I just went throught the same last week with my LSS wheels at Big O Tires.

Either they repair, replace or sue them!

 

I would have them pay for having the wheel repaired. Long as the shop that does it can get a good paint match, it's an easy fix for the standard wheels.

The shop that changed the tires on my Merc did something similar and also dinged the wells for the wheel bolts, but I was too lazy to fight with them over it.

- J

 

It's getting to the point that I will photograph the wheels at the tire place before leaving them. Sheeesh.

 

It's getting to the point that I will photograph the wheels at the tire place before leaving them. Sheeesh.

Yes! Everyone should do this!
I didn't take pics, but I wanted to 'go over' the wheels with the manager when dropping them off, but didn't for some reason.

 

It's getting to the point that I will photograph the wheels at the tire place before leaving them. Sheeesh.

I've considered the same. I've determined that my property is more likely to get damaged than not when in someone elses hands. It can be hard to detect let alone prove wrong doing when you pick up your stuff. I don't even mention most of it, because I value my time more than the trouble especially since I'm usually on the losing end. I've had wheels on other cars damaged in the same manner . . . more than once.

 

Ouch. Glad I ended up getting my tire replaced elsewhere. I'd try to make them pay for it... call their corporate office if they manager there won't do it.

 

Well, that settles it. When I finally need new tires i'm just going to buy the entire set from shinoo or tire rack installed on new lighter rims. already fully balanced, just plug and play.

I think you've got the right plan on getting it fixed. The coprate office should help.

soulman

 

Most of the time an independent, service oriented place might have better odds for a no-hassle tire install. Some of the best have their family name on the sign. They can't be as sneaky as the Tire Town guys, else it hurts their own reputation. Another type of business serves a particular and demanding customer base such as Porsche cars which are not dealer serviced. You need things like the proper equipment (critical or you're doomed, the best machines seem to come from Europe and often from Italy the last time I checked..), trained employees who care, and management that has a positive attitude. Around here there are just a few good places...the chains tend to stink while the independents shine. A glance at the other customer cars also tells you something. In any event Firestone should put it right. If you belong to any autocross or track day clubs, they'll be able to make some good local suggestions too. Also...if you check Tire Rack's site, they have registered local installers that make the grade. A quick look at recc'd installer list for the San Jose area did not show any Firestone stores...

http://www.tirerack.com/installer/index.jsp

It is absolutely possible to find zero damage, matter of fact, low stress tire work. I know some guys who do lots of track days...and they bought a used tire changing machine together which they now all use as required. Mounting the AD07s presents no unusual difficulties for an installer, and no special equipment, techniques or supplies are needed.

 

Doma- Sorry about the bad luck. Was at that Firestone location about a month ago. Had them debug a bad sensor on the Subie. Wasn’t impressed with there tire mount equipment or high prices to install & balance.

I’ve been using a 2 man shop in Sunnyvale, he’s mounted two new rear tires on the Elise and a full set on the Subie. Has newer equipment that doesn’t damage the wheel and only cost ~$18 each, mounted and balanced. He’s also a fellow Elise owner (who’s been working on the local S1 Elise’s ). Rob, the owner of Dietsch werks in Sunnyvale.

 

and only cost ~$18 each, mounted and balanced. He’s also a fellow .

What! And Firestone charged me $36 each for a crap job!? Thank's for the tip Larry, in the future I'll head there.

More damage: When putting the wheels on this morning I noticed that there are 4 teeth marks on the inside of one of the wheels where the tool grips the wheel to spin it. On the other wheel there are 8 cut marks which makes sense seeing how I asked to have the wheel done a second time in my presence.

 

If I went to a tire shop to look into mounting my tires, how do I know which machines will cause a problem? Can we make a list of acceptable models?

 

Last set of tires I had changed, they used a "touch-less" machine. They bolt the rim down, and the arms remove the tire without ever touching the rim - no scratches at all. And that was for my Honda Accord where it wouldn't matter to me...

 

A 12pack of Bud, 2 fiver's, and $10/wheel... mounted/balanced!

I avoid the national chains (NTB, Firestone, Discount Tire, Wal Mart, etc...) unless I personally know the installer. Instead, I opt to use those tuner/import/back-alley shops. I take the wheels w/ me (w/ the tires separate unless I have them delivered/shipped there from Tire Rack, etc...), and get it all done in front of me. I also ask for the tape-weights to placed on the inside. The results are near perfect...

Yes, I have to remove & then reinstall my wheels to my car. But that's what the nice shiney aluminum racing jack, jack stands, and torque wrench are for! A lil' sweat now almost gurantees none of those horror stories of scratched, bent, damaged wheels, lost center-caps, mis-directioned tires, loose lug nuts, etc... :huh:

Seriously, that's the only way to avoid mishaps & random mishandling of your wheels. It's alot like giving the preferred oil & particular oil filter w/ washers to the technician at some discount oil-change shop, and then watching them do the job; finally in the end you, yourself double-checking the oil-pan plug & it's bolt's seal/torque making sure it's fully fastened before lowered off the lift & driving off. Of-course it's a pain-in-the-a$$, but again... it lowers the chances of nightmare-scenarios down the road that do ultimately happen to people, sadly.

