So I went to the dealer today to have my tires rotated on my 2015 Vert. They call me to the service area and say “Bad news you have a screw in the tire tread of your back tire.” “It is a slow leak but since this is a “Z” rated tire we can’t repair it”. A new tire is $460.

I have seen this discussion before on here so I know the least expensive solution is to head for Discount Tire and have them patch it. So I tell them to put the tire back on the car and head over to Discount Tire. Discount Tire says “No problem we can fix it”. $25 and two hours later it is fixed (they were busy).

So I take a quick look at my rim in the parking lot and don’t see any scratches, so I head home. When I get home’ I take some cleaner and clean the wheel and rim off really good and sure enough I have three areas where there are scratches on my rim.

Anybody have any luck getting Discount Tire to re-paint their rim after it was scratched doing a tire repair?

I am sure they will tell me they didn’t do it.

I have had one of my rims repainted before, and it is around $100; so I guess I will just write this off as a $125 repair vs. a $460 tire.

Could have been better, but could have been worse. Maybe I’ll buy the wheel warranty next time.

 

I feel your pain. I had 700 miles on mine when i had a hex-bolt go through the rear driver side tire. I took it to the dealership and they were able to patch it. It was my local chevy dealer.

 

I read your story and I didn't see it where you presented the evidence that indeed Discount Tire did it so I'm sorry but I'm siding with them. From your story it could have been scratched by you, the dealer or Discount Tire.

 

I'm still stuck on the "rotating directional tires" part

 

Keep in mind some tire manufacturers lose their speed rating after a patch.

 

side to side, per page 10-57 owners manual. the oem tires aren't directional.


and pkadams, you can always present your case to discount and see what they say. even if they deny it, you're still 335 dollars better off than having to buy a new tire. or maybe the scratches will buff out.

 

You could go to the tire store. They may pay if you present your case well without anger. The Porsche dealer scratched all 4 rims on our 911 and when I complained, they told me their tire machine needed to be replaced. After a discussion, they had all four rims painted by the Wheel Doctor, a local wheel repair company. I have used them on 2 occasions. They charge $75 to repair scratches on painted wheels.

 

Thanks for the feedback re Discount Tire! Most folks claim they are great and they just came into town. It takes more than the proper tire dismounting machine, it takes experience with very low profile tires, especially run flats, IMO.

So far I have only let the Firestone dealer touch my Vette wheels (and wife's SUV with low profile tires.) In fact the Chevy, BMW, Mercedes dealer in town brings their low profile tires to that shop! Firestone have 12 bays and ~20 technicians. However only 2 or 3 do very low profile tires, especially run flats.

I have watched as they patched and then later changed my C6 tires. The fellow kept on apologizing that it took so long! Told him to take all the time he needs- gave him a nice tip! Even though they have an expensive touch-less tire dismounting system, it takes care and someone who has done them multiple times!

When I recently was there with the wife's car told him I was considering a Vette with even wider rear tires! He just smiled! They have a fixed price for repairs etc but there is a premium for low profiles.

I'll continue to go with experience and a quality touch-less tire machine! Even if a car dealer invests in a touch-less tire machine, wonder if they do enough low profiles to consistently not nick the rims!

 

So…Just to complete the thread, I went back to Discount Tire today and showed them my wheel.

Got what I expected. “We are not sure we did that”, “You can hardly see it”, “We try to be as carful as we can”.

Yada…Yadaa…Yadaaa….

So at least they gave me the name of the guy who does their alloy wheel repair and said they would contact him for me if I wanted so I can get their price for a wheel re-paint.

 

Wait until you pull the valet video and find out they had to "test drive" your car on side roads with 40MPH limits at 80MPH red lining the car to make sure the nail was really in the tire.

SMH.

 

If you can hardly see the scratches, I would just live it. Heck next time out you could damage the wheel on something else.

 

Places like discount tire probably aren't very experienced with low profile tires. 90% of their work is probably on your average family sedan and pickup truck.

Best to go to a custom wheel shop where low pros are the norm.

 

Although it's after-the-fact for the OP, you shouldn't waste your time or money rotating tires on the C7. The is no material benefit and it can only cause problems by having goofs that don't know what they are doing mess with your wheels and tires.

 

Lucky you, I got in my C7 last Friday and The low tire pressure light was on for the drivers side rear, noticed a nail in the tire. I called around and was told either they don't repair run-flats or they might repair it if the nail is at least 1 inch away from the curve. My tire had the nail in the curve so no one would repair it. Went to America tire and the guy sold the tire for 398.00 and gave me 150.00 for the damaged one which he marked it for road hazard. I paid another 184.00 to get a replacement warranty for road hazard for all the tires 3years 36000mi. for all the tires.

 

Anytime someone other than you handles your baby (Corvette), you feel violated. Scratches, door dings, curb rash, make you feel better to blame it on the people you felt violated by. Unless you know for sure who damaged the wheel, just fix it and forget about it.

 

Have never paid for tire insurance but when I replace the 2014 with a GS
believe I will. The rears are so wide they sweep the road looking for nails! That outer treads are wide and some shops will not fix a flat in that area.

 

Is the tire insurance you get at the dealer or is an option when ordering?

 

I have never paid for a tire warranty in the past but now I like the idea of not having to worry about the tires getting unrepairable after picking up a screw, nail or what ever. They well install a new tire for 3yrs or 36000 miles. Just peace of mind now.

 

Rotating tires? How does one do that with directional tires and different size tires. Wouldn't even consider doing that.

 

C7 tires are not directional. You can swap them side to side.