Do I have to get my wheels rebalanced after having one off to fix a puncture?

Vonhelmet

Vonhelmet

Vonhelmet

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So, I took a trip to B&Q and was lucky enough to get a nail or something in one of the tyres. Fortunately I'd only driven a couple of miles before spotting the tyre was flat.

I've put the spare wheel on and I'll take the regular one along to Kwik Fit to get it repaired - the nail isn't in the wall so it should be do-able. I'd be happy to put it back on myself, but I know they'll want to do it and then will want to re-balance my wheels and all the rest of it.

So... Can I save some money by just having the tyre fixed and switching the wheels back myself, or will we all die upside down in a ditch if I don't get the wheels re-balanced?
 
You only need to get that one wheel rebalanced, and most places do that as part and parcel of fitting a tyre. I'd expect to pay £10 for the whole job.
 
I can't see any reason why they'd have to rebalance the wheel. Puncture repairs usually just involve the removal the offending sharp object, and plugging it with a rubber bung. The tyre doesn't come off the rim so balance shouldn't be affected.

And I don't know about everyone else but my local Kwik Fit are alright. They're a big chain and it shows, but they're mostly pretty sound and they've been helpful when I've been to see them.
 
I've only had a puncture repair once but they did take the tyre off and do some work on the inside of it. Put it back on the same position it came off, checked the balance was still ok and bolted it back on.
 
PardonTheWait said:
I can't see any reason why they'd have to rebalance the wheel. Puncture repairs usually just involve the removal the offending sharp object, and plugging it with a rubber bung. The tyre doesn't come off the rim so balance shouldn't be affected.

And I don't know about everyone else but my local Kwik Fit are alright. They're a big chain and it shows, but they're mostly pretty sound and they've been helpful when I've been to see them.
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The bung should be inserted from the inside and bonded in place, so that the pressure within the tyre maintains a good seal on the repair. So it will need to come off the rim. The balance might not change (unlikely to), but it's good practice to check it.
 
Please don't tell me the purpose of this thread is to see if you can save a fiver on balancing....

Anyway, tyre will need to come off and then back on and rebalanced. I recommend going to a tyre place rather than just kwik fit.
 
PardonTheWait said:
I can't see any reason why they'd have to rebalance the wheel. Puncture repairs usually just involve the removal the offending sharp object, and plugging it with a rubber bung. The tyre doesn't come off the rim so balance shouldn't be affected.
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:confused:

Whenever i've had one fixed they remove the tyre and fix it from the inside with a patch, since the tyre won't go on the rim in the same place and you've added weight with the patch the wheel will need to be balanced.
 
pepsilol said:
Please don't tell me the purpose of this thread is to see if you can save a fiver on balancing....
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The purpose of the thread is to see if I need to pay that £5 or whatever at all. I'd love to be in a position where I could afford to pay a garage to do whatever they fancy without checking whether it's actually necessary, but sadly I'm not. Mercifully the other posters in this thread have been considerably more helpful than just responding to query my financial position.

pepsilol said:
Anyway, tyre will need to come off and then back on and rebalanced. I recommend going to a tyre place rather than just kwik fit.
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Ah, OK, so you can be helpful when you choose to be.
 
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