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Removing Run Flat Tires

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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 01:21 PM
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Default Removing Run Flat Tires

I just talked with the shop that normally does my wheel and tire stuff and he said the RFT's on the C6 are almost impossible to remove without ruining them.

Is this true? I bought some wheels from a CF member and want to swap the tires over from my stock wheels. Should I just look elsewhere to have this done?
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 01:25 PM
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well, it is not a piece of cake, but if he can't do it you do know what you have to do, right? of course they can be removed safely, and without damaging either the tire or the rim~!

it is possible that A) he has had no good experience doing so, or B) doesn't work on wheels with runflats very often. whichever is the case, he's telling you in a roundabout way, go somewhere else or he will ruin the tires.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by simontonbill
I just talked with the shop that normally does my wheel and tire stuff and he said the RFT's on the C6 are almost impossible to remove without ruining them.

Is this true? I bought some wheels from a CF member and want to swap the tires over from my stock wheels. Should I just look elsewhere to have this done?

Sounds like he just didn't want your business. Tires is tires. They come off they go on. He's ducking the job.

Elmer
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 01:34 PM
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I think he's scared of damaging the glossy black wheels. He said he usually just cuts the run flats off with a utility knife. I think I'm going with Discount Tires on this. I called them and they said "No biggie, bring it by".
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 01:38 PM
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better yet, call a Corvette club or hot rod club in your area and ask who they use "for their precious wheels." no kidding.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 01:39 PM
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I would find a new tire installer.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 02:49 PM
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Not rocket science...Discount Tire does this every day...your dealer doesn't want your business.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 03:07 PM
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Find a good shop who does alot of work on Hi-po cars and use a Hunter Road Force machine.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 03:43 PM
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I watched my shop do the fronts and it looked to me like any other tire change. Maybe it's the equipment they use.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by NYC6
Find a good shop who does alot of work on Hi-po cars and use a Hunter Road Force machine.
I found a listing of shops using the Hunter Road Force and then I called to a couple shops and told them the size of the rear (325/19 in my case). If they flinched or hesitated, I was on to the next place.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by AORoads
well, it is not a piece of cake, but if he can't do it you do know what you have to do, right? of course they can be removed safely, and without damaging either the tire or the rim~!

it is possible that A) he has had no good experience doing so, or B) doesn't work on wheels with runflats very often. whichever is the case, he's telling you in a roundabout way, go somewhere else or he will ruin the tires.
There are many shops that don't have the training or capability to remove/install run flat tires. Most of them have old equipment or bought new equipment without the capability to change run flats since they didn't see a need for that type of equipment. Most places sell lots of off brand tires for grocery getters which don't have run flat tires.

Dealers will most likely have the right equipment and some Goodyear stores have trained tire jockeys and the correct equipment. There are two GY stores in my area. The closest one cannot do run flats and sends everybody to the other store which can. Outside of that there are no other tire stores that have the equipment. When I purchased Firestone run flats from Tire Rack to put on my 97 I had to take the car and tires to the GY store to get them installed.

Bill
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Ragtop 99
I found a listing of shops using the Hunter Road Force and then I called to a couple shops and told them the size of the rear (325/19 in my case). If they flinched or hesitated, I was on to the next place.

325/19 & 275/18's here also. Word of mouth is a great way to find a place also. Us Corvette guys are quite particular about our rides and if they dont get it right they hear it but if they do a great job, others hear about it.
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Old Feb 1, 2011 | 08:14 PM
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Default Tire removal/installation

Originally Posted by NYC6
Find a good shop who does alot of work on Hi-po cars and use a Hunter Road Force machine.
Find someone who's got the right stuff and the right attitude.
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Old Feb 1, 2011 | 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by simontonbill
I think he's scared of damaging the glossy black wheels. He said he usually just cuts the run flats off with a utility knife. I think I'm going with Discount Tires on this. I called them and they said "No biggie, bring it by".
Is his name "Goober". Does he own a gas station at the edge of town? lol

Discount tire usually has state of the art equipment. I just watched them change my tires and they made it look easy.
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Old Feb 2, 2011 | 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted by simontonbill
I just talked with the shop that normally does my wheel and tire stuff and he said the RFT's on the C6 are almost impossible to remove without ruining them.

Is this true? I bought some wheels from a CF member and want to swap the tires over from my stock wheels. Should I just look elsewhere to have this done?
Total BS.
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Old Feb 2, 2011 | 03:29 PM
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My local Big O didn't have any problem with mine. The last set I resold. Didn't have one tear in the bead area. Later! Frank
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Old Feb 2, 2011 | 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by simontonbill
"No biggie, bring it by".
If he has to cut a tire off with a knife, then he either doesn't know what he is doing or he doesn't have the right equipment. I have my two rear tires that Costco took off and they show no signs of any rough treatment, and my chrome wheels are fine.
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Old Feb 4, 2011 | 02:27 AM
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This happened to me two days ago at the third Goodyear I went to, I needed a slow leak (visible nail in the center of the tire tread) repaired. The first one said that runflats were not repairable, the second told me to try Firestone, and the third one did this with a brand new Coates rimgrip and then took no responsibility for it. The manager claimed it was road hazard damage (with no corresponding damage to the wheel), and obvious freshly exposed rubber. The technician did not notice it until after the tire was removed from the rim.



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Old Feb 5, 2011 | 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by pewter99
I would find a new tire installer.
Cut them off. Thats a joke!
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Old Feb 5, 2011 | 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by AirBusPilot
Is his name "Goober". Does he own a gas station at the edge of town? lol

Discount tire usually has state of the art equipment. I just watched them change my tires and they made it look easy.
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