Affordable centreless balancing: Peugeot alloys

fatbhoy

Any information on places that balance Peugeot/Citroen alloys would be appreciated. They don't have a removable centre, so before they can be attached to the balancing machine, the balancing machine needs to have a special adapter attached to it.

So I've found two places so far, Bluebell Tyres and Discount Tyres Blanch., but they're looking for around 40 euros per wheel for tyre fit and balancing. Maybe someone knows a cheaper place?

I've also heard of some type of tiny beads that can be put inside the tyre during fitting, that balances them dynamically using centrifugal force.

newirishman

Had my tyres for a Peugeot 307 on alloys - never even heard about that problem. Got my tyres usually done at one of them advance pit stop garages.

Did buy the tyres there though, maybe that makes a difference. Definitely didn’t pay 160 quid for fitting / balancing!

fatbhoy

newirishman wrote: »

Had my tyres for a Peugeot 307 on alloys - never even heard about that problem. Got my tyres usually done at one of them advance pit stop garages.

Did buy the tyres there though, maybe that makes a difference. Definitely didn’t pay 160 quid for fitting / balancing!

It's a Peugeot 607. I think the 307 uses the same centreless system too. I called to a few places and they all say they're centreless and that they don't do centreless.

Toyotafanboi

I think the issue being that some Peugeot wheel designs like the one below don't have a spigot that passes the whole way through the wheel, so you cant just remove the centre cap amd mount it on a conventional balancing machine. You need an adapter that will hold it by the holes for the wheel studs.





Have you tried a Citroen/ Peugeot main dealer OP? They'd surely have the tool and may not appreciate it's rarity as much as an independent shop.

newirishman

I see - my 307 alloys have a centre hole, hence it isn't an issue. Sorry about the confusion.
I'd second Toyotofanboi's comment regarding main dealer.

fatbhoy

Hmmm, thanks Toyotafanboi, that picture clears it up for me. Mine apparently do have removable centres. This is what mine look like:



That kind of makes sense because I enquired in several places, and some said it has removable centres, while others said it hasn't.

So problem solved: I can balance them in the normal way. Thanks everyone who replied.

By the way, I wouldn't be too happy having to pay out 40 per wheel for the centreless balancing. The garages that offer this said that it takes a good 30 minutes to set up the adapter on the balancing machine, hence the price. I'd be questioning why economies of scale savings couldn't be offered to the customer then: 40 for one wheel vs 40x4 for four? Why not 40x1 but maybe 35x2, 30x3 and 25x4?

George Dalton

Some Peugeot wheels have normal looking centre caps but when you remove them there is no centre hole in the wheel so you may not be out of the woods yet.

Also, from your post it seems you are not being quoted €40 for centreless balancing, you are being quoted €40 for new tyre fitting including disposal of your old tyre plus balancing. Not quite the same thing.

fatbhoy

George Dalton wrote: »

Also, from your post it seems you are not being quoted €40 for centreless balancing, you are being quoted €40 for new tyre fitting including disposal of your old tyre plus balancing. Not quite the same thing.

Yes but normally fit, disposal and balancing is between 10 and 15 if I shop around. So doubling that for centreless is a lot, plus my point about economies of scale savings is still a valid one, IMO.

Cee-Jay-Cee

fatbhoy wrote: »

Hmmm, thanks Toyotafanboi, that picture clears it up for me. Mine apparently do have removable centres. This is what mine look like:



That kind of makes sense because I enquired in several places, and some said it has removable centres, while others said it hasn't.

So problem solved: I can balance them in the normal way. Thanks everyone who replied.

By the way, I wouldn't be too happy having to pay out 40 per wheel for the centreless balancing. The garages that offer this said that it takes a good 30 minutes to set up the adapter on the balancing machine, hence the price. I'd be questioning why economies of scale savings couldn't be offered to the customer then: 40 for one wheel vs 40x4 for four? Why not 40x1 but maybe 35x2, 30x3 and 25x4?

Not that I would ever dream of buying a Peugeot or any other French car but €100 is still a ridiculous price for balancing 4 wheels. I don’t see how it would take 30 minutes to stick an adapter on the central hub of the balancing machine, it’s a screw on adaptor, it doesn’t require centring or anything, it simply attaches to the machine and the wheel attaches to it.

enricoh

God bless the French car makers, why do something simple that works well when you over complicate it instead!

colm_mcm

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Not that I would ever dream of buying a Peugeot or any other French car but €100 is still a ridiculous price for balancing 4 wheels. I don’t see how it would take 30 minutes to stick an adapter on the central hub of the balancing machine, it’s a screw on adaptor, it doesn’t require centring or anything, it simply attaches to the machine and the wheel attaches to it.

I disagre, if they’ve had to buy the attachment for the machine to do a small number of Peugeots and Citroens that have centreless wheels, plus take the time to change over the machine just for that one job then I think they can justify the charge.

fatbhoy

I've checked the centre covers on the car: I reckon they're centreless wheels alright. So if anyone else is in the same situation, do you know anywhere that will fit & balance cheaper than 40 euro per wheel?

fatbhoy

colm_mcm wrote: »

I disagre, if they’ve had to buy the attachment for the machine to do a small number of Peugeots and Citroens that have centreless wheels, plus take the time to change over the machine just for that one job then I think they can justify the charge.

It's 40 each wheel: 160 to do less than an hour's work. Probably much less than an hour's work.

CiniO

Only place in Mayo I found was Peugeot dealer in Ballinrobe. They said they'd do it for €15 per corner.
Probably far from you, but maybe try you local Peugeot dealer.

colm_mcm

The fact that they made a wheel that looks like it has a centre cap, but doesn’t - is bizzare.

George Dalton

fatbhoy wrote: »

Yes but normally fit, disposal and balancing is between 10 and 15 if I shop around. So doubling that for centreless is a lot, plus my point about economies of scale savings is still a valid one, IMO.

The amount of regulation in the industry these days and the record keeping required for tyre fitters to remain compliant means that the days of giving a lad €10-15 cash for fitting a tyre are numbered.

You may or may not be aware that tyre fitting is chargeable at 23% VAT unlike most other labour operations in the motor trade. Also for each tyre disposed of the fitter must pay €3.44 including VAT. So if someone is charging €10 per tyre for fitting tyres supplied by a customer and doing it by the book then they are in reality being paid €5.33 minus any consumables used (new valve, tyre paste, wheel weights) and that’s before you even think about the other costs associated with running a business.

People are going to have to get used to higher prices for tyre fitting and factor it in when doing their price comparisons of online vs bricks and mortar suppliers as the effects of this regulation become more apparent and as the percentage of people sourcing their own tyres increases. In my opinion €25-30 or so is about where it should be for a sustainable business. So another €10-15 for what is in effect a specialised job isn’t excessive IMO.

fatbhoy

So I've an update on this: Gowan say they'll fit and (centreless) balance a tyre for 25 euro all in. Result!