Puzzled
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 446
From: SUMTER, SC
Puzzled
Afternoon Everyone,
Just came from my local Chevy Dealer, where I was going to make an appointment to get my wheels changed over from the Trident Spectra Gray to the Trident Gloss Black. Service Writer indicated they would not do that. Claiming they have all of the equipment, but the dealership is afraid to use it on the Corvette Wheels, because of potential damage. OMG!
The dealership is a small Corvette dealer and doesn't have a Corvette Master Technician on staff. I was going to use them for my upcoming oil change, but now I am thinking, no way in hexx I am going to allow them to change my oil, if they don't have the confidence in their staff to change tires without damaging them.
The service writer did give me another shop in the area that they send Corvette owners to. Went to the recommended shop and told the service writer what had happened, he laughed and said we do Corvettes all the time and have never had a problem.
I think any future work on the car will happen at the dealership with the appropriate Corvette staff. What a day!
Just came from my local Chevy Dealer, where I was going to make an appointment to get my wheels changed over from the Trident Spectra Gray to the Trident Gloss Black. Service Writer indicated they would not do that. Claiming they have all of the equipment, but the dealership is afraid to use it on the Corvette Wheels, because of potential damage. OMG!
The dealership is a small Corvette dealer and doesn't have a Corvette Master Technician on staff. I was going to use them for my upcoming oil change, but now I am thinking, no way in hexx I am going to allow them to change my oil, if they don't have the confidence in their staff to change tires without damaging them.
The service writer did give me another shop in the area that they send Corvette owners to. Went to the recommended shop and told the service writer what had happened, he laughed and said we do Corvettes all the time and have never had a problem.
I think any future work on the car will happen at the dealership with the appropriate Corvette staff. What a day!
Popular Reply
Mar 10, 2023, 01:11 PM
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2020
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Changing oil may be considerably easier to perform without causing damage. Say thank you to the dealer that did NOT WANT TO possibly RUIN your Game Changer.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Chicago
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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OP, you need to find a dealer w/ a certified Corvette tech. Many dealers who sell a fair number of Corvettes have the latest touchless mounting equipment because they service a lot of Corvettes.
In many of the more populated areas of the US, Discount Tire has little or no presence. Look for an installer that has the latest Hunter "touchless" mounting equipment, like the Hunter Revolution (video below). These state-of-the-art machines can pretty much guarantee mounting with no wheel blemishes unlike earlier manual equipment.
In many of the more populated areas of the US, Discount Tire has little or no presence. Look for an installer that has the latest Hunter "touchless" mounting equipment, like the Hunter Revolution (video below). These state-of-the-art machines can pretty much guarantee mounting with no wheel blemishes unlike earlier manual equipment.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,299
Likes: 3,198
From: Oro Valley Arizona
I was worried then..........
I bought a set of HRE's for our C7. Took them to our nearby Discount Tire. Mgr. assured me their most experienced tech would safely mount the new wheels. No problem. So I'm setting in the waiting room trying hard not to watch when a shop guy pulls up curbside in a McClaren P1 for the owner to pick up. Stunned and stunning. Unassuming lady sitting to my left, 40-ish, white Cycle King leather jacket, tight fittin' Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots heads for the door. Does a walk around with the guy, climbs in and oh so elegantly drives off. Hmm? Ask the mgr. how many exotics they did. Told me they had Ferrari's and Lambos every month. The big hammer, a Bugatti Veryon a month prior. I felt better instantly.
Truth, any competent tire store can mount your wheels. As it happens, Discount is my go to tire store. Stow your fears and git 'u dun.
Truth, any competent tire store can mount your wheels. As it happens, Discount is my go to tire store. Stow your fears and git 'u dun.
Last edited by papillion; Mar 10, 2023 at 04:54 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,441
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From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Having a Corvette tech still wouldn't have helped with changing wheels/tires. Most dealerships farm out tire stuff to a local tire store anyway, personally I'd never go to the dealer for anything involving a tire swap. Find a Discount Tire or other good tire store.
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The larger Corvette sellers don't farm out tire mounting and balancing. Forum dealer, Criswell, keeps all Corvette sizes in stock and sells a LOT of tires at "Discount Tire" prices. They also have the latest Hunter equipment.
When I mentioned having a Corvette tech, it wasn't about tires. The OP talked about having his car serviced for other than tires at a dealership without a Corvette tech. It was nice that the dealer admitted that, as well as not having the right equipment for mounting and balancing wide, low-profile tires.
Yes, many competent shops can mount and balance, but not necessarily wide, low-profile tires without blemishing the wheels. They don't have the best equipment. I've had many tires shops tell me they can do it, but not with a guarantee of no wheel blemishes. A shop with the latest Hunter equipment will provide that guarantee.
Discount Tire stores generally do have that equipment, but they have no store within 200 miles of my location. The same is true of many locales in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast US.
When I mentioned having a Corvette tech, it wasn't about tires. The OP talked about having his car serviced for other than tires at a dealership without a Corvette tech. It was nice that the dealer admitted that, as well as not having the right equipment for mounting and balancing wide, low-profile tires.
Yes, many competent shops can mount and balance, but not necessarily wide, low-profile tires without blemishing the wheels. They don't have the best equipment. I've had many tires shops tell me they can do it, but not with a guarantee of no wheel blemishes. A shop with the latest Hunter equipment will provide that guarantee.
Discount Tire stores generally do have that equipment, but they have no store within 200 miles of my location. The same is true of many locales in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast US.
Last edited by Foosh; Mar 10, 2023 at 04:17 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 985
Likes: 761
From: Monticello, AR
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
When the windshield washer pump failed on my C7, I took the car to my local non-corvette Chevy dealer since its a cheap common generic GM part to replace. They point blank told me they weren't comfortable working on my car and gave me the name of a different dealership to take it to.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 446
From: SUMTER, SC
Maybe I just got spoiled living in Northern VA for 13 years and dealing with a number of Chevy Dealers, between my ZL1 and C7 and I never had a chevy dealer brush me off. But I am glad he recommended another shop. We will see Tuesday, if it was a good choice.
Would never use Discount Tire ever again. Maybe it was just the incompetent tech, but they scratched the hell out of one of my wheels from my C7.
Would never use Discount Tire ever again. Maybe it was just the incompetent tech, but they scratched the hell out of one of my wheels from my C7.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,569
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From: A sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10
This is not a Corvette Specialist job. Even if they had one, it would not be the employee on the tire machine. The newest low profile tires require not only experienced tire people, but the right equipment. They may have had neither. People that are trained, have the right equipment, and have done this many times is who you're looking for. The volume of tire work at a dealer pales in comparison to volume at a reputable tire shop. Be thankful they admitted it.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,569
Likes: 297
From: A sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10
Maybe I just got spoiled living in Northern VA for 13 years and dealing with a number of Chevy Dealers, between my ZL1 and C7 and I never had a chevy dealer brush me off. But I am glad he recