Poeee got a flat tyre on his mini the other day, so we took the tyre to a well known tyre shop to get the tube inside fixed or a new one put in. Poeee wasn't sure if the tyre side wall would be ok, as it had been flat a few times (always the same corner!). Well they thought it was ok after they pulled the tyre off the rim, which they told us, but once it was inflated, it had a big bulge in the side. This didn't really worry poeee, as he was 1/2 expecting it.
He had 2 new tyres put on about 4odd months ago, so he had them put on the back, and the new ones put on the front. When we picked the car up, poeee thought he was all paranoid, as his gear shifter felt all floppy.
About 3 hours after the tyres had been fitted, we travelled up to Melbourne with Dylan to the VMCI monthly social night. On the FWY and bit past Werribee, down goes the front right, dead flat (at 100km/h). Lukily Dylan had his jack and wheel brace, as poeee forgot to put his back in!
We went back the next day (last Thurs), and they fixed it while we waited. They come out and told us that they had put a 13" tube in, as they didn't have any 12" tubes in stock the day before. DODGY! Well they recon it folded and rubbed on itself causing it to pop, (duh, didn't see that one coming. Experts my arse)
Well poeee then asked about the other side, then they said that they stuffed the bead on the tyre getting it on the rim and the other side was fine. OMG, tyre experts!
All fixed now, poeee isn't out of money (other than the 2 new tyres), but he's rather pissed off.
Also... we called into see Pete, the local Mini mechanic and poeee mentioned his paranoia about the gearshifter being floppy, thinking that the tyre people didn't know you have to lift it to get it in reverse (he thinks that they kept trying to force it, thining it would go in like a 'normal' car). Pete, had a look, and confimed poeees suspicions. He knew straight away what had happend, and he was right when we got the car on the hoist. One of the rod change rubber mounts had been broken.
Poeee is going to write a letter to the head office of this tyre place, hoping to get his tyre's for free!
What annoys me the most is that these people are supposed to be experts. Even a child would know that you cant properly fit a 13" tube into a 12" tyre. I mean, really.
AND told them it had to be 110% right!!!
it's a ****** Clubman....much better than a Cooper 
