Help! Advice needed for dispute with mechanic!

RATM

Hi all, this is a long story but please bear with me, Id really appreciate some advice on this matter.

A month ago I replaced both tyres on my bike, the front is a Bridgestone whilst the back is Avon. The cost including labour, fitting etc was e220.

Around a week later I notice the back ( Avon ) tyre is looking a bit flat, I took it up to the petrol station on a wet day, filled it and noticed some bubbles coming out the side of it where it meets the wheel rim. I took it back to the mechanic, a well known Dublin dealer/garage and he said he didnt have the time to do anything to it for 3 days, said to keep topping up the air daily till then. Next day Im coming around the corner from Westmoreland St onto Aston Quay and the whole tyre pops off the rim. I had to get a recovery service out to bring it to back to the garage. He said that the tyre wasn't the problem, it was sealed correctly but that sometimes dirt gets inside the rim and it would have to be cleaned. As to why they didnt do this when they fitted the tyre originally is anyones guess. It involved taking the exhaust and wheel off and an hours labour. Another e80 later and Im back on the road.

Now just today Im out near my Mums house, I pull off from the junction of a crossroads and pop, the tyre comes off the rim yet again. I was only going about 5mph when it happened, the whole back of the bike skidded out and I was lucky I pulled the steering the opposite direction to get it under control otherwise I would have been lying on the road smack bang in the center of a busy enough crossroads.Im also damn lucky it didnt happen on the motorway I had just come off 10 minutes earlier or I may not be here to tell this story.If it had of happened at 60mph with traffic right behind me I'd fear for my life.Anyway another recovery service job later and Im left waiting till the Bank Holiday weekend is over to get it sorted. Im just glad AON cover recovery or Id be hit for another few hundred at this stage.

So I vaguely remember him saying at the time I bought the tyres that he didnt have the exact size but that one size up would still do the trick.

So my questions are :-

1) Do you think the tyre he has fitted is the wrong size ?
2) If so what should I do ? I bought the tyre from him in good faith, now if I have to go and buy another one because of this cock up who should pay to sort this out ? Me or him ?
3) Will my insurance hike because of using a recovery service not once but twice?
4) Do you lose your no claims bonus by using a recovery service, ie is it regarded as a claim ?

Im quite annoyed about this, as we only have 2 wheels our lives are on the line here. We depend on tyres doing the job they're supposed to in a safe and reliable manner; surely a garage has a duty of responsibility when selling and fitting tyres.



Any feedback is very much appreciated.

carlosfandango

Hi RATM.
Wow! I have to say I think that you are being very reasonable here. I would have totally lost the plot with the person who fitted the tyre.

Do a bit of research yourself online to find the exact sizes and then let him know your findings. I sounds like to me that he fitted an oversize tyre, which is mind-bogglingly irresponsible of him.
Keep us up to date on this, I'm very interested to hear how you get on man.

colm_c

I wouldn't let this rest - definitely sounds like he fitted the wrong size tyre.

I would be looking for him to refit the correct size tire for no cost.

Run_to_da_hills

Get the recommended tyre specs from your model from your bike manufacturer (Google it) Print it out and go back to him with it. If he is proved wrong you have a legal case against them in the small claims court.

CrazyRabbit

1) Do you think the tyre he has fitted is the wrong size ? It would seem that way, but compare what he fitted with the official manufacturer tyre specs.

2) If so what should I do ? I bought the tyre from him in good faith, now if I have to go and buy another one because of this cock up who should pay to sort this out ? Me or him ? As the tyre is either faulty or the wrong size, all costs should be meet by him, including labour costs. I would go so far as to say that he owes you money for your lost time.

3) Will my insurance hike because of using a recovery service not once but twice? Without a copy of your insurance agreement, I can't say for sure, but I would be reasonably sure that using a recovery service will no affect your insurance rate.

4) Do you lose your no claims bonus by using a recovery service, ie is it regarded as a claim ? Same as above. I doubt it would affect the NCB.

If this mechanic is proved to be at fault, then you have a strong case for the Small Claims Court. Cost of replacement trye & all labor costs (after the original fitting) should be refunded to you as well as lost income from work. There could be a claim for emotional distress as well, though I'm not sure if such claims can be heard in the small claims court. Might need civil court for that.

Oryx

Yup I agree you need to check your recommended size against what this mechanic used. While youre at it, also check the speed and weight ratings of the tyres used against what you should have Weight rating is a double digit number after the tyre size, the speed rating is the letter after this. Also see if the tyres supplied are compatible with each other as they are different brands. I mean, if youre checking you might as well check everything.

faceman

OP glad to hear you are ok. You should seek the advice of an approved dealer for your bike and their comments on what should have been done.