed tires. I noticed it when it when the car started shaking around 110km/h.

    Another mechanic totally overtightned my steering rod while trying to set the alignment. I actually caught them using a huge pipe extension to do a right turn on a left handed thread, which I only found out later on.

    For me, if you don't/can't DIY you will be screwed at some point. At least learn how to check
    Update: A deletion of features that work well and ain't broke but are deemed outdated in order to add things that are up to date and broken.
    Compatibility: A word soon to be deleted from our dictionaries as it is outdated.
    Humans: Entities that are not only outdated but broken... AI-self-learning-update-error...terminate...terminate...

  • The Following User Says Thank You to Uncle Fester For This Useful Post:

    enf (18-05-18)

  • #20
    Super Moderator
    eaglem's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Perth Western Australia
    Posts
    1,635
    Thanks
    8,425
    Thanked 999 Times in 399 Posts
    Rep Power
    504
    Reputation
    12610

    Default

    I've decided to write it off to experience as there'd be no hope of being compensated but I have got Geraldton Ford to refund the GST they charged me after I supplied them with a GST Free Form. I'm starting to think most firms are out to screw me!
    The Eagle Flies High!


  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •