Dyslexic Tyre Fitter?

[Daz Auto]

During a discussion about the possibility of swapping out the Bridgestones my GTI came with for something more grippy, the service manager at my dealer told me that, due to the stretching during tyre fitting and removal, tyres should not be removed and refitted more than 3 times.

Did you ever think that, may be, he just didn't want to swap them for you! 

I found this...

"There is no limit although as tires age and the rubber hardens the chance of bead damage increases. I usually only see this on tires that are a decade old or more though and those should be taken out of service anyway due to age, no matter how much tread is left.

Dedicated winter-only tires actually have reinforced bead area's designed to be dismounted and re-mounted multiple times.
 
Source(s):
Tire shop service manager"

[Daz Auto]

Another useful bit of hear say if tyres have to be removed more than once for punctures etc.

I have corrected that for you.

I'll have a search when I get a chance to see what the manufacturers say on mounting/re-mounting tyres/tires.

I am intending to get a set of winter tyres (no alloys) to fit to my next car every winter. So I need to know the answer to this question. Though I have researched it before and thought there was no limit. But that's hear say 

[Daz Auto]

I have had a quick search while having my cornflakes. I can find little information on tyre mounting limits. Surely, if there was a limit, it would be somewhere on google. Though, there are articles on swapping summer/winter 'tires' and none of them mention limits.

On another note: did you know that you may not be insured if you only fit 2 winter tyres?

My insurance company said that they would refuse to cover me in an accident if only 2 winter tyres were fitted.

Insurance companies are well aware that fitting 2 winter tyres is potentially dangerous.

[EricM]

Yes, that is true about only two winter tyres being unsafe.

I've spent a bit of time in Norway the last few years and there it's illegal to fit winter tyres to two wheels only.

I've bought a set of 18" MSW wheels and winter tyres for my PP GTI, dhould hopefully get them fitted in mid November.

[lemski]

Ive never heard of a tyre lomit.
Ill ask my tyre suppliers and see if they have. I know when a tyre gets to a certain age it should be removed. They normallyhave cracks in the rubber by that point though

[Dully]

Just picked the car up from the detailers and not only has he done an amazing new car prep (Deep Shine - Lincoln) he also noticed that the drivers side rear wheel had the tyre fitted the wrong way.

I had to do a double take but it was as clear as day embossed "inside" facing out. On closer inspection it is even clearer with the tread pattern.

So a call to the garage tomorrow, it's only done 200 miles so I don't see an issue turning it, just need to be all over them like a rash to make sure they don't damage the rim. Not sure if they will do it at VW or take it somewhere?

Update:
I am taking the car in today for the tyre to be turned, sales exec was fine and sorted it all through the service department although they seemed to be treating it more as a normal job rather than a VW cock-up they were resolving for a valued customer that had purchased 5 new vehicles from them over the last 8 years. 

The sales exec had forwarded my E Mail highlighting concerns to the Sales, Aftersales & General Managers -

1. The rim has just been wheel armour guarded/sealed and this could be compromised
2. Damage could be caused to the rim and be the catalyst for alloy corrosion
3. Damage to the inner barrel area of the studs due to over zealous use of impact gun socket
4. Scuffs, markings and damage to the tyre while compressing to remove from rim
5. Excess fitting lubricant not cleaned satisfactorily and tyre wall not dressed
6. Damage to the inner rim when removing existing weights prior to balancing

Thought I would give the Aftersales Manager a quick call yesterday just to ensure they know I am on their case and after a brief and quite abrupt conversation I feel today could be eventful.

His tone of voice was disgusting and at no time did he once apologise for the problem, his answer to my concern was "you can take it somewhere else it you want to" and quite amusingly said "if we cannot swap a tyre over in a VW authorised workshop with a trained VW technician then we are in trouble" to which I replied "well a VW factory got it on the wrong way round and you did a PDI and did not see it was on wrong way round and yes, you will be in trouble as I will be having a new rim and tyre if its not right"

They do not seem to understand that yes I know its not a big deal and any chump can swap a tyre, but not any chump can do it and have the tyre and rim in the same condition as before they started, update to follow later and hopefully its short and sweet 

[Daz Auto]

Yes, that is true about only two winter tyres being unsafe.

I was told by my old Tyre Centre manager that I only need 2 winter tyres. I must have given him some look. I said no, I need 4. He checked and said that was correct.

My wife has had some bad luck with flat tyres recently. One of her winter tyres had a puncture at the beginning of this year. I knew that one of her summer tyres was also sitting in our garage with a puncture Where we currently get our tyres fitted - I mentioned that we could fit 2 summer tyres, but the insurance would not cover us for that. The guy was surprise. Apparently the manager has been telling people for years that it is ok to fit 2 winter tyres. In fact, the van in the bay beside me had only 2 winter tyres!

[Talk-torque]

I have had a quick search while having my cornflakes. I can find little information on tyre mounting limits. Surely, if there was a limit, it would be somewhere on google. Though, there are articles on swapping summer/winter 'tires' and none of them mention limits.

Must admit, I did just accept that, as the bloke is usually reliable. May be that the limit is an ideal, rather than a rule. He did also comment that it is impossible to know the condition of all the parts of the steel carcase of the tyre, which is the major reason for not using second hand tyres. The outer condition is a guide, but not a guarantee.

[Daz Auto]

I cannot believe that a car was delivered from the factory that way. Good luck, on getting it sorted!

... not any chump can do it and have the tyre and rim in the same condition as before they started, update to follow later and hopefully its short and sweet 

Where I used to get my tyres changed - I had alloys damaged on 2 separate occasion by the same fitter. I was trading the car anyway so it did not matter to me. The guys in the place I use now are much more careful. (And they know I am a fussy bugger )

[SRGTD]

If we cannot swap a tyre over in a VW authorised workshop with a trained VW technician then we are in trouble

I'm pretty certain that "a trained VW technician in an authorised workshop" damaged 2 new wheels that were replaced under warranty on my last car, when they swapped the tyres from the old wheels to the new wheels. I noticed the damage before I left the dealer, so they weren't able to accredit the damage to me.

The dealer said that the new wheels were delivered to them damaged, but the type and position of the damage (lacquer scraped off around the rim on the diamond cut surface) was consistent with the type caused by tyre fitting equipment. They ordered me some more wheels!

To the OP; make certain you check your wheel very carefully for damage before you leave the dealer's premises after the tyre has been correctly re-fitted.