Tyres

[KyleMorrisEvans92]

Hello all.

I need to replace all four tyres. Could any of you give me a rough idea of how much it would cost for all tyres plus fitting...
I am well aware that each fitter has differing rates, so just a rough estimate is what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance

Kyle

[bmcecosse]

Roughly £50/55 per wheel should get you 145 X 80 x 14 tyres balanced on the wheels..... But you will need to search around for the best 'deal' - some places are charging much more - and it's not at all justified...

[Boomlander]

Check out Ctyres.co.uk for good value tyres and if you have a Europit centre near you they fitted mine for £10 per wheel including new valve and balance.

[mike.perry]

I and many others prefer 155/14 tyres

[bmcecosse]

Which are TOO WIDE for normal 3.5 " wheels ! I too prefer them - but on the correct 4.5J Van wheels......

[bmcecosse]

Here you go - as suggested above from Ctyres - and free delivery. Just fit them yourself - it's not difficult!
http://www.ctyres.co.uk/partsa.php?widt ... roceed.y=6

[kennatt]

[quote="bmcecosse"] . Just fit them yourself - it's not difficult!

Not if you have the fitting tools,wheel clamp ,and compressor to reseal the new tyre onto the rim. Unless you know a different way Roy Would be interested to know how

[bmcecosse]

Just two tyre levers - and blow them up at the local petrol station if you don't have a compressor. A wipe of Swarfega round the rim helps too. But of course it was a slightly tongue in cheek comment - I realise not everyone wants to fit their own tyres...so it's then up to each to negotiate with a local tyre fitter to do the job in a 'quiet spell' in exchange for a few beer tokens ! Ctyres can arrange fitting too - but at a price.

[Boomlander]

I have 155/80/14 tyres fitted to standard rims and was told by the man who fitted them that they were fine for normal road use but not for "Drifting" Also the 155s are £20 cheaper per tyre than the 145s

[Trickydicky]

I recently bought two of these Nankang's, http://www.camskill.co.uk/m4b0s381p0/Ca ... _14_155R14

Paid £20 for fitting and disposal of the old ones at my local garage.

[philthehill]

Fitting your own tyres to a Minor is not that bad. Reasonably easy in fact. The biggest problem that you may come across is getting the rims of the tyre to seal on both sides of the rim to allow the air to inflate the tyre. Using a tourniquet around the tyre helps. The problem is made worse if the tyre has been stored in a stack and the tyre ends up with squashed side walls. Leaving the Schrader valve insert out until the tyre is against the rims does help resolve that problem.
Over the years I have manually removed and fitted many tubeless tyres to BMC steel rims and various alloy rims and it makes for good experience for having done so. Everyone should learn to change a tyre at least once.
Make sure that your tyre levers are well polished and have no sharp edges which could cut or tear the tyre. Polished levers makes the job easier.
If you want a difficulty try removing a tyre with a beaded rims http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/be ... eran-tyres and then you will not have an easy job especially if the tyre is held in place with security bolts as many were.

[KyleMorrisEvans92]

Thanks for your comments everyone! Much appreciated!

[bmcecosse]

As Phil points out - the valve centre should be left out for the initial bead-setting inflation. I just tug the bead onto the side with the valve stem and then gently ease the other bead over towards the other rim as the air goes in. Never known to fail!

[mike.perry]

Have you got a balancing machine Roy?
It is worth mentioning that the early Series MM/II wheels have larger valves and it is worth checking if the dealer has them in stock before he rips the old ones out and throws them across the garage floor

[bmcecosse]

I've described my home balancing technique in the past. Works well - never seem to need more than 1 weight - and nice smooth running ! Sure it's only a static balance - but for up to 70 mph it seems to work well!

[kennatt]

Yes I've done several,but Don't care what anyone says,Its NOT easy,the first problem is breaking the bead on the old tyre,then without the right levers(How many average owners have them) getting the old tyre off. Then the new one one . Then ,don't know about other areas, but all of the garages in my area have the 50p in the machine tyre inflators. If you set the guage to max , there is no way there is enough pressure or air flow to force the tyres onto the rim,then you get about 1min so there lies the last problem.
I like others can do it because I have the levers and compressor. But if I was doing four.............no contest down to the fitters,pay then the £40 sit in comfort with a free coffee and be back on the road in the time it would take me to do one.

[bmcecosse]

Ahh there was no mention of removing old tyres....... a short run up and down the road on the flat tyre usually releases the beads from the rim ok ! And a compressor is a great thing to have - be the envy of all your neighbours, and have a steady stream of 'can you blow up my flat car/bike/barrow tyre'......

[kennatt]

Until I started quoting proper rates ,instead of mates rates ,I got a bit sick of doing endless,"can you just give this door a quick blow over after I have sorted it "and "what about a bottom half ,and this wing please "and on and on.
Wonder why it all slowed down when I started saying " go and get a quote from a body shop and Ill do it for 20% less"