 Poster: A snowHead
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| James the Last wrote: |
| ski3 wrote: |
I know this post was last year, but to comment anyway, those saying you can't/shouldn't use a torque wrench for undoing are wrong. Theres no reason that I've seen that can explain why in competent fashion. So far 
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A torque wrench is a piece of machinery designed for doing nuts up to a pre-specified torque (though tell
That to the tyre fitters…). A wrecker bar is designed to take unlimited torque (subject to what a human can apply anyway) whereas there has to be a point beyond which a torque wrench is unhappy.
Google suggests a maximum capacity of 250 ft lbs for a half inch wrench. If those nuts have been put on by a loon with an air gun and it takes a 16 stone bloke bouncing up and down on a 2’ torque wrench to undo them, he’s putting 500 ft lbs through the poor delicate little thing. Remember that calibration certificate……
You *can* use a hammer to put screws into wood. Or a Stanley knife to cut your finger nails. Doesn’t mean you should. |
Demonstrating what I've just written .... there's no real understanding of even what part of the component is being measured. Engineering is factual, not heresay.
Once the torque wrench is past it's "click" point any further force doesn't do anything to it. They just aren't delicate either, especially at the range quoted.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| ptex wrote: |
| Cross Climate's all year round here - little point in anything else TBH for this sort of use case. |
Same here, a couple of trips a year over. 3 years old and have worn just as well as standard (non-3 peaks) tyres. Very happy with them. Carry chains but never had to put them on, even when non-winter tyres cars were chaining up.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Do Cross Climates come with the three peak mountain snowflake symbol on them? I get the impression that the gendarmes look for that when checking. Wouldn’t fancy trying to argue that they should let me pass if the tyres don’t have it no matter how good they are.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| rdsweb wrote: |
| Do Cross Climates come with the three peak mountain snowflake symbol on them? I get the impression that the gendarmes look for that when checking. Wouldn’t fancy trying to argue that they should let me pass if the tyres don’t have it no matter how good they are. |
Yes they are 3PMSF rated for winter driving and have the snowflake symbol as well as M+S
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Stop! I don’t need more justifications for buying more tools 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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They are good, aren't they. We use Makita (but of similar capabilities) as battery commonality with other equipment is convenient. All of the major brands offer something in that range.
Do you use things like this https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-gaa-18v-48-professional-usb-charging-adaptor/875ck though ? Converts the power tool battery to USB charger, with quite some capacity. With a family using them though (away from the car) you have to hide at least one fully charged battery for emergency use.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| ski3 wrote: |
Once the torque wrench is past it's "click" point any further force doesn't do anything to it. They just aren't delicate either, especially at the range quoted. |
That 16 stone bloke is well outside the specified range. Exceed the specified range and you need to recalibrate it. (Per ISO 6789, per Wiki).
Just use the proper tools! It’s not rocket science! I’ve got an extending bar that lives in the car that cost a fiver from Lidl when my father bought it for me for my first car a long time ago now! Worth its weight in gold the couple of times it’s come into use!
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Snowheads favourite band…. Torque Torque
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@James the Last, I was going to call you out on the timeframe of the purchase from Lidl but it seems that they opened their first shop in 1994, so it might be true.....
Instead, I shall call you out on the assertion that a member of you family ventured into Lidl at all. I'm going for a side-by-side wheel nut pursuader (lever is an ugly word) fabricated by Purdey & Purdey and engraved with a hunting scene from the 1800's.... Not that your butler would appreciate it as he is knelt on the hard shoulder of the M4. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Origen wrote: |
| I have a stout wheel nut wrench, into which I can stick an extender thing and stand and jump up and down on it. I've never yet failed to get a nut off that way. I don't feel the need for anything more technical. I do them up as tight as I reasonably can, being not very strong (that's a personal torque calibration ). Not had a wheel fall off yet, but I confess I always felt a bit nervous, driving off...... If possible would prefer someone else to do it, but I do keep an eye on them (did stop one helpful guy jacking the car up before loosening the nuts...). |
OMG @Origen. Spend £30 on a 60cm long torque wrench and set it to about 140nm [not formal advice]. At least your wheels should stay on and if you need to change one you’ll be able to get one off. Check your car manual of course. Dyor
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Whichever lever is chosen .... these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133993502561 are particularly good value, really tough, excellent fit (usually going down inside recess on wheels) don't ordinarily need an extension, also never damage the piece you're trying to turn.
Many are this size, alternatively 19mm is quite common too. You'd obviously need to check specifics.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I use the ones with a nylon sleeve, saved my bacon a few times on expensive wheels when it’s slipped 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I had a wheel nut remover with a telescopic handle. Strong and not too long when closed. Not expensive, probably get them from halfords, amazon etc.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Sun has been out with us today so winters are now on
If nothing else it should encourage the weather to go mild again?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| James the Last wrote: |
| ski3 wrote: |
I know this post was last year, but to comment anyway, those saying you can't/shouldn't use a torque wrench for undoing are wrong. Theres no reason that I've seen that can explain why in competent fashion. So far
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A torque wrench is a piece of machinery designed for doing nuts up to a pre-specified torque (though tell
That to the tyre fitters…). A wrecker bar is designed to take unlimited torque (subject to what a human can apply anyway) whereas there has to be a point beyond which a torque wrench is unhappy.
Google suggests a maximum capacity of 250 ft lbs for a half inch wrench. If those nuts have been put on by a loon with an air gun and it takes a 16 stone bloke bouncing up and down on a 2’ torque wrench to undo them, he’s putting 500 ft lbs through the poor delicate little thing. Remember that calibration certificate……
You *can* use a hammer to put screws into wood. Or a Stanley knife to cut your finger nails. Doesn’t mean you should. |
You can definitely put them on too tight with a decent impact wrench (not one of my finer moments). RIP that breaker bar, eventually got it off by going untighten, tighten with the impact wrench.
