Tyre Fitting

[elanski]

Hello.
Would someone be able to recommend a garage in the south east that has experience of fitting tyres to the +2 Alloy wheel please?

I've heard several stories of these wheels being hard to fit and inexperienced garages having problems so I want to find somone that knows what they're doing and isnt going to make a mess of it.

Also, is it right that the original wheels need inner tubes? I'm sure I heard something about that somewhere but cant find where.

Thanks

[alan.barker]

you need to fit tubes because there is no safety bead on the original Lotus Alloy wheels.
Maybe when you have the tyres fitted it's better to put the Alloy Wheel on the fitting machine the opposite way than normal. That is with the inside of the wheel facing up if possible. This helps to position the bead of the tyre in the recessed part of the wheel while sliding over the last part of the tyre bead on the rim. The recessed dia on the lotus Alloys seems to be offset towards the inside rim.
Of course lots and lots of soapy water or WD40 needed
good luck for the tyre fitter and no bad language please
Alan B

[nebogipfel]

You may have difficulty finding anyone who stocks tubes (especially 13"). You may need to plan ahead a bit.

That's certainly been my experience.

You may also find that tyre fitting centres are reluctant to fit tubes into used tyres. It is my understanding that they are allowed to fit tubes in new tyres but not as a repair which I assume would include used tyres.

[peterako]

you need to fit tubes because there is no safety bead on the original Lotus Alloy wheels.
Maybe when you have the tyres fitted it's better to put the Alloy Wheel on the fitting machine the opposite way than normal. That is with the inside of the wheel facing up if possible. This helps to position the bead of the tyre in the recessed part of the wheel while sliding over the last part of the tyre bead on the rim. The recessed dia on the lotus Alloys seems to be offset towards the inside rim.
Of course lots and lots of soapy water or WD40 needed
good luck for the tyre fitter and no bad language please
Alan B

Just a comment on the above.

Recently had three tyes changed on my +2 Alloys.

The fitter did exactly as you described above, without any prompting from me.

The fact that he too was a classic owner (albeit a Cadillac) may have had something to do with it.

Previous fittrers had encountered problems with fitting. Probably by not following the above advice.

Oh! And I always fit with tubes.

Best of luck!

Peter

[Dave Fowler]

Hello.
Would someone be able to recommend a garage in the south east that has experience of fitting tyres to the +2 Alloy wheel please?

I've heard several stories of these wheels being hard to fit and inexperienced garages having problems so I want to find somone that knows what they're doing and isnt going to make a mess of it.

Also, is it right that the original wheels need inner tubes? I'm sure I heard something about that somewhere but cant find where.

Thanks

Depending on what you'd class as the south-east, I'd recommend the Vintage Tyre Company, who are based at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu. Last year they put tubes into all of my tyres, which had been fitted without them. As you'd expect, they're fully accustomed to dealing with older cars, so a 60s or 70s Lotus won't faze them at all! Looking at all the tyres in their store room, and wondering just what the hell they all fit, is quite fun too. And you get the added bonus of a trip to the beautiful New Forest at the same time, which can't be bad.

Here's their web site.

I've also heard that the biggest problem with the alloy wheels is getting tyres off without damaging them; not an issue if you're replacing the tyre of course.

Dave

[rocket]

Why fit inner tubes? I have had no tubes in last 2 sets of tyres....

Ian.

[Baggy2]

I just bought a set of 4 tyres from vintage tyre company mentioned above mainly because I wanted to be confident that I was dealing with a company who would treat my rims with a bit of respect and just as important be able to balance them. They came up to expectations.
Baggy