Geometry and tyre fitting recommendation Outer SW London

John Ed

Junior Member
Messages
79
Looking for recommendations for someone who can carry out geo check and fit two new front tyres for my Grancab? Ive not had much joy with my usual local guy so after a recommendation. Im located in Teddington, so Twickenham/Kingston would be ideal but anywhere sensible is fine.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,511
I agree with Catman - Wheels in Motion Chesham, set up my previous GTS and also my classic Mustang.
Can’t recommend them highly enough.
 

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
I'm also a big fan of WIM. I've used them many times over the years; they've often made a massive improvement to the handling of my cars, not to mention improving tyre wear etc. I'm very fortunate that they're just 15 mins away.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,511
My 1965 Mustang became a danger to drive after a so called wheel alignment, so bad that I thought something was broken.
W in M had it for 4 hours and a set of shims and now I can drive a motorway speeds in confidence.
 

CLRut

Member
Messages
120
Another vote here - had it done at the same time as fitting a full set of new Michelins prior to an epic Euro road-trip. Highly professional and clear in feedback. And it wasn't a small journey south for me from the East Midlands but worth it.
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,101
Wheels in motion use a hunter if I'm not mistaken. Just to let you know that Kwik Fit do Hunter Hawkeye alignment too.
Now I know some of you don't speak highly of the average Kwik Fit fitter but they will be trained on it and know the correct settings for the Maserati. In fact, when I got my 4200 MOTd before I sold it, the fitter was telling me how much training they do on it including the theory behind it.
If the cars not driving better afterwards you can always take it back.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,538
Wheels in motion use a hunter if I'm not mistaken. Just to let you know that Kwik Fit do Hunter Hawkeye alignment too.
Now I know some of you don't speak highly of the average Kwik Fit fitter but they will be trained on it and know the correct settings for the Maserati. In fact, when I got my 4200 MOTd before I sold it, the fitter was telling me how much training they do on it including the theory behind it.
If the cars not driving better afterwards you can always take it back.

Oh agreed. Thing about WIM is that they can sensibly discuss what you want, and then suggest settings for you. Then weight the car, set it up, let you test it, bring it back etc etc.

Oh and they don't seem to have issues messing with shims, either. Not that I won't take some of my cars to Kwikfit, or F1

C
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,101
Oh agreed. Thing about WIM is that they can sensibly discuss what you want, and then suggest settings for you. Then weight the car, set it up, let you test it, bring it back etc etc.

Oh and they don't seem to have issues messing with shims, either. Not that I won't take some of my cars to Kwikfit, or F1

C
You know you can talk to the fitters at Kwik fit. They do speak English.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,538
You know you can talk to the fitters at Kwik fit. They do speak English.

Oh yeah. Not sure I'd expect too many of them to translate my gibberish into settings on a car though. Also most appear to only be 'allowed' to use the settings in the machine, or get it as close to. We know, for example, what that does to GT tyre wear.

And I am a huge supported of our local F1 (just over the road from Kwikfit) who have been doing tyres, low end tracking, exhausts MOTs and so on for our cars for about 28 years. So it's really not snobbery

C
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,511
I am sure there are lots of places that have the equipment and know how to use it, but the experience will certainly differ on how they apply that knowledge.
Its never going to be as simple as going anywhere with the right equipment so recommendations based on personal experience are important.
I am lucky as WIM are 15 mins from my house
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Wheels in motion use a hunter if I'm not mistaken. Just to let you know that Kwik Fit do Hunter Hawkeye alignment too.
Now I know some of you don't speak highly of the average Kwik Fit fitter but they will be trained on it and know the correct settings for the Maserati. In fact, when I got my 4200 MOTd before I sold it, the fitter was telling me how much training they do on it including the theory behind it.
If the cars not driving better afterwards you can always take it back.

Here is a picture I painted after receiving training on how to use a paint brush.

89050

There is little doubt that these outfits have the equipment, but there business model is not based on taking time to make things perfect, it’s based on getting things good enough, and the Hunter helps because it is quick to set up.

They will set it to the book, what you get with outfits like WIM and Northampton Motorsport is the benefit of experience in setting up cars to give the result you want, not what is in the book.

Some people want that, some people don’t.
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
I wouldn't let Kwik Sh*t anywhere near a car of mine again. EVER!

They had a simple job of regassing the aircon in my 147 many moons ago and ended up breaking the bit where they top the gas up.
I have no idea how they did that. But categorically denied that it was their fault.

And that it 'must have been like that when they went to re-gas the system'. Even though they told me it was holding pressure or something and there were no leaks.

Useless f*ckwits!
 

ChrissGT

Member
Messages
341
I had a race car shop do my geometry by hand. It's expensive, but their knowledge of setting up rwd drive vehicles is priceless. I now have the proper alignment data so i can take it anywhere i want to. Still would be hesitant to go to a generic fitter, although its just nuts, bolts and readouts.