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[Andy B]

At great expense, I had 2 tyres fitted to my Merc today. SHE  fitted one of the new tyres, placed it on the balancer, spun it up & it told her to fit a 45g & a 30g weight. She then spun it up again and proceeded to fit another packet of them elsewhere on the rim. I intervened & said I wasn't happy with the amount of weights she was going to be fitting. She looked at me blank.  I suggested she moved the rim & tyre relative to each other. She looked at me blank. 
She sought help and re-balanced it .... I've not actually looked yet, but when she was fitting the wheel to my car, she said .... I didn't know you could do that! 

[STEMO]

Tyre fitters like to drive customers cars on and off the ramps. What would you have said if she'd jumped behind the wheel? 

[Andy B]

Tyre fitters like to drive customers cars on and off the ramps. What would you have said if she'd jumped behind the wheel? 

You need a jack or two to remove wheels ..... not a ramp 

[Nick W]

Tyre fitters like to drive customers cars on and off the ramps. What would you have said if she'd jumped behind the wheel? 

You need a jack or two to remove wheels ..... not a ramp 

If they use a two-post ramp, the "free safety inspection for your peace of mind" is easier. And so is up selling new shocks, an exhaust, the other two tyres, solid gold wiper blades and a baby seat. Not that any fast fit centre would actually do that.

[STEMO]

Tyre fitters like to drive customers cars on and off the ramps. What would you have said if she'd jumped behind the wheel? 

You need a jack or two to remove wheels ..... not a ramp 

My local place uses a ramp, I'd say that was another minus for yours.

[Andy B]

.....
If they use a two-post ramp, the "free safety inspection for your peace of mind" is easier. And so is up selling new shocks, an exhaust, the other two tyres, solid gold wiper blades and a baby seat. Not that any fast fit centre would actually do that.

I don't use fast fit centres unless really really stuck. This is an independant tyre bay, been going there years, unfortunately she seems to have a training issue 

the other two tyres were fitted by them last year sometime  ............. at £200 each, they only get repalced as pairs, 4x4 or not 

[Andy B]

Tyre fitters like to drive customers cars on and off the ramps. What would you have said if she'd jumped behind the wheel? 

You need a jack or two to remove wheels ..... not a ramp 

My local place uses a ramp, I'd say that was another minus for yours.

they have just 2 four posters, one in the tyre bay & t'other in the MOT bit behind and where they have a 'tracking'/geometry set up

[frostbite]

Here a question that should come under the title

What is the red spot and yellow circle for on the tire wall

[aaronjb]

Here a question that should come under the title

What is the red spot and yellow circle for on the tire wall

Point of maximum run-out and point of maximum imbalance, IIRC.

[frostbite]

Ok well that clears it a tad. My welder friend thinks its where the valve is suppost to be positioned 

[Andy B]

Ok well that clears it a tad. My welder friend thinks its where the valve is suppost to be positioned 

He's kind of right ..... that's the starting point

[citroenguy]

Not all tyres come with the dots. I would say that 45g is a tad high but still normal. its worse when the balancer tells you to fit 70g and 50g.. (usually cheap tyres)

[aaronjb]

Ok well that clears it a tad. My welder friend thinks its where the valve is suppost to be positioned 

He's kind of right ..... that's the starting point

Yeah - I can't remember if the dots are "at" the position of greatest run-out & weight or if they are opposite (and therefore the idea is you line the valve up with one rather than put the valve opposite one).

Ever noticed the red & yellow lines around a tyre? They mean something, too.. I forget what, though 

[Andy B]

Not all tyres come with the dots. I would say that 45g is a tad high but still normal. its worse when the balancer tells you to fit 70g and 50g.. (usually cheap tyres)

If she'd just fitted the 45g & 30g weights I'd have left it at that, but when she spun it and wanted to add another handful, that's when I said I wasn't prepared to have it balanced like that.

They are Michelin Latitude Sport 3 ......

[Andy B]

....

Yeah - I can't remember if the dots are "at" the position of greatest run-out & weight or if they are opposite (and therefore the idea is you line the valve up with one rather than put the valve opposite one).

Ever noticed the red & yellow lines around a tyre? They mean something, too.. I forget what, though 

Like you, I know they're to do with the heaviest/lightest part of the tyre lining up with the valve which is the heaviest/lightest part of the rim ...... but can never remember which ...... I think it's an age thing