Tyre swap in Warrington ?

[Sootchucker]

Hi all, for anyone in the Warrington Cheshire or surrounding area, can you recommend a good place to have tyres swapped over on diamond cut alloys ?

Basically I sent two of my 19” Brescia alloys (one off the car and one spare alloy I had), down to Lepsons at Gillingham, and just received them back. My god, what a job they’ve done - if it’s even possible they look better than when I collected the car when it was brand new in 2018 ! As I only a few months ago replaced all the tyres with new Pirelli P Zeros and they are still like new, I’ve got two wheels on the car showing signs of whiteworm which I want to replace with these refurbished alloys. However I need the new tyres swapping onto them, and obviously want someone who’ll take the appropriate care and not mark the new wheels in the process. Anyone any ideas please ?

[Ej1749]

I'm assuming KwikFit etc won't do it, because of their silly policies. Purely, to make you buy their own tyres. I suppose business is business. KwikFit did do it for me for free once, only because all of my family were taking about 8 cars there every six months.

I have swapped a few tyres before and usually any independent garage will do it. Just go in and say "You're the guys who swap a full set of tyres for £30 aren't you?" Works every time providing they're not super busy. Might need an alignment though, not sure?

[Adam T7]

Ashton Tyres in Addlington near Poynton. Superb service, not a mark on my Diamond Cut wheels and they also swapped all the corroded bolts off my Discovery for nothing - no tool I had access to would shift them as they where so swollen - all for nothing.

[Exonian]

I'm assuming KwikFit etc won't do it, because of their silly policies. Purely, to make you buy their own tyres. I suppose business is business. KwikFit did do it for me for free once, only because all of my family were taking about 8 cars there every six months.

I have swapped a few tyres before and usually any independent garage will do it. Just go in and say "You're the guys who swap a full set of tyres for £30 aren't you?" Works every time providing they're not super busy. Might need an alignment though, not sure?

I think that’s the opposite of what Sootchucker wants.

He needs a professional who won’t mark a rim rather than someone just wanting to snatch a few tenners out of his hand.

[SRGTD]

I'm assuming KwikFit etc won't do it, because of their silly policies. Purely, to make you buy their own tyres. I suppose business is business. KwikFit did do it for me for free once, only because all of my family were taking about 8 cars there every six months.

I have swapped a few tyres before and usually any independent garage will do it. Just go in and say "You're the guys who swap a full set of tyres for £30 aren't you?" Works every time providing they're not super busy. Might need an alignment though, not sure?

I think that’s the opposite of what Sootchucker wants.

He needs a professional who won’t mark a rim rather than someone just wanting to snatch a few tenners out of his hand.

Kwik Fit wouldn’t be my first choice to fit tyres to newly refurbished diamond cut alloys.

A good alloy wheel refurb place is worth considering to fit tyres to newly refurbished alloys. They’ll be doing this every day and should have the necessary skill and well maintained equipment to do it without damaging the wheels.

[Ej1749]

I'm assuming KwikFit etc won't do it, because of their silly policies. Purely, to make you buy their own tyres. I suppose business is business. KwikFit did do it for me for free once, only because all of my family were taking about 8 cars there every six months.

I have swapped a few tyres before and usually any independent garage will do it. Just go in and say "You're the guys who swap a full set of tyres for £30 aren't you?" Works every time providing they're not super busy. Might need an alignment though, not sure?

I think that’s the opposite of what Sootchucker wants.

He needs a professional who won’t mark a rim rather than someone just wanting to snatch a few tenners out of his hand.

Yeah good point! My bad. I will make a mental note to make sure I go to the correct places after mine have been refurbed. I was told years ago that there is always going to be a slight marking (or chance of marking) when changing tyres, not matter who did it. I am starting to think that maybe this was a lie to win my business?!

[dubber36]

Basically I sent two of my 19” Brescia alloys (one off the car and one spare alloy I had), down to Lepsons at Gillingham,

Too late now, but Lepsons are in Wolverhampton too now.

[Exonian]

I was told years ago that there is always going to be a slight marking (or chance of marking) when changing tyres, not matter who did it. I am starting to think that maybe this was a lie to win my business?!

You were told correctly to be fair.
It’s all about reducing the chances of getting the wheels marked as much as you can reasonably achieve.
I’ve seen all sorts of things in visits to tyre depots over the years that made my blood run cold, including seeing wheels dropped onto their faces.
Find a tyre fitter who is a car enthusiast and takes pride and you’re in for a much better chance of your wheels surviving the process so long as he’s/she’s using decent equipment correctly.
KwikFit and the like can do as good a job as anybody but sometimes you’re unlucky and either get the wrong fitter or they’re busy and rush the job.
It’s pot luck so you need to hedge your bets as best you can.

[Watts]

What I don't understand though is wheels look mint when you get a car new, and tyres didn't grow on them. So is it the process of removing the old tyres or fitting the new ones where the problems are? Or both?

[SRGTD]

What I don't understand though is wheels look mint when you get a car new, and tyres didn't grow on them. So is it the process of removing the old tyres or fitting the new ones where the problems are? Or both?

I’d say it’s probably both.

Inexperienced or over-zealous tyre fitters are probably the main culprits if they forcibly use heavy duty metal tyre bars and tyre levers to help remove the old tyre, especially if the tyre bars / levers have rough spots on them from being laid on a rough concrete floor. I’ve also read of marks and scratches to the lacquered surface from tyre changing machines - presumably the result of grit and dirt on the parts of the machine that can come into contact with the face of the alloy.