Alloy rims / Tyre Repair, The Sequel!

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Thu 24 Jan 2002 19:10
Alloy rims / Tyre Repair, The Sequel! - Julian Lindley
All

Thanks for all your inputs re the above recieved in my previous post. I will follow up with the local garage first.

Calling in at Halfords, Chichester, today and noticeing a range of alloy wheels they were promoting, I posed the question of tyre removal/replacement and the potential for rim damage. "Follow me" said the helpful gent, and I was escorted into their workshops and shown their specialist m/c for alloy rims.

There were two tyre remove/refit m/c's in the workshops. The older one I was familiar with, but the shiney new unit was a different design altogeather. It employed two 150 mm plastic wheels to break the bead and a range of plastic clip on devices to refit the tyre. The whole m/c was about 20% larger than its older neighbour. The m/c was not in use at the time so was unable to witness a demo.

My message is that specialist tyre remove/replace kit for alloy rims does exist, and given the cost of rims and their repair, they are worth finding.

Regards,

Julian L
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Thu 24 Jan 2002 20:15
Re: Alloy rims / Tyre Repair, The Sequel! - John S
Julian

Last time I had new tyres on some alloy wheels, the fitter was careful with the bead splitter, and then wrapped the tool than lifts the tyre over the rim in thick cloth. Result - no marks at all on the wheels. Definitely the 'DIY' alternative to an expensive machine, and one worth asking for.

Also, I've found that the tyre dealers I've used have always finished tightening the wheel nuts with a torque wrench - not just hammering them up with the air tool.

Maybe I've been lucky - I've been pretty horrified by the posts I've seen on this site regarding tyre fitting.

Regards

John
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Thu 24 Jan 2002 21:46
Re: Alloy rims / Tyre Repair, The Sequel! - Tom Shaw
I now insist that wheel nuts are tightened with a torque wrench. Standing by the roadside in the rain trying to undo a well over-tightened nut with the poxy little gadget that the manufacturer supplies with the tool kit makes for a very unhappy day.
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Fri 25 Jan 2002 08:47
Re: Alloy rims / Tyre Repair, The Sequel! - richard price
Julian,

I live in bognor regis. Same as you describe in operation at bognor discount tyre and battery centre - 43 west street bognor - no connection - independant so much cheaper.

Richard
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