Tyres

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid

Senior Jockey
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
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I'm in a minor dispute with my local garage about the tyre they fitted on my car at its MOT three weeks ago. It's losing about 10-12lbs per week in pressure.

For the last 20 years I've been driving cars with alloy wheels and I'm used to checking the pressure every week as it isn't unusual for it to dip a few pounds over the week. The garage are trying to claim this higher loss (the 10-12lbs) is normal with alloys, especially newer ones (my car is a 55 plate).

My counter to this is that the others are only losing about 3lbs per week but they're insisting the 10-12lbs is normal. I reckon if that was the case it would be all over the papers as we'd be dealing with a lot of cars that would be a danger through under-inflated tyres.

I was just wondering what is your experience with pressure loss from tyres on alloy wheels?
 
Sounds like a load of balls to me. As they are new tyres, you wouldn't suspect a slow puncture so it would seem like a faulty or badly fitted valve to me.

I have always had alloys on my cars - 2 or 3 lbs per week would be the absolute maximum I would have seen for a correctly working tyre or valve. Any time there's been more I've usually topped it up regularly until I can get the tyre replaced - whereupon the problem has been fixed.

Definitely not normal IMO.
 
I suspect the valve as they didn't fit a new one with the tyre.

I didn't ask the garage to fit the tyre but it needed it for the MOT and it is a 'budget' tyre (which I wouldn't have bought myself but the garage is usually top-notch and well recommended in Which.) The owner reassured me that although it was a budget tyre (an Evergreen) it was officially rated up alongside some of the bigger names, which seems backed up by some reviews I've read online. I don't hear anyone talking about losing so much air.

I trust the garage and I trust the guy as he's been great with me but his lackey is running the show while he's on holiday and he's a bit nippier.
 
It shouldnt matter if you buy budget or top of the range, it should be fitted with a valve.

Sounds like they know they are in the wrong and are trying to cover it up.

I needed a replacement tyre a couple of months back and my local fitters asked me what mileage I did and when I told them less than 3k a year they said they could sell me a part worn tyre for 1/2 price and still covered by guarantee (and inc valve). And I have alloys - never had a problem with tyres being fitted.

Tell them you are talking to the local trades committee/council and see what happens!
 
Last edited:
Ballydoyle said:
Tell them you are talking to the local trades committee/council and see what happens!
Click to expand...

That's an escalation I'd rather avoid as they are otherwise usually the best in the area. It's just a shame the owner is away on holiday for a couple of weeks as I'm pretty sure he'd sort it pronto.
 
Very surprised they did not fit a new valve, in my experience they always rip the old one out rather than let the tyre down normally. Has to be he valve or bad fitting.
 
I took the car over to the garage this morning so they could check it over. Turns out there's a crack in the inside rim of the wheel so that looks like the culprit. It's impossible to say when it could have happened but they put extra sealant on the rim and replaced the valve. They didn't charge me anything either and the bloke was much more conciliatory today.

I'll just need to keep putting air in the tyre until I can get my hands on a new alloy wheel.
 
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