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

[LovelyFriend]

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?

I don't remember ever having a nail or screw in a tyre We have had the odd puncture though so perhaps some of those were caused by odd bits of metal.

I have been the one taking the car for service for the last 20 years. Reputable garages will always keep the parts they have replaced if you ask them to (just as they will always use main-dealer parts if you ask them to as well).

I'll let you all know when they call.

lovelyfriend - no flats - just one slow puncture which was mended. I think we just replaced the others as it was coming up to replacing time. They were only ever in the treads, not side wall.

Large car, so reinforced tyres.

I've never had a nail in a tyre, not once.

You would hope Kwikfit would be reputable, but DH had them try to claim he needed new brake pads and discs once when he was pretty sure they were fine. He took it somewhere else and they said that they all had several thousand more miles in them.

I've had nails in my tyres quite a few times, but always apparent because I'd get a slow puncture. I always got them repaired at a local tyre place, cost about a tenner a time.

If you genuinely have a nail in a sidewall it genuinely is potentially dangerous. Having a tyre fail on the motorway isn't any fun (although mine wasn't due to a nail/screw).

DayLillie I never have to replace a tyre for wear and tear - they never stay on the car long enough to wear out.

I don't drive on gravel ever. I'm in west London. I drive 10 minutes to work and back and use the car every 2nd weekend to drive somewhere in London. Oh I did go into a carpark at Richmond park a couple of months ago that was stony.

I'm going on holiday on Saturday (driving in UK) and its nice to have the car in top condition before I go.

dad yes that is why I always agree to a new tyre. Esp as we are going on a road trip on Saturday.

I should have taken the car seats out and removed all evidence of children before I took car for service/mot.

I have twice. I know because I noticed them and took the car in, butbthey weren't in the side wall.

At an MOT place there is always a viewing window. Would it be feasible to get them done while you wait next time? If they know you will be watching it might stop them trying it on, if they are.

DH doesn't use Kwikfit if he can help it, but like any chain it depends on the individual branch.

I had a screw in one rear tyre - repaired £5 & 3 weeks later a nail in the other one - again repaired £5 - both apparent because I had flat looking tyres. Pumped them up with foot pump and drove to tyre place where they repaired them. Was relieved they were repairable as they were new tyres. I'd be asking to see damage before paying for replacement.

Are you a member of the AA? It might be worth giving them a call for advice or to find out it if this is a known scam.

Seriously, get a man to take the car in next time. If you can get a man who looks like a builder/mechanic of sorts so much the better.

I've had a nail found at MOT, due to the position it was just an advisory.
I took it to the local tyre place who removed it, found it wasn't in deep, checked pressure and leaks and sent me on my way, all for free.
Both the MOT place and tyre place are lovely.

reredos I really hate to say so but I think you may be right.

I should probably put a plaster over the tattoo on my forehead that says "MUG".

Handsoff no I don't think I have run flat tyres.

Handsoffmysweets Tyre pressure monitoring systems that show a light on the dash are only a quite recent thing - only made compulsory in the EU last year, and only for new cars sold since then.

I wonder what you can do - except vote with your feet???

I had a car serviced and MOT'd by a local mechanic.

The next day my wheel partly detatched on an A road, with my 2 very young children in the car.

When the AA saw it they said that 5 of the 8 screws (technical!) attaching the wheel were not properly fixed. That it was a HUGE safety issue etc.
I explained about the Service and MOT within the last 48 hours and the chap was furious, on my behalf, and suggest I 'tear them off a strip' as if I had been going at more speed and needed to stop I would not have been able to.

I called the mechanic (sole practice) who cheerfully admitted he'd let his 15 year old son work on the car and not checked it upon completion. He had then passed it to a mate of his for an MOT, 'but you are ok so what is the problem? I'll give you a cut price service next time if you like?'

Dopey that is horrendous. I understand how you feel but thankfully I didn't ahve the DC in the car with me. Horrifying for you.

I had the same thing happen last time - I noticed as I was driving away from the place as there was a horrible noise. I was very shocked/heart racing etc and they were loath to accept any fault or apologise to me. Firstly they lied to my face about it too. They offered me money off my next visit -why on earth would I go back?

You say vote with my feet but I have done this. I've used someone new today. But I'm thinking I may still have the same problem - hopefully not.

DH doesn't use Kwikfit if he can help it
I've not used them before but they are a bit of a last resort. they are conveniently located and they are half the price of the VW place I've used before (where I needed 2 new tyres due to screws in side wall).

My other option I won't use as this time last year they didn't put my wheel on and let me drive away with it held on my 2 very loose nuts.

Ime it's always been stop lights being out that have come up at MOT when you've never noticed/thought to check beforehand.

I did once have screws in two tyres - the second one the day after the first when I already had the spare on. That was fun. A neighbour had had work done and the screws had been dropped in the road outside our houses.

I would never use kwik fit again even if it was a last resort. No chance.

I had a nail once and it went flat. That's how I knew I had one.

I'm interested to hear the outcome of this.

Lovely - yes, that's what I thought about the 'cut price 2nd MOT' - why would I want to endanger my family's life a 2nd time?

I hope you don't have the same problem again today.
I would arrive early for the collection and ask to see the car so they can 'show you' any probs before they are expecting you?