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| ski3 wrote: |
They are good, aren't they. We use Makita (but of similar capabilities) as battery commonality with other equipment is convenient. All of the major brands offer something in that range.
Do you use things like this https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-gaa-18v-48-professional-usb-charging-adaptor/875ck though ? Converts the power tool battery to USB charger, with quite some capacity. With a family using them though (away from the car) you have to hide at least one fully charged battery for emergency use. |
That's a great idea to use a battery as a usb charger, I have a few spare batteries so would be useful. I've not seen that before. It's a shame it only has USB-A outputs though so the charging current is only 2 x 2.4A. I expect they might have an upgraded version before long with USB-C output for fast charging.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Just a heads up for anyone ordering tyres, I'd avoid mytyres now, it seems they haven't really got their logistics sorted out since Brexit. Their trustpilot reviews are pretty horrific!
Oponeo seems to be the go to now, they also show that manufacture year the tyre is whereas mytyres ask for an extra charge per tyre to guarantee a 2025 one!
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| damanpunk wrote: |
Just a heads up for anyone ordering tyres, I'd avoid mytyres now, it seems they haven't really got their logistics sorted out since Brexit. Their trustpilot reviews are pretty horrific!
Oponeo seems to be the go to now, they also show that manufacture year the tyre is whereas mytyres ask for an extra charge per tyre to guarantee a 2025 one! |
Last time I got winters. Three years ago I used my local independent.
They had a choice of brands and with fitting and balancing were very close to the price of mytyres and oponeo.
I did already have a set of rims.
In the past I have ordered wheels with tyres from mytyres and the service was good but as said above that was pre Brexit.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I used to give locals a chance but I've had so many damaged wheels now I'm overly cautious, plus I grew tired of them constantly trying to offer me alternatives when my mind was made up.
If they can get what I want I usually go to costco, their service and prices are unbeatable.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| damanpunk wrote: |
I used to give locals a chance but I've had so many damaged wheels now I'm overly cautious, plus I grew tired of them constantly trying to offer me alternatives when my mind was made up.
If they can get what I want I usually go to costco, their service and prices are unbeatable. |
Your woried about damaged wheels then go to Costco 
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I have used mytyres regularly and generally found them OK but a bit slow on delivery, even pre-brexit. Last autumn I ordered a pair of Pirellis to replace two of the Nokians that were past their best. Bit disappointed to receive 2022-manufactured tyres... So will see what oponeo have to offer next time, probably autumn 2026.
Coming back to the Nokians: the car developed a strange wobble from the front wheels winter 2024 which no amount of re-balancing would fix. A skiing friend with the same car, also on Nokian winters developed a similar wobble on his back wheels. We joked that we should swap wheels: my car would be smooth as silk and his would be a proper clown car!
Anyway on return to London I got my friendly local tyre fitter to take a look; although I was going to replace the tyres I didn't want to put the new ones on what may have been bent rims. He took one look and said: it's the tyres mate, they're delaminating (!). Same story from my friend when he got his looked at.
So... won't be buying any more Nokians. The Pirellis - so far so good.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Garfield I'm not sure if you're being serious or not but they have some of the most careful fitters around. Presumably because they get their collar felt if they cause any damage?
They do a damage check sheet all round the car/wheels before work commences that you check and sign. They also did little things like fitting black weights (as the wheels have black barrels) and washed off the majority of soap after they were finished.
Btw just as a comparison for anyone that hasn't considered using them BMW quoted me £1350 for 4 tyres, the exact same from costco was £890. This month they've got a further discount taking them down to £790  Unbeatable.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| damanpunk wrote: |
@Garfield I'm not sure if you're being serious or not but they have some of the most careful fitters around. Presumably because they get their collar felt if they cause any damage?
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I was serious but that is just down to my experience with a Costco and an independent I have had lots of dealings with over the years.
Anywhere you are happy with is better than a stab in the dark for a few £
Different ball game when you are getting differences like for the BMW
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Poster: A snowHead
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| damanpunk wrote: |
@Garfield I'm not sure if you're being serious or not but they have some of the most careful fitters around. Presumably because they get their collar felt if they cause any damage?
They do a damage check sheet all round the car/wheels before work commences that you check and sign. They also did little things like fitting black weights (as the wheels have black barrels) and washed off the majority of soap after they were finished.
Btw just as a comparison for anyone that hasn't considered using them BMW quoted me £1350 for 4 tyres, the exact same from costco was £890. This month they've got a further discount taking them down to £790 Unbeatable. |
That's very good attention to detail. Do you know if this is standard practice at all Costcos? I have a costco near me which I use but would have never considered getting tyres fitted as I didn't think they would take much care but it sounds like your experience is much more positive.
I usually go to Micheldever tyres for fitting which is a considerable distance from where I live but I have had good experience there. I've tried some independent local places but not been overly impressed. I would not let places like Kwik-fit etc touch any of my cars. It would be good to have a more local alternative that takes care.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'm not sure to be honest, I'd hope it is but could just be some car enthusiast fitters there. Was very impressed though, noticed as well they are all city and guilds qualified so they're taking it seriously.
Might be worth striking up a convo with the guys, even if the tyres you want aren't showing as available online as they can get others on their system. Even if you aren't a member you could phone your local one for prices to see if it's worth joining.
It's deadly going in though as you inevitably end up spending a packet more while waiting
It's definitely difficult finding an indy you can be happy with these days, we used to have a really good one but I got fed up of them not answering the phone or when they did trying to offer alternative tyres to what I wanted.
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FAQ