 

Last set of tires I had changed, they used a "touch-less" machine. They bolt the rim down, and the arms remove the tire without ever touching the rim - no scratches at all. And that was for my Honda Accord where it wouldn't matter to me...

The place that did mine also used a "touch-less" machine......it doesn't matter if the operator is a complete idiot. I will post the outcome of my situation in a couple of days. Looking good at the moment!

 

I feel for you my brother. I have magnesium wheels on my motorcycles (read: super light, super soft) and can only take them to one place and have to do the same song and dance to get new tires put on without damage. Many times they will tell me that they don't want to use too much tire slop (lubricant) changing tires because its too hard to clean. I ave to reasure them that I would rather have a dirty perfect magnesium wheel than a clean f#*ked up magnesium wheel.

 

Rob, the owner of Dietschworks in Sunnyvale.

Thats where I went to get my tire replaced. I'd definatly recommend his shop.

 

If I went to a tire shop to look into mounting my tires, how do I know which machines will cause a problem? Can we make a list of acceptable models?

They need to be:

1) Touchless

2) Made in Europe (two of the very best are made in Italy...five miles from each other!)

A place like Tire Rack can tell you the exact machines that are considered the present best of the best.

If the shop is doing lots of high end work then they have the right stuff. Kind of a prerequisite to be able to get and keep that kind of business.

 

Sorry to here this.

Sorry to here this. I went though the same thing on an older car i had.

Best place to go and have tires mounted is

Big Wheels

408) 441-7871
902 Commercial Street
San Jose CA 95112
United States

They charged me 17 per tire. and they didn't scratch the rims.

I would recommend them with full confidence
Vince

 

I found a great shop in pleasanton, CA named Seever and Sons. They repaired a flat(caught a tiny hollow tube off the road) on my SC430's runflat(the irony). Anyway they remove the tire off the rim, patch it up and reinstall all in 20 minutes. They're very cool fellows, when I came in, the boss and the workers all eager to help me, unlike those shops and dealers whom suppose to be in the business of servicing people instead of letting you roam around the building searching for anyone to give a ratsass about "what the hell are you doing here".
Two weeks ago I brought the SC to the Lexus Dealership for them to mount a set of brand new RE040, First they wanted to charge me 80 bucks per tire when earlier I called and spoke to a service writer who told me it would cause 125 for everything (mount, balance, and recaliberate the computer?). So after a couple of word exchanged they agree to do it for 50 each. Then get this, it took them from 10am to 530pm to finish the job with the head tech helping. Afterward the H.T. came to my girlfriend and said we undercharged you and turn to his boss and said I need the day off tomorrow. What a bunch imcompetant a$$h***, you work on Lexus all day long but it took two guys to work on one wheel and it took 7 hours, when the fellow at Seever and Sons took 20 minutes by himself not to mention he also did the patch work.
Enough ranting, oh I forgot to mention S. & Sons did the whole job for....free. That's right, when he roll out my wheel, I threw it on my truck and said how much do I owe you(thinking oh **** here it comes), his reply, "nothing". I laugh and said you're kidding right, he said no and proceeded to walk away, so i tried to tip him but had to actually argue with the guy so that he could accept my tip.

 

If I went to a tire shop to look into mounting my tires, how do I know which machines will cause a problem? Can we make a list of acceptable models?

Chris- Rob has a Hunter TC3250 to mount the tires, has rubber and plastic were it touches the wheels.

 

I recommend A&M Wheel and Tire just off the Oakland Road exit from US-101 in San Jose. They're in a pretty grim neighborhood, but they know their stuff and are cheap! I just had them put AD-07s on 17" wheels, not a mark! They've also put 225/45-15 Hoosiers on 15" Miata wheels, which is no easy task.

 

i had some chrome rims and had my tires changed and asked if they can do it wothout scratching the rims.....he said, "if im real careful." sure enough, no scratches.
took my evo to general tire or something and they were careless and rough and scratched them.
if u dont have a machine that can change tires without scratching them, especially when theyre nice rims, guess what?
DO THEM BY HAND!!!
thats what i tell the shops wherever i go. and they have.

 

What! And Firestone charged me $36 each for a crap job!? Thank's for the tip Larry, in the future I'll head there.

More damage: When putting the wheels on this morning I noticed that there are 4 teeth marks on the inside of one of the wheels where the tool grips the wheel to spin it. On the other wheel there are 8 cut marks which makes sense seeing how I asked to have the wheel done a second time in my presence.

doma,

In the future, if you want to stay in Mountain View, go to Rennwerks over near the In-n-Out on Rengstorff. Steve, the mechanic there, is very detail-oriented and has top of the line equipment. They are mostly a (race) Porsche and BMW shop, but I've seen other sorts of cars in the lot as well as many street cars.

I've had countless sets of tires mounted there for both track and street and they've always been professional, upfront, fast, and relatively inexpensive ($120 for 4 wheels, inc. disposal and new stems). And they've always got an impressive stable of race porsches to ogle while you wait for them to do the work.

Highly recommended.

Just make sure that you tell them they are street wheels not track wheels, so they don't mount weights where they are visible (gives a better balance, but you probably won't like the looks).

Best,
John

 

I will concur with the Rennwerks advice. I have been using them for a while.

 

FYI, price on a whole new wheel is in the 300s. I thought it would be more. Kina reasonable.