Ron Price

I am in the process of buying new tires for my 99 A4 coupe. I want to go with some sort of run flats so I don't have to worry about stopping to fix a flat. I have the Magnesium wheels, which are softer than aluminum, so I wonder who can change the wheels and tire sensors for me without screwing up my wheels. What type of tire changer should the dealer have to prevent problems. Also, does any tire place agree to fix/replace the wheel if they mess it up?

ptdrummer54

I have had them done at Tires Plus and a Goodyear shop - in both cases I had a chat with them before hand, and supervised the whole process. I too took the wheels off and carried them in

C5naples

I took my car to a Goodyear store and they broke the bead on my tire when mounting it and would not replace it. My advice to you is make sure the Goodyear store you go to is a company store and not a franchise. I like to jack the car up and just take the tires in.

4DRUSH

I went to a Goodyear store once, they removed the tires/rims & took them to another Goodyear store (1/2 hr. away while I was waiting, without telling me) then they called and said they broke the sensors. They didn't want to pay till they realized I was ready to open up a can of Whoop azz. Where ever you go have a good talk first!!!!!!

C5naples

You would think a Goodyear store would be able to do this without breaking the sensors.

4DRUSH

You would think!!!!! I had them put regular stems in and order new sensors,week later they installed the sensors & tried to charge me $200.

moserbe

Goodyear is where I have had mine replaced, with no negative results. Like others I prefer to take the tires off the car myself.

zo6chik

take them to les schwab. theres one right by your house. forget the run flats though, you coud buy 2 sets of reg tires for the same as one set of run flats. ask shcwab about their toyo t1r tire. good tire

zo6chik

at schwab they have a custom wheel machine they woul be using for your special wheels

zo6chik

if schwab brakes the sensors they buy you new ones

Vetteman Jack

I've taken my runflats to a non-Goodyear tire store here and they have always done a good job - no damage to either the tire, wheel or sensor. Just talk to the store manager ahead of time and set out your expectations and find out what their policy is should something happen.

Ron Price

Thanks for the info. If you don't go with run flats, I had heard that the flat fixer would damage the sensors. Is this true? I also heard that the stuff that GM sells costs $65 for a one time use. Not bad if you can save half on the tires. What do you think? Keep the info coming I really appreciate it.

Bill Dearborn

Not all Goodyear stores are qualified to change run flats. My local store isn't. I bought Firestone Run Flats from Tire Rack and actually took them to the only qualified run flat store in the area (a Goodyear dealer in another town) to get them installed. It is actually pretty hard to mess up the sensors so the person doing the job has to be a real dork if he breaks them. Over the 6 years I had my 97 I had the tires changed 4 times (at least twice with me watching) and never had anybody mess up a sensor.
Bill

Ron Price

Ttt

screw991le

Most people who break the sensors try to pull out the core of the stems. It is crazy how much people do not know about the products they sell.

Cart99

I would try Discount Tire, if they have a shop in your area. They work with lots of run-flats and custom wheels. I have had excellent results with 2 different shops.

MNCrystalRed2011

I have also had good luck with Discount Tire. You may want to also try and find a capible Firestone store. I had good luck with one in Memphis this past summer.

tiojames

I agree, have been to two different ones myself and they knew what they were doing. They also have the new ground force balancers.

ammo6

I just purchased a set at Sam's club. They were a lot cheaper than Tire Rack and the other discount tire shops. However, I took the tires to Parker Chevrolet for mounting. They have a good Corvette Tech there, and they back up their work. However, I did have to order them,and it took a few weeks to get them in.

tomas721