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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be thinking "today I will be told I have nails/screws in my tires"

121 replies

LovelyFriend · 20/07/2015 10:12

Today I've taken my car in for MOT/Service.

The last 3 years I have done this (at 2 different places) I have received a call to be told I have nails/screws in 2 otherwise perfectly good tires and they need to be replaced.

Apparently I am both very unlucky to get so many nails/screws in my tires, and also very lucky that despite the high number of nails/screws I have in my tires I NEVER get a flat.

So I'm beginning to think this is a con - but I don't know what to do about it?

I wanted to ask them to check my tires before I left this morning but there was a huge queue. And I wimped out. They came out to someone waiting in the waiting room and told him he had a screw in his tire and he just smiled and nodded. Yeah I know the feeling mate.

I am doubly cynical about this as I have been driving for 30 years, and it it only the last few years since I split from XP and have been getting the car serviced myself again that this unfortunate affliction has been affecting me.

I don't know anyone else who gets so many, or even any, nails and screws in their tires. I drive on perfectly normal London streets.

So AIBU to think these car service places are fucking me over?

Is this a "thing" now?

Or is getting screws and nails in your car tires a really common thing these days? And if it is a common thing, how come nobody gets flats or blowouts?

OP posts:
mintpoppet · 20/07/2015 10:16

I would play them at their game 'that's funny. I've had nails so many times here and never had a flat that I got a mechanic friend to check them this morn. There weren't any. Could you go and check it's not another Fiat Punto. I've got a feeling you're getting my car muddled since it didn't have any nails. ' Don't take this shirty practice lying down.

CalleighDoodle · 20/07/2015 10:18

My dad said it is £8-£10 to get replaired. As long as it is not in the side wall. They cant repair that.

DadfromUncle · 20/07/2015 10:18

No decent place will mind keeping the old tyre and showing you the damage - I often ask garages to keep the damaged/broken parts or to put the car on the ramp when I collect and show me the work.

It does sound suspicious to me.

It's tyres unless you're in the USA.

Original poster
LovelyFriend · 20/07/2015 10:19

I'm using a different place today for the first time - as the other place I used to use let me drive away with my WHEEL NOT ATTACHED last year. So I haven't gone back.

I should be also asking everyone to tell me - have you ever had nail/screw in your tire?

OP posts:
CalleighDoodle · 20/07/2015 10:20

Ive read you whole post to him now and he is sceptical. Are you close? Id be tempted to tell them not to do anything then go down and ask to see it. Without prior warning.

FenellaFellorick · 20/07/2015 10:20

yes I have. But it caused a slow puncture.

Original poster
LovelyFriend · 20/07/2015 10:21

Oh it is ALWAYS in the side wall Calleigh - that's 6 times now.

Dad I did the whole post using Tyres and it all came up red and then I googled it and it came up tires - but you are right and I was simply confused.

I will deffo ask them to keep my old tyres (if it happens) and inspect them myself.

OP posts:
mintpoppet · 20/07/2015 10:21

Yes I've had a nail in my tyre before but it did go flat. My garage fixed it for free.

Icimoi · 20/07/2015 10:22

I've never had this, and I always deal with car services etc on my own.

Original poster
LovelyFriend · 20/07/2015 10:24

Dad now my entire OP is bothering me :)

OP posts:
DayLillie · 20/07/2015 10:25

We had it a couple of times, but we had builders who had dropped nails on the gravel drive, and it took a long time to find them all. The car seemed to be good at it.

TheRealAmyLee · 20/07/2015 10:25

I've had approx 1 nail/screw in a tyre every 2-3 years. The tyre has on all bar 1 occasion gone flat. All have been fixable for under £10.

Sounds like a con to me.

Wellthatsit · 20/07/2015 10:25

You need to find a garage you can trust.

Original poster
LovelyFriend · 20/07/2015 10:26

did you get a flat daylillie?

OP posts:
Pantone363 · 20/07/2015 10:26

I've never had this.

I wouldn't bother asking to see it, they'll just bang a nail in!

DadfromUncle · 20/07/2015 10:27

A couple of other things - yes, in 30 + years of driving, I've had maybe 6 nails/screws. One caused a flat tyre, I managed to remove one when I spotted it and the others I had new tyres - but they can be repaired as CalleighDoodle said - I just chose not to.

I have never had a nail/screw in the sidewall.

If the garage is being honest they are raising a legitimate safety concern, however the presence of a nail or screw isn't a specific MOT failure -

www.motuk.co.uk/manual_410.htm

backinthebox · 20/07/2015 10:28

I've just had my car MOTed and I asked them to have a look at the tyre valve as the tyre has been going down ever so slowly - so slowly I didn't think it could possibly have a puncture. But it had a whacking great big screw in it. They were able to fix the tyre (thankfully, as the car had a brand new set of very expensive off road tyres on less than 1000 miles ago!) Same day, I had to drop off a tyre for repair from my other car - with a nail in it. OH has also had a bit of nail/screw problems with his car. We put it down to the fact that next door resurfaced our shared private lane with reclaimed materials, as they were cheaper. It is full of metal. Lovely.

BerylStreep · 20/07/2015 10:28

I have had loads of screws in my tyres. They have never caused a flat - they have sort of plugged up the hole, IYSWIM?

My Mum has had loads too - she thought they may have put there maliciously, but I was speaking to some colleagues at work about it, and they also say they get lots. My Mum's have always caused punctures though.

The ones I have got, I have always noticed myself. I think it is as a result of screws being left lying around after building work.

If you think it is a scam, you should check your tyres yourself before bring the car to MOT.

DadfromUncle · 20/07/2015 10:28

Could it be vandals?

Original poster
LovelyFriend · 20/07/2015 10:29

Wellthatsit how do you do that?
This has happened at my local official VW service place, a very "respectable" local indie place that was recommended to me (they were the ones who didn't put my wheel back on and then denied they did anything wrong and din't apologie until I stood there for half an hour and made them - whole other thread).
Today I am at local Kwikfit. Are they trustworthy?

All of these places I've trusted as reputable long standing businesses.

OP posts:
Corneliusmurphy · 20/07/2015 10:29

Dp had a slow puncture because of a nail in the tyre, popped into tyre place who fixed it while he waited and charged £8 - this isn't the first time but in ten years I'm thinking no more than five and he's never had to have the tyre replaced because of it repairs have been sufficient.

DadfromUncle · 20/07/2015 10:30

I wouldn't bother asking to see it, they'll just bang a nail in! Fair point - if they are ripping OP off, they will scam that!

Original poster
LovelyFriend · 20/07/2015 10:31

Beryl I should have checked them you are right.

Dad I don't think so.

OP posts:
Original poster
LovelyFriend · 20/07/2015 10:34

I wouldn't bother asking to see it, they'll just bang a nail in!
Yes if they have called and told me that I have nails then they will certainly make sure I see a tyre with a nail if I ask to see them.

I'm do hope I'm wrong.

Or it is just ONE tyre this time and not 2.

The other thing is they are always in side wall - so never repairable! And they tut and sigh about how dangerous it is for me. Perhaps the 2 car seats in the back have something to do with it? ie they see me as an extra sucker?

OP posts:
BerylStreep · 20/07/2015 10:34

We have just bought a new house with a gravel driveway which is full of old rusty nails from when the house was extended. I have found about 8 nails in the last couple of days. I am planning to buy a metal detector and pay the DC 50p per nail that they find.

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