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[Entwood]

Having just changed the wishbones, and in the process of freeing up all the alignment adjusters, I need a new pair of front tyres. I want Goodyear Asymmetric 2, 97Y XL to match the rears which are less than a month old (Y and XL due to the large amount of towing I do .. pikey van weighs in at 1600Kgs so adds stress to the tyres) .... I also need a full geo check and will go to WIM at Chesham for that .. even though their franchise at Melksham is closer.. I don't know of anyone who has actually been there....

So ...  WIM price for those tyres is £155.98 each ...   

I can get them fully fitted locally for £109.99, but can take up to 5 days to get them in stock, or I can get them for £96.50 delivered "next day" and pay my very local fitter £10 a wheel for fitting and balancing....

So around £45 a tyre difference in price ... £90 in total ......

so 3 options ...

a) Drive to WIM and pay an extra £90 and have the geo and tyres done at the same time

b) Drive to WIM have the geo done on old, worn, tyres then drive back and change the tyres, what effect would the car sitting on "bad" tyres have on the geo ??.. it must have some effect as the uneven wear would make the wheel sit skew ??

c) Change the tyres then drive to WIM and have the geo done.. what damage would around 100 miles do to the new tyres ....

decisions... decisions - or would WIM "price match" ....  or would they fit the new tyres if I bought them then took them there ......

 

[05omegav6]

Buy the tyres cheaply locally and have WIM fit them

I did this with my last set of tyres and set up as logistical reasons meant I only had time to collect the tyres but not get them fitted...

iirc, it was about £160 inc for fitting/balancing and complete set up

When you book in let them know it's tyre fitting and alignment... worth asking about price matching but the retail price depends on volume as much as anything.

Fitting customer supplied tyres should never be an issue as long as those tyres are legal and undamaged

[Kevin Wood]

Option b.

Tyres will make no difference to the alignment procedure, as they are measuring the relative positions / angles of the rims.

[chrisgixer]

I would not have tyres fitted until happy with the set. Personally. That means driving it first.

So I'd fit the tyres locally.

Having said that, wim can't get my sc3's so that's norm for me.

For you, let price be the guide. Don't worry about worn tyres affecting the set up. If they do, something is terribly wrong or loose, assuming correct psi and same size tyre.

[Entwood]

Option b.

Tyres will make no difference to the alignment procedure, as they are measuring the relative positions / angles of the rims.

Now I know I'm thick ... but if the old tyre is, as in this case, worn more on one side than the other, then as it "sits" then surely the rim must also be out ?? The measurement of the rim is relative to what ?? The only other references are all the other rims, as that's the only places that measurements are taken .. so .. worst case and silly scenario .. all 4 tyres are badly worn on differing sides ... where is the "true" reference ?? as all four will sit "skew" in some way ?? or am I being (as normal) completely stupid ??

[05omegav6]

Drive up on the old tyres, new ones in the boot. Get them fitted by WIM for a nominal amount then get the set up done. That way everything sorted

[Entwood]

Drive up on the old tyres, new ones in the boot. Get them fitted by WIM for a nominal amount then get the set up done. That way everything sorted

Sounds good .. I'll phone 'em in the morning and see what they say ... I didn't know they did that service

[chrisgixer]

Option b.

Tyres will make no difference to the alignment procedure, as they are measuring the relative positions / angles of the rims.

Now I know I'm thick ... but if the old tyre is, as in this case, worn more on one side than the other, then as it "sits" then surely the rim must also be out ?? The measurement of the rim is relative to what ?? The only other references are all the other rims, as that's the only places that measurements are taken .. so .. worst case and silly scenario .. all 4 tyres are badly worn on differing sides ... where is the "true" reference ?? as all four will sit "skew" in some way ?? or am I being (as normal) completely stupid ??

Yes.


In order for the tyre wear to skew the wheel position, something has to "give" in the chassis.

Put another way. Assuming all four wheels are all the same dimensions.
Swap a worn inside edge tyre onto a worn outside edge tyre position, and the set up shouldn't change.
However the way the car drives will, as set up measures WHEEL position. Not TYRE position.
Hawk eye can not measure tyres/tyre wear/tyre size/tyre profile. Only the wheels position, in relation to each other and calculated pivot points by turning the steering.

[chrisgixer]

In fact, hawk eye can't tell where the ground is. Or, has no reference to it in the set up procedure at least.

[omega3000]

In fact, hawk eye can't tell where the ground is. Or, has no reference to it in the set up procedure at least.

Ah . Im getting into this tyre thingie the more i read 

[cem_devecioglu]

I would prefer option c..

[Sir Tigger KC]

If your old tyres do something to upset the setup on your way home then as Chris has pointed out something is not right or loose. 

To be honest I'd run about on the old tyres for a bit anyway just to check that everything is right and that they're not scrubbing down on the inner edge or anything, before the hefty investment of new tyres! 

[chrisgixer]

If your old tyres do something to upset the setup on your way home then as Chris has pointed out something is not right or loose. 

To be honest I'd run about on the old tyres for a bit anyway just to check that everything is right and that they're not scrubbing down on the inner edge or anything, before the hefty investment of new tyres! 

Are you agreeing with me Tigger?


...must want something

[Sir Tigger KC]

If your old tyres do something to upset the setup on your way home then as Chris has pointed out something is not right or loose. 

To be honest I'd run about on the old tyres for a bit anyway just to check that everything is right and that they're not scrubbing down on the inner edge or anything, before the hefty investment of new tyres! 

Are you agreeing with me Tigger?


...must want something

No. My MOT's not due.....    yet!   

[tunnie]

Have you called WIM and asked if they will match your local fitters price on the Goodyear's?