Wheel Fell off car after a tyre change. Advice needed

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 2:35pm #1

Hi I had my 2 front tyres replaced by a tyre garage earlier . But while driving the front passenger tyre detached from the car . Luckily nobody was injured but the car has some damage . Wing and break disc scratched up . My mechanic picked me up and realized the lug nuts on the other side where loose and said them not being put on correctly was to fault.

Where do I stand with this ? Eg. Would the garage have to pay for repairs etc ?

Any info appreciated

Henry Ford III · 18-10-2021 2:40pm

My advice is to put the wheel back on again, and tighten the wheel nuts.

p.s. Did you not realise something was wrong before the wheel fell off?

mickdw · 18-10-2021 2:42pm

They are absolutely liable if this happened pretty much immediately after leaving.

Most tyre places have a disclaimer that you must recheck after x no of km to ensure that nothing has come loose.

That said, surely it was making a racket before it actually came off?

rock22 · 18-10-2021 2:43pm

How long since you had the tyres replaced?

Did the tyre detach or the wheel?

On the face of it, it does seem like the wheel nuts were not tightened correctly. If so, it would be the garage's fault.

dudley72 · 18-10-2021 2:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058213646/wheel-fell-off-car-after-a-tyre-change-advice-needed

DId they not offer to fix any damage and put the wheel back on?

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 2:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036600#Comment_118036600

I was actually on the way to my mechanic to check out a clicking noise I suspected was a CV joint or driveshaft. The tyre place didnt have the correct socket 21mm I believe to fit into the lug nut so used a wheel brace but must not have tightened it up . They didn't make sign anything .

BronsonTB · 18-10-2021 2:46pm

First place to go, back to who did the tyre replacment and see what they say, showing them the damage caused.

Also take your own pics to have for the record...but boardies would be hard pressed to advise on some thing we cannot see esp since we do not know details of your actual car!

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 2:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036614#Comment_118036614

Literally had 2 front tyres replaced this morning . And texted my mechanic to say the wheel was making a weird noise . He said drop it over and on the way out the wheel detached from the car. I would imagine it's their fault but said I'd get some advice here first.

Henry Ford III · 18-10-2021 2:47pm

I'm finding this quite hard to believe.

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 2:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036642#Comment_118036642

I will do . I have taken pictures of the car and the road . There is scrape marks probably for 100 yards due to the brake disk scraping off the concrete.

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 2:50pm

Screenshot_2021-10-18-14-49-08-515_com.miui.gallery.jpg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036648#Comment_118036648

Screenshot_2021-10-18-14-49-19-508_com.miui.gallery.jpg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036648#Comment_118036648

Here is pictures

Spook_ie · 18-10-2021 2:50pm

Well not wanting to cast doubt but a 100 yards to come to a halt with a corner of the car on the floor!

dudley72 · 18-10-2021 2:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036643#Comment_118036643

If the wheel was making a noise would you not have checked it? even if loose the nuts would gradually come off so 1-2 might have already come off and a few left on.

If I rang a mechanic and said weird noise coming from wheel, I just got new tires on, I would expect them to say "check the nuts"

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 2:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036682#Comment_118036682

I was on the way to get it checked. Literally 2 mins away from my mechanic garage when it happened

dudley72 · 18-10-2021 2:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036693#Comment_118036693

You said you called the mechanic?

Did you not check the tires at all before driving after they made the funny noise?

Did you find any of the nuts at the crash?

BronsonTB · 18-10-2021 2:56pm

I'm sure mechanic will sort...no way all 4 nuts came that loose that quick...

Cheers for pics....

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 2:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036703#Comment_118036703

No I taught it might have been a cv joint or driveshaft not the wheels as they where literally just replaced . So I rules that out . I didn't find any nuts but the ones on the drivers side where all totally loose too

cnocbui · 18-10-2021 2:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036585#Comment_118036585

Have you had a wheel come off? What are the signs?

This happened to a friend of mine several dacades ago. He did all his own car maintainance, engine rebuilds, and modded his cars and so was way above average in mechanical knowledge and discrimination of vehicle performance. It happened to him on a motorway and his front disc brake end up being a D shape while the wheel with brand new tire dissapeared into the distance up an off ramp.

He of course made the tyre fitters pay for all repairs. He and they were lucky they weren't facing homicide charges.

elperello · 18-10-2021 2:59pm

Tyre place 100% responsible.

You should get them to make good the damage.

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 3:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036709#Comment_118036709

I know I said let me know with a price . Would I be liable for damage as I wasn't at fault ? If I had any knowledge of cars I probably would have checked the lugs but didn't a tyre shop would let a customer away with something as serious as that happening

sundodger5 · 18-10-2021 3:00pm

Contact the tyre place. Explain what happened.

I would imagine they will be happy to fix any damage.

No one hurt is the main thing.

Henry Ford III · 18-10-2021 3:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036721#Comment_118036721

Loose and increasingly wobbly steering. Then a sudden drop in height accompanied by sparks and a loud grinding noise.

dudley72 · 18-10-2021 3:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036716#Comment_118036716

Sorry it just seems a bit strange. Did you look at the wheels after you heard the noise?

When you say earlier, was it earlier in the day or a few days before?

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 3:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036727#Comment_118036727

Thank you .would it best get a solicitor involved or just call to them ?

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 3:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036733#Comment_118036733

100% . Luckily nobody was walking on the pathway and the car behind was far back enough to miss the loose tyre

sundodger5 · 18-10-2021 3:03pm

Just call and see what they say. Solicitor is the road you go if they don't offer to fix it.

Buffman · 18-10-2021 3:04pm

It sounds like you haven't contacted the tyre shop yet? Do so immediately.

It's 100% their fault and it's up to them to fix you up. They should have insurance for exactly this reason.

dudley72 · 18-10-2021 3:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036739#Comment_118036739

Why you need a solicitor? just all them and explain. They will repair.

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 3:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036759#Comment_118036759

I didn't . I was going to wait until the mechanic gives me a price then decide. I will have to call in before they close today . Will post an update here when I do 👍

elperello · 18-10-2021 3:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036739#Comment_118036739

Get back to them in person ASAP.

Show them the photos and tell them where the car is for inspection. Also they will want to speak to your mechanic who will confirm the story.

pudzey101 · 18-10-2021 3:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118036767#Comment_118036767

Probably just worried in case they say it's nothing to do with them or tell me go away

Wheel Fell off car after a tyre change. Advice needed

Comments