Tyre valves and balancing

I suppose you have a point but everywhere i've ever been for tyres have always quoted me a fitted price rather than the tyre+valve+balancing+fitting. Just one of those things i suppose. Ho hum.

Seems like a worthwhile precaution to me. Whilst the tyre is off, why not replace the valve. They don't cost a fortune. If asked, no doubt they would fit the tyre without fitting a new valve. That is of course if the old valve showed no signs of failing.

Depends on the vehicle. Old cars and trailers might not need the wheels to be balanced. Wheel balancing is relatively new as far as motoring is concerned. When 60-70mph was considered quite fast, wheel balancing wasn't that important.

As I said. Depends on it's use. I see nothing wrong with allowing the purchaser to decide whether or not to pay for new valves or wheel balancing. Mike.

The message from "Domestos" contains these words:

No - but they'll get their turn eventually.

Costco price always includes valve and balance.

The thing that annoys me is the price that the LITTLE places charge for valves, in bulk buy valves cost less than 10 p each, and they always charge several pounds each!!! Plus up to about 6 pounds for a balance!!

MRCHEERFUL

Domestos wrote on Sat, 24 Sep 2005 20:25:10 GMT:

They're not getting their tyres replaced either?

Well it is part of the cost of supplying and fitting a tyre. Would you'd rather they didn't itemise the cost?

Well its that or they charge you more for the tyre...

It's still not that important IMHO, depending on use. Many cars never see a motorway or high speed dual carriageway, so never reach a speed where it would be a problem. I fitted a tyre to my daughters fiesta a while ago, and left a couple of balance weights on. When she (unusually) said there was a vibration, I took one of them off, and she says it's fine now. She would never have noticed except for a road closure on her way to work forcing her the long way round onto the dual carriageway.

Steve

IME the little places charge less overall than the big places. My two favoured small local tyre shops are way cheaper than the national chains. And they always quote inclusive of valves & balancing.

This has never been a problem for me.

get out yellow pages

make list of local tyre dealers

ask for full price inc;uding valve, balance and vat

big chains chareg xtra for the valve and balance.

local fitter quotes all in price which works out much cheaper for same tyre.

pop round to local fitter

job done

has worked for me for last 25 years

Replacing the valve is necessary, the charge can be excessive.

They will when the tyres are replaced

Most tyre shops do/will quote an all inclusive price, it's not the time it takes to balance a wheel it's the cost of the machine used to do it and the Zinc used as weights ( 5x more expensive than lead).

I see you want cash and carry prices for fitted tyres, thats why Mytyre/Black circles etc seem cheap.

Weights are more expensive than valves, 35grm alloy weights are currently £11 +vat for a box of 50 . A half decent balancer will set you back £3000+ vat. The person driving the balancer is paid at least £5 an hour with 4 weeks paid holiday pa, I don't think £6 is dear.

we have to go to kwik fit for our tyres and brakes they seem to have a habit of removing the valves to release the air from the tyre then they charge the company for a balance they don't do I always point out the fact that our mercs have metal valves and when they are removed I would like to see them replace them with another metal valve they um and err before wandering over to get the valve out of the bin and then they try to make excuses as to why they can't refit it then I suggest that they will be paying out the £40k a day the van is off the road for they readily refit the valve (it's one of them screw on underneath the rim jobbies) and then I ask them why they haven't balanced the tyre even though they've changed me

I have noticed a marked increase in speed of service and general "yes sir how can we help you today sir" service whenever I turn up to their depot now :)

make a stand and ask them why they haven't done stuff (or why they have) and then make a habit of asking to speak to the manager, mind you, I now have a direct line to the manager so I'm not that ill informed :)

The message from " dojj" contains these words:

When I worked for BSM they had a policy of not balancing wheels. Tight arsed gits. It was supposed to save 'em money but I knew several instructors who deliberately wrecked a tyre that needed balancing just so they'd get a new one and hope it was better balanced than before. Dunno if they've changed.