Another Tire Thread
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 798
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
Another Tire Thread
Last night I stopped at a local Tire Kingdom store to investigate replacing my Goodyear run flats. They confirmed my 02 vert has 2006 tire based on the date code. I have done business with them before and get a discount through my former employer. I was very suprized when the told me they would not mount or dismount run flat tires. I was told special training and equipment was required to service them and they couldn't do it unless I purchased aftermarket wheels. I like my factory wheel and would not put on aftermarket wheels if they were free.
Anyone heard about special requirement equipment and training for run flat removal or was I told a tale to buy new wheels?
Anyone heard about special requirement equipment and training for run flat removal or was I told a tale to buy new wheels?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
I agree that you need to know what you are doing to change them. I agree that if you have a crappy tire machine you can break the wheel.
I agree that some places will not mess with them.
I also agree that selling a set of wheels represents a profit. I cant say what your guys were doing...
I know that in Orlando there are lots of the chains..Tires Plus..Tuffy..Firestone and Discount Tire stores that do them with no issue.
My rule of thumb has been if they hesitate in the least to do change them..
find a different place that is happy to work on the Vette.
I agree that some places will not mess with them.
I also agree that selling a set of wheels represents a profit. I cant say what your guys were doing...
I know that in Orlando there are lots of the chains..Tires Plus..Tuffy..Firestone and Discount Tire stores that do them with no issue.
My rule of thumb has been if they hesitate in the least to do change them..
find a different place that is happy to work on the Vette.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Find a different place.
The sidewalls are very stiff and it is more difficult, but any modern machine should be able to do it. I bought an inexpensive used rim clamp tire machine and have done a bunch of them in my garage. It is not rocket science and it does not take special equipment.
The sidewalls are very stiff and it is more difficult, but any modern machine should be able to do it. I bought an inexpensive used rim clamp tire machine and have done a bunch of them in my garage. It is not rocket science and it does not take special equipment.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,831
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From: The Voice of Reason!
St. Jude Donor '14
I had looked at tires online and priced some Michelin run flats. My local Firestone dealer was one of the recommended installers. I stopped in one day to see what they had to offer. I don't recall what they had but were higher than the Michelins. I told him I had found Michelins cheaper. He replied he could get Michelins and ask what the price was. I told him, he matched the price on everything. Took him a day to get the tires. When I questioned him about installing them on my Vette, he assured me they had the latest equipment and it was no problem.
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Some tire stores just don't want to mess with the runflats. They are harder to mount and take more of the tech's time. If they simply do not want to do the mounting, find another installer.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 1,406
From: Central Ohio
for Discount Tire. Beat Tire Rack price and have the plome (plastic chrome) valve stem caps the kids can steal and it's just an inconvenience!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,704
Likes: 239
From: Redondo Beach CA
I would settle this, but require that you send me a new laptop to do so .
Hey man, remember you live in Florida. When I was there, nobody made any money at the bottom tier jobs, so a lot of serious non effort was always in play whenever I went shopping, or dealt with anyone in a low paying job.
They probably have a bad track record with this type of work, and considered the profit on the new wheels as insurance against the work again going bad and costing the shop money.
The shops story obviously makes no sense, if it were factual, no corvettes would have factory wheels beyond the first set of tires. And, how did GM manage to install the tires in the first place.
A store trying to start a business relationship with a lie is not where you want to be. You don't want a bunch of lying incompetents on your car anyway, it's not a shade tree mechanic car.
I am happy they waved you off, in their own hick way. What is worse is a shop who pretends they are better than they are and then make a needed repair worse. I have had shops swear they were able to work on a corvette and got screwed. Now I am very careful about who does the work, unwinding a bad deal is not fun.
I am sure you found another qualified tire shop without much effort.
Hey man, remember you live in Florida. When I was there, nobody made any money at the bottom tier jobs, so a lot of serious non effort was always in play whenever I went shopping, or dealt with anyone in a low paying job.
They probably have a bad track record with this type of work, and considered the profit on the new wheels as insurance against the work again going bad and costing the shop money.
The shops story obviously makes no sense, if it were factual, no corvettes would have factory wheels beyond the first set of tires. And, how did GM manage to install the tires in the first place.
A store trying to start a business relationship with a lie is not where you want to be. You don't want a bunch of lying incompetents on your car anyway, it's not a shade tree mechanic car.
I am happy they waved you off, in their own hick way. What is worse is a shop who pretends they are better than they are and then make a needed repair worse. I have had shops swear they were able to work on a corvette and got screwed. Now I am very careful about who does the work, unwinding a bad deal is not fun.
I am sure you found another qualified tire shop without much effort.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Scottsdale AZ
Find a different place.
The sidewalls are very stiff and it is more difficult, but any modern machine should be able to do it. I bought an inexpensive used rim clamp tire machine and have done a bunch of them in my garage. It is not rocket science and it does not take special equipment.
The sidewalls are very stiff and it is more difficult, but any modern machine should be able to do it. I bought an inexpensive used rim clamp tire machine and have done a bunch of them in my garage. It is not rocket science and it does not take special equipment.
they must be willing to lose a lot of business if they aren't willing to invest in the training and technology to do that . .
Try Discount Tire or America's Tire if you have them . . or find a Goodyear store . . .
