The 'E' Type Forum

Morning

Just on the off chance, can anyone recommend a tyre fitter in south-east London or nearby? One of my rears punctured last weekend as I was putting the car back in the garage (builders and their nails, doncha just love 'em? ). I've swapped the wheel over and got a new inner and rim tape off Longstone Tyres during the week, but my usual local tyre fitter isn't happy dealing with a spoked wheel. Any recommendations gladly received...

Simon

Simon, can't recommend anyone, but just to say what a b.....r.
Hope you can get out and about again soon.
Off to OW by XF on Sunday, leaving the E at home.
All the best
Geoff

Thank you Sir :D - and have fun at OW tomorrow. I know they're hoping to get the DH88 up again, and if they do you're in for a real treat: possibly the most beautiful moving object ever designed: E-types and Spitfires included! Fortunately the car itself is back sitting on four wheels and tyres - it's just that I now lack a functioning spare. Lessons learned so far:

Tubed tyres are great! Got a puncture in you expensive new tyre Sir? That'll be ?15 for a new inner :D

Spoked wheels are rubbish. So far, in a city of 10m+, the closest people I've found brave enough to tackle them are in Slough or Southend

Wheel nuts may be 'lame' but are also mankind's greatest invention. I used my entire knowledge of swear words trying to get my spinner off, and if I ever puncture on a dark wet night I'm calling for a breakdown truck....

Simon

It seems diificult to find certain services that we will all need occasionally, like tyre fitters for wire wheels. Can the administrators consider adding stickies of 'essential services' where members can add notes of garages or others who can help?
It certainly seems that some of them will be few and far between so a database of them could be of good general use.
Any thoughts administrators?

Geoff
PS Simon, a good day at OW, let's plan to meet with the S2s next year

Hi Simon.....sounds obvious but have u tried the large tyre fitters eg quick fit etc....ive used them quite a few times but not in your area......the only thing they cannot do is balance correctly using there dynamic machines....but this applier to all tyre shops unless they have wire wheel modified hubs to use......Steve

Thanks, Steve

Yes - I'm wondering if my usual tyre guy was perhaps being a little too precious? After all, presumably taking the tyre on and off so that we can swap the inner tube is no different from taking the tyre on and off any other wheel, and really is not much more that a bigger bolder version of what I do whenever I fix punctures on my racing bike (if I had a big enough set of tyre levers I'd give it a go myself! :-))

Agreed balancing is a different matter, but I would have thought that if the tyre's position relative to the valve hole is marked on the rim so that it can go back on in the same place as before, then the balancing should remain not too far out (certainly good enough for the wheel to go back in the boot as the spare until such time as I can find someone to balance it)?

Simon

Bingo. A bit of lateral thinking and I contacted an old mate who has owned and run a spoked wheel MGB for many years (same wheels only smaller, in effect).
He's recommended Blackheath Tyres who have been around since 1970 and who he's happily used on numerous occasions. Funnily enough they're next door to where R&S Coachbuilts - the Webasto roof specialists - used to be based.

Simon

I used MWS Wheels in Slough a few years ago. They were the only ones that managed to balance my wheels after several high street fitters had tried. Bit of a treck, but an interesting place and they can check out your wheels at the same time.

Rob McClarence

Thanks, Rob. Yes I think as long as I can get the inner swapped over, then if the tyre shop can't balance the wheel it can live in the back of the car as the spare until I'm next passing Slough and can drop in at MWS.

Simon

Or you could buy yourself a bubble balance and some stick on weights: http://www.frost.co.uk/static-wheel-balancer.html
Level the balance, put the wheel on and then lay the weights on the tyre close to the wheel rim until the bubble is perfectly centred. Stick the weights in the centre of the inside rim at exactly that point. Job done. Worth cleaning the inner rim with solvent before starting to ensure the weights stick firmly. This is the way Longstone Tyres do it and I can personally attest their method works perfectly at speeds of up to three figures and several changes of tyres!

Hi Folks
The old worm of balancing wire wheels!!
It has been solved with the manufacture of balancing cones, see page 43 of the last E Type Club Magazine for a supplier, but there are many as well as being available direct from the manufacturers.
They come in two sizes, Jaguar and MG/Triumph so make sure you buy the right ones.
Kwik Fit in my area love them - can't understand why every tyre fitting shop doesn't have a set.
Roger
:D

Simon P wrote:Morning

Just on the off chance, can anyone recommend a tyre fitter in south-east London or nearby? One of my rears punctured last weekend as I was putting the car back in the garage (builders and their nails, doncha just love 'em? ). I've swapped the wheel over and got a new inner and rim tape off Longstone Tyres during the week, but my usual local tyre fitter isn't happy dealing with a spoked wheel. Any recommendations gladly received...

Simon

In case you still need a fitting, I have just had some well-priced winter tyres put on my Porsche at Central Autocentre in Orpington - on the A21. The service was impeccable and the fitting very careful. Worth a call (01689 857694).

I have no affiliation to them but made the journey from Hampstead to get them done - they were eBay specials, saving about £1.5k on the quoted price for the Porsche-rated Continentals for all four corners from the Porsche dealer.

HTH

Peter

Ta. I used Blackheath Tyres in the end and they were great - knew exactly what they needed to do to balance a spoked wheel. Always useful to have additional contacts though.

Simon

MWS did me a good job. Years back but quick fit (sic) were a near disaster when fitting new tyres to my wire wheel mgb. I will say no more...

Anyone near to Alton, Hants, I can recommend Rawles Classic Cars who fitted my Vredesteins recently. They balanced the wheels using a bubble level and the results have been very pleasing and smooth (at least up to 70mph )

Geoff