Tyre fitting problems

[AMGeed]

Took the wife's car to have a new tyre before selling it. Found the MB locking socket and sat in the waiting room as fitter comes in to tell me the socket is broken!

Sure enough, last MOT a tyre was fitted on the opposite wheel and the tyre monkey who did it up broke the locking nut socket.
Off to the dealer, 8 miles away and fortunate enough to find the correct socket in stock.
Can't believe they cost £32 04 for a socket!!

Back to the fitter and he now informs me the locking nut the other side is so tight, it may break the new socket I have just supplied. Why do these idiots have to use an air gun at max torque to do these nuts up?

Anyway, one fitter had his wrench with a long bar attached while another hit the socket with a hammer to impact wrench it off. It worked and fortunately didn't damage the socket.
Just as well this car is being sold as I don't fancy loosening the remaining bolts any time soon.

 

[Major774]

They are lazy lol.

I always re-torque the wheel bolts after a visit to a tyre garage... Peace of mind for me.

 

[Chrishazle]

If anyone's having the wheels off my car, especially for tyre fitting, I make sure I can see them - and shout loudly if they're putting the wheels back on and pick up the impact wrench. Had a few fun moments at a couple of places - had to remind them I was the paying customer and they could do it right or get the puck out of the way while I did it! Mind you, most places - once I let them know I'm a bit **** about my alloys - behave themselves!

 

[MBScoob]

I'm the same, luckily the tyre place I use are very good though. However, quite a few years ago I had a dealer replace two of my wheels as they'd managed to scuff the inside of the bolt hole when using a pneumatic tool to undo the wheels. I've kept a careful eye each time since - well, where possible. Will be checking my newly refurbished wheels VERY carefully after the next service, though not sure they actually need to take the wheels off lol.

Scoob.

 

[AMGeed]

First thing I do on getting another car is to release the wheel nuts and re-torque them up.
My E55 bolts were very difficult to remove. No way would I want to be faced with changing a wheel with bolts done up so tight it needs a bodybuilder to undo them.

As the car in question was my other half's I didn't bother

 

[noy91]

Tyres are always a hassle - what should be one of the quickest jobs turns into one of the most involved as I always end up having to re-torque the nuts, adjust the pressures and half the time it seems to take two attempts to get the balancing done properly. I even leave a note with the pressures and torques so they don't have to look them up /guess but always to no avail.

Edit: it also irritates me a lot dealers sub out their tyre work

 

[Simon_M]

Better done up tight than not at all. Kwik Fit in Dartford handed my wife's Mini back with the wheel nuts done finger tight!!!