Wheel Balancing And Tyre Changes

[Stephen3452]

Hello,

 

Has anyone else had problems having their tyres changed and balanced. I had the front pair changed some months ago (from non-Citroen garage) and had to come back a few days later because they didn't have the right part. I didn't know what that meant at the time.

 

Now the back pair are worn so I went to a different garage and had to wait whilst they hunted for an adaptor to fit the wheel to the balance. I'd forgotten about my experiences last time, this made me remember them. I'm guessing this adaptor was the missing part last time?

 

Next time I'll call in advance!

 

This is with Citroen alloys BTW, so steel wheels might not have the same problem.

 

Now my next question:

 

When having wheels balanced should they be balanced perfectly or are there tolerances? I ask because in the garage I visited there was no waiting area so I stood by the car and watched them work (hence I saw the confusion about the adaptor this time). The thing is that when balancing, the machine said to add 5g and they said 5g was not worth bothering with. Is this right? I would think if the machine says add it you add it?

 

What tread depth do you change at? I read an AutoExpress article stating that after 3mm, your stopping distance in the wet increases by eight car lengths and they recommend 3mm.

[stimulator]

The problem is the lack of centre cut out in citroen alloy wheels, it affects the Picassos too. By now most tyre companies hsould have the reqd adaptor. Steel wheels are not affected.

 

Having wheels balanced is only as good as the tech doing the job. I've been at a tyre place for 1.5 hours while they balanced the wheels and got them spot ON. With alloys they are supposed to stick the weights on the wheel not knock them only to the rims as this causes damage.

 

In theory the wheel should be reblanced after a about 1/2 its life due to wear as it's the tyre not the wheel that is balanced.

 

When a tyre is made it has a red mark on it which I was always told was to go near the valve but you rarely see that when they are fitted even NEW from maker.

 

new tread is about 8mm, wear blocks are at 1.6 but manufacturers recommend change at 3mm. They also say the new tyre shpuld go on the rear not the front?? My last pair fronts were changed at 1.6 mm, went on the front nothing said by fitter.

[Gordo]

I replaced all 4 at the same time, so did the phone round tyre places thing. Ended up with a local independent tyre place, when I turned up he apologised for not having the adaptor for the balance machine. He ended up calling his maters in other tyre companies but they would not lend the adaptor (turns out they need to pay £1000 for one). Ended up at National and had to pay an extra £40 odd for the same tyres. They used the excuse that they had to recover the cost of the adaptor!!!!!!!! Welcome to ripoff Britain.