carbdude

Since the wheels on these C5's have such a deep back space...
and ours are chromed as well....

I'm looking for some advice &/or experiences on what to look for at my local tire shops in the way of proper equipment and procedures in changing out all 4 tires.

also Would you trust a sams club or costco to do these properly?

Thank You

Corvette_Ed

Look for plastic coated equipment and tools, and no, don't go to a Costco or Sam's. Discount Tire has some locations that are properly equipped as are many Chevy dealerships.

Also, call ahead and make sure to ask a manager if they are properly equipped to handle wheels that can cost up to $1000 each to replace.

Then stand there and watch their every move as they're removing the old tires and mounting the new.

Vetteman Jack

I agree. And for sure check how they treat the first wheel - if they put a mark on it, expect the rest to be done the same way. Also check to see if they cover damaged wheels by their techs.

MS04Cpe

I use the Tire Kingdom in my area for all of my cars tire needs. Just had some Michelins put on my 04 Coupe. No problems or issues. They even removed the Roof Panel before they lifted the car and I watched as they lifted it in the right locations. The tech took his time and was very careful with the handling, mounting, balancing, and subsequent alignment. I have been using this location for about 12 years. The Manager is a retired military guy and he takes care of us fellow Veterans.

Wayne

torchredmadness

I went to America's Tire in Concord California. They were very knowledgable and handled my car with kid gloves. I expect to go there again when it's time for new tires.

PhysicsDude55

I've always had a good experience with Discount Tire. All they do is tires, so they have all the specialty equipment. Shops like Goodyear and Firestone also do tires, but not nearly the scale that Discount Tire does, so I don't always trust them as much with specialty type applications.

Whenever I go to Discount Tire I see quite a few lowered sports cars and lifted trucks, not to mention whenever I call around, Discount Tire is almost always the lowest installed price.

Camjamsdad

I watched a guy at tire kingdom here struggle on my right rear. When he went to balance it he was nice enough to point out the bent wheel. The left didn't fight him and also didn't wiggle on the balancer. I can't prove the struggle resulted in the bent rim but in my mind I can't rule it out.

So my advice is have them spin each wheel before they break it down. I explain why. I tell them its for their own protection as well as mine, and offer extra $ to do it. They think I'm a dick probably but I have an expensive bent wheel that made me the dick I am.

carbdude

I like this idea a lot!!

Lee DeRaud

Ok, I'll bite: why?

Camjamsdad

Body flex when jacking the car up. Older the tops used to pop but I think it is a vette myth on a c5 but safer than sorry I guess

Lee DeRaud

If the body flexes that much during jacking, you've got a lot worse things to worry about than the top coming off.

jcgunn

Every time I go to a new tire shop, (I have lived in ID, VA, NC and back to ID since taking delivery on my 2003) I look the manager in the eye and say "Do you do Corvettes?" Only one failed the test (the AAFES exchange on the Airbase, who wanted me to sign a damage waiver). The rest have been great, currently use Big-O in Eagle, ID. They also don't have a problem with mounting tires from Tirerack or TPMS from Gene.

FNFastZ06

This is probably from the C4 days. My '96 flexed like a ****. I jacked it up without the roof panel on, driver's door wasn't closed all the way. Tried to close it, no go. Lowered it, closed fine. Then jacked it back up. Manual even stated not to drive it hard with the top removed.

Lee DeRaud

Wow. Just...wow.

FNFastZ06

There were even some aftermarket x braces sold.

Corvette_Ed

I had a very good experience with the Big O Tires in Queens Creek, AZ. They're the ones who discovered one of my front wheels was slightly bent and was the cause of the shaking I was feeling in my steering wheel.

The dealer in TX who originally mounted the tires sent me on my way with what they said were balanced wheels knowing that I was leaving the next day for AZ. My car shook the entire trip out there.

C5Txfan

I was impressed with Discount Tire I went to for mine. They were very careful to open the doors before raising it and were careful with the wheels dismounting and mounting - they knew about the TPMS and didn't want to buy new ones !