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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Two new Michelin Pilot Sport 255/35/20 4 S fitted, and a new certificate. 

£344.98 the poorer....

Date stamps don't match.  One being 2220 and the other 4920. Don't suppose it matter much so long as the new rubber is not left over from 1967.

 

[Nick W]

Two new Michelin Pilot Sport 255/35/20 4 S fitted, and a new certificate. 

£344.98 the poorer....

Date stamps don't match.  One being 2220 and the other 4920. Don't suppose it matter much so long as the new rubber is not left over from 1967.

That might be more of a concern if you'd bought 145 13s.......

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Two new Michelin Pilot Sport 255/35/20 4 S fitted, and a new certificate. 

£344.98 the poorer....

Date stamps don't match.  One being 2220 and the other 4920. Don't suppose it matter much so long as the new rubber is not left over from 1967.

That might be more of a concern if you'd bought 145 13s.......

Yes, cars did have wheels the size of shirt buttons back then.

This is why I lusted after (still do ) a Triumph TR6 which came with 'monster' 15 inch wheels.

[Kevin Wood]

Oh, that reminds me. One of my 6 month old tyres has a ruddy great bulge in the sidewall and another has a nail in it thanks to the pikey fly tippers.

[Nick W]

Two new Michelin Pilot Sport 255/35/20 4 S fitted, and a new certificate. 

£344.98 the poorer....

Date stamps don't match.  One being 2220 and the other 4920. Don't suppose it matter much so long as the new rubber is not left over from 1967.

That might be more of a concern if you'd bought 145 13s.......

Yes, cars did have wheels the size of shirt buttons back then.

This is why I lusted after (still do ) a Triumph TR6 which came with 'monster' 15 inch wheels.

Hardly, until the early sixties, even small cars like Minors or Minx ran on 15s. Then just like now, fashion changed but they went smaller. I suspect some of that was down to improving technology, as smaller diameter tyres turn faster. Lightweight cars do not not need large, wide tyres and wheels. They drive abominably if fitted with them.


Modern cars don't need 20" wheels and rubber band tyres, we've just been conditioned to think they look good. I don't, as I prefer a slightly smaller wheel and more tyre, and on a larger car different sizes front to back. I think Omegas look better with the ordinary 16" wheels; the only reason mine was on 17s was because it was an Elite. I wouldn't have swapped to them.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

According to Gordon Murray wheels bigger than 17" on a car is just fashion, and serves no useful purpose.
He should know I would have thought. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Two new Michelin Pilot Sport 255/35/20 4 S fitted, and a new certificate. 

£344.98 the poorer....

Date stamps don't match.  One being 2220 and the other 4920. Don't suppose it matter much so long as the new rubber is not left over from 1967.

That might be more of a concern if you'd bought 145 13s.......

Yes, cars did have wheels the size of shirt buttons back then.

This is why I lusted after (still do ) a Triumph TR6 which came with 'monster' 15 inch wheels.

Hardly, until the early sixties, even small cars like Minors or Minx ran on 15s. Then just like now, fashion changed but they went smaller. I suspect some of that was down to improving technology, as smaller diameter tyres turn faster. Lightweight cars do not not need large, wide tyres and wheels. They drive abominably if fitted with them.


Modern cars don't need 20" wheels and rubber band tyres, we've just been conditioned to think they look good. I don't, as I prefer a slightly smaller wheel and more tyre, and on a larger car different sizes front to back. I think Omegas look better with the ordinary 16" wheels; the only reason mine was on 17s was because it was an Elite. I wouldn't have swapped to them.

Most of the cars from my youth seemed to run on 13 or 14 inch wheels.

Cortina  Mk1/2
Coarse Hair
Viva
Victor
Maxi
1100/1300

I think the original Mini ran on 10 inch wheels.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Oh, that reminds me. One of my 6 month old tyres has a ruddy great bulge in the sidewall and another has a nail in it thanks to the pikey fly tippers.

What make Kevin?

Manufacturing fault?

[dave the builder]

Oh, that reminds me. One of my 6 month old tyres has a ruddy great bulge in the sidewall and another has a nail in it thanks to the pikey fly tippers.

What make Kevin?

Manufacturing fault?

Nail proof tyres 
like the ones they fit on trains 

[Nick W]

1100s were on 12s.


As were lowspec mk1 Escorts and Avengers and I suspect HA Vivas

[Kevin Wood]

Oh, that reminds me. One of my 6 month old tyres has a ruddy great bulge in the sidewall and another has a nail in it thanks to the pikey fly tippers.

What make Kevin?

Manufacturing fault?

No, I suspect it's because I clouted a pot hole a couple of days back. Third world standards of road maintenance. Another reason to go back to the days of 70 profile 14" tyres. 

[johnnydog]

I recently wanted a set of 175 R 13 tyres for a 1970 Triumph 2000, which was a relatively common size back in their day. They are still available, but only from a few manufacturers as a 175 80 13,  at a cost. I also wanted a set of 185 R 13's for a 1972 2.5PI, which have been virtually obsolete as a car tyre for years, although available in a van tyre with stiffer sidewalls making the tyre less flexible and this affected the ride and handling. Good old Maxxis Tyres have started making both sizes in a car tyre, and I am very impressed with their ride quality, appearance, and and price. Only downside is the thin white wall, but as they can be mounted either way, it can be put on the inside with only the MOT man ever seeing them (if I choose to have them MOT'd that is....)

[TheBoy]

According to Gordon Murray wheels bigger than 17" on a car is just fashion, and serves no useful purpose.
He should know I would have thought. 

Not convinced he didn't lose his marbles a bit, as he's gone all do-gooder and thinks the Smart is too big and bulky.

[Doctor Gollum]

According to Gordon Murray wheels bigger than 17" on a car is just fashion, and serves no useful purpose.
He should know I would have thought. 

Not convinced he didn't lose his marbles a bit, as he's gone all do-gooder and thinks the Smart is too big and bulky.

Must be why the 720 has 19" front/20" rear wheels as standard... 

[henryd]

According to Gordon Murray wheels bigger than 17" on a car is just fashion, and serves no useful purpose.
He should know I would have thought. 

Not convinced he didn't lose his marbles a bit, as he's gone all do-gooder and thinks the Smart is too big and bulky.

Didn't he design the  G whizz leccy heap of shit ?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I asked for the new tyres to be pumped up to 34 PSI.

Just checked. One was 32PSI and the other 46PSI

It seems I was expecting too much....

[dave the builder]

I see that a lot, I always check the tyres after they have been fitted .
I think they do it deliberately so the tyres wear quick 
also worth checking they didn't torque the wheel bolts to 2,000,000 N/m 
or leave em hand tight   

[STEMO]

I asked for the new tyres to be pumped up to 34 PSI.

Just checked. One was 32PSI and the other 46PSI

It seems I was expecting too much....

Fickin monkees.


Oh...am I allowed to say that? 

[BazaJT]

No you're not But since when did you let that stop you?

[countrywoman]

When I worked at Hellfraurds we had to have a QC watch as we torqued wheel nuts and then recheck after road test , a bit OTT but due to the fact some idiot at one branch caused a wheel to fall off!! Then have found some very over tight wheel bolts , one was so tight it took a scaffold pipe to undo and it took tread out of hub flange.Trouble is way to many untrained minkys working as fitters .I was properly trained as apprentice back in the day by old school mechanics (okay so old fart)

[Rangie]

If you want it done properly as the saying goes , Halfords wanted £15 to fit the battery in my Range Rover last week , I wouldn't even let them check my tyre pressures ,monkeys there said it again.

[Doctor Gollum]

To be fair, £15 to fit a battery is a fair price given a garage would probably charge an hour

Tyres and fluids should be checked periodically as a matter of course... Drive a vehicle at work and it is in your contract to do a pre use inspection... 

[Andy B]

It was only a few years ago that Halfords were only charging £6 to fit a battery. I did't need one. but asked how much to fit one to my R Class .... the battery is under the driver's seat ...  the girl on the till looked in a book & said ' we wouldn't fit one to your car' 

[Rangie]

It was simple to fit the battery with the advice from the RR forum the only problem was the sheer weight of it in a confined area under the bonnet, a spotty youth  would have undoubtedly damaged something along the way, took about 15 minutes in total including taking the old one off.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I see that a lot, I always check the tyres after they have been fitted .
I think they do it deliberately so the tyres wear quick 
also worth checking they didn't torque the wheel bolts to 2,000,000 N/m 
or leave em hand tight   

I left a £5 tip....

It was only because it was pulling slightly to one side that I checked, and then double-checked, because I couldn't believe the difference.......and yes it was Kwikfit.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Typical Kwit Shit

I had to call in with a full fat 405 that had a roofing screw in the tyre on Friday afternoon.

The usual happened, gun the wheel nuts on, apply the torque wrench, instant click with no movement 

[Doctor Gollum]

It isn't difficult to wind in them hand tight +1 with a 1/2" ratchet then tighten them with a torque wrench alternately on the first pass, wait five, then again for a second pass

[Broomies Mate]

It isn't difficult to wind in them hand tight +1 with a 1/2" ratchet then tighten them with a torque wrench alternately on the first pass, wait five, then again for a second pass

I completely agree.  Think about the numbers though....

If it takes an extra 30 seconds per wheel, that's 2 minutes per car.  Multiply that by 30 cars per day, and there is 1 hour of extra time.

Of course, I'm assuming each car would have work carried out on all 4 wheels, which is rare, but I think I've been quite conservative with the 30 seconds per wheel. 

[Marks DTM Calib]

In this case, all the labour was already being done (nuts gunned on and checking the torque with a torque wrench), just needed the gun on a low setting so final degrees of turn were with the torque wrench

[STEMO]

They do it even when they know you're standing there, watching them. No attempt to hide it, which leads me to believe that they genuinely have no fickin idea what they're supposed to do.

[Doctor Gollum]

It's less time putting the bolts in by hand than trying to rethread the hub flange after crossthreading them with the windy gun

[Doctor Gollum]

They do it even when they know you're standing there, watching them. No attempt to hide it, which leads me to believe that they genuinely have no fickin idea what they're supposed to do.

I have gone into the workshop and physically taken the keys from my car because of the way it was driven into the workshop.

It was only a 1.6LSierra, but that wasn't the point

[Marks DTM Calib]

They do it even when they know you're standing there, watching them. No attempt to hide it, which leads me to believe that they genuinely have no fickin idea what they're supposed to do.

Its a shame as the guy running this place is a genuine chap who will do little jobs at no charge and attempts to give honest advice (re-sealed a tyre to rim and fitted a rear wiper FOC whilst I was there for two people) so there is always a que of customers.

But sadly there is just this fundamental lack of understanding

[Doctor Gollum]

That incident was 22/23 years ago, and the chap who was running it (and maybe still is) whilst I was taxi driving was always helpful enough. Polish, but ran a garage in the US for a few years, so very knowledgeable Only ever go went in for aircon regassing though as most other stuff was done on the drive and I have a couple of friendly tyre places for that sort of thing.

[Nick W]

It's less time putting the bolts in by hand than trying to rethread the hub flange after crossthreading them with the windy gun

The standard 1/2" windy gun is actually a pretty puny thing, and will struggle to do that. You can do up nuts far tighter with a moderate heave on a 600mm breaker bar.


However, gunning the nuts on then applying a torque wrench shows a total lack of understanding what they're trying to do.