Mounting tires on stock Rays without damage?

MacCool

I'm switching out the stock RE050A Potenzas on my new 2014 Z (Touring w/Sport) so I'll need to have the 4 OEM's de-mounted then the 4 new ones (Potenza S04's) mounted. I've seen many horror stories about rim damage from crappy equipment or inexperienced tire techs, even experienced it myself with a tire replacement on my previous Z.

My question: how to find a tire installer with the best chance of installing 4 tires without wheel damage. What machines to look for, guarantees to extract, video the rims before the work is done....that kind of stuff. I live in a relatively non-urban area, so no local access to speed shops or specialty tire places. No Porsche dealers, and a relatively low population of higher-end sports cars. Given the amount of fancy wheel upgrading that goes on around here, I figure some of you must be pretty smart about the process.

BuckeyeZ

The Porsche dealer refused to even consider mounting my tires (snobs). I went to several local install shops and talked to each one about my expectations. I asked specifically if they had touchless mounting. Two did and two didn't even know what I was talking about....I ran from those shops. When I picked the shop I asked to meet the tech that would be installing my tires and talked with him about my concerns and expectations (and the fact that I was anal about wheel damage). To minimize risk of damage from installation, I took all four wheels off my car and brought them to the installer (no impact guns and unprotected sockets for me). I then went over each wheel with the tech with a grease pencil and marked the existing damage on the wheel with him We then agreed that any other damage on the wheel would be the shops responsibility.

I was amazed at how quickly the shop would get other customers in and out when they didn't care about damage. Most cars would get 4 new tires in about 20 mins. Mine took well over an hour. This is probably why most shops don't want to take the time.

I know my actions probably seems extreme, but the wheels were totally unmarred after the tech was finished. I tipped the guy $20 when he was done for taking the extra time and putting up with me. I would do the same thing again.

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BrandonSS

x2 ^^^

My oem 19s were marred all over from a quality shop's "touchless" tire machine. With the amount of vehicles that come with 19" or larger wheels, it kills me to see that shops cant handle them without causing damage.

kenchan

check your local discount tire (america's tire) store. most of them are equipped with non-touch mounters these days. they mounted yoks on my nismo wheels. no issue.

if not, just drive up to tirerack.

BrandonSS

discount was the one that damaged my oem's

kenchan

did they use the non-touch mounter? probably wasn't equipped with one, or dropped your wheel on the machine.

crap you're only like an hour away from tirerack (southbend, in) go there next time.

Fountainhead

I went to a local place in my area TiresPlus, and the young guys there did their best, they actually didn't do anything but slight abrasions you can feel with your finger and one small scratch that you wouldn't even see if you weren't looking for it, my 19 Rays have a couple of curb rashes on them I need to fix, but only on two wheels. I was so nervous. I also gave the guy 20.00 tip "BEFORE" starting the job so he'd be careful. They did take a lot longer.
Tiresplus manager told me the only place to find touchfree mounting is at a specialty rim/tire shop where they mount thousands of dollars of wheels/tires. You know, one of those shops where you can "Renta RIM" etc. No way.

kenchan

there is absolutely zero abrasions on the front or along the back of the lip if they use the non touch mounter.

ElVee

This is the correct answer. Especially the tip at the end.

More than likely you'll find better service and mounting tools at non-franchise/chain, dedicated tire and wheel shops. Either performance/enthusiast or even those tire shops that always seem to have the lift-kit pickups sitting around. Definitely judge those shops by the cars/trucks they have sitting around the outside. If they're ma-and-pa normal cars; move on. If they either make you hard or roll your eyes, stop in.

kenchan

it's basically they do or they dont have the proper machine.

cant oldskool low profile tires on large wheels. as soon as they pull out a crow bar on the face side of the wheel, tell your wheel bye