Best way to get new tyres fitted

[smr]

Now that I have a nice car with 18" Diamond Cut Alloys in good condition I'd like to keep them that way so I'm a bit weary of the high street tyre fitters especially having read some horror stories about them online and tyre fitting carelessly, causing damage to the rims.

So what's the best way of getting tyres fitted? Is it via mobile fitters as they may take more care or should I buy the tyres and get them delivered to me and then ask someone who is going to take more care in fitting them and if so who would that be?

I've got a booking with ATS at the moment but the last time I went there and they did wheel alignment it was horrendous so I haven't got any confidence they'd be able to change 4 new tyres with the required level of competence so I'm inclined to cancel it should there be better and safer alternatives that may apply.

Tia

 

[smr]

I’ve never had an issue, always get mobile fitters to do it. They all seem to use the same equipment though.

Stone chips have been a bigger issue for my diamond cut alloys than anything else.

I did have a look at going with tyres on the drive then read how downhill they went compared to the last time i used them, as they were acquired by halfords. who'd have thought.

So I booked with kwik fit mobile fitting and whilst aware of the flack kwik fit get I found a thread online which praised their mobile fitting so was ok with that and thought if its on my drive they're probably going to take more care anyway as i've got ring video door bell and a security camera so if they clocked them they wouldn't be careless.

But then I saw ATS were doing £70 off and £50 amazon gift card so decided to go with them, now I'm wondering whether I should because of what I've read on other threads!

 

[smr]

Friend of mine had tyres on the drive (Halfords, national tyres, probably many other places) out to fit some new tyres to his beemer.

They scratched 2 of his diamond cut alloys, cost the company £5k for a whole new set in the end.

presumably he took photos of the wheels just before the fitter arrived ?

 

[smr]

Yes, always get pictures but even if you don't the fitter should record any existing damage before fitting to cover themselves

I've got the car booked in in the afternoon so I may wash it in the morning if not the day before and take photos of the wheels when I park at ATS.

 

[smr]

Think i may actually change my plans.

Cancel the 4 new tyres with ats and just get a mobile tyre fitter to have a look at my slow puncture. Im just assuming that the slow puncture is caused by a nail or something but it could be something else so no point getting 4 new tyres fitted and then find i still have a puncture.

And, despite the tyres on my car being budget theres still a fair bit of tread left on them, like 4-6mm. So its probably a bit soon to be replacing them all.

Also this tyre fitter is a one man band by the look of it and highly recommended, fb page looks good with photos taken of every job. Looks like someone who takes pride in their job and whilst a 50 quid Amazon voucher is fine and all, I do love having my tyres fitted at home. I feel as though the tyre fitter is more likely to take care simply because the customer can see what theyre doing as opposed to the chain places where you sit next to their drink dispenser completely unable to see your car for half an hour.

I'd rather find a local fitter who i can rely on and so can use them whenever i need new tyres. Also doesnt mind if i supply my own tyres.

 

[smr]

Well I took my car to ATS in the end. Was pretty quiet when I arrived which was a first, hadn't been in 2 or 3 years. The lad who replaced my tyres is one of the guys I've seen there before and seems to run the branch so I had faith he'd do a good job.

I washed my alloys but not the rest of my car haha, so it was obvious I was keeping an eye on them. Anyway not long after he put the car on the ramp he wheeled one of the wheels into the reception area where I was sitting and got a tablet thing out just mentioning the condition of the alloys and asked me to sign it which I did after discussing the wheels, not sure why only one was wheeled in though.

Anyway seems like a job well done, light pretty much gone by the time I got home but looked at my wheels with my phone torch and all look ok - that said I had to drive through some flood water on the way home so they don't look clean anymore, but look ok anyway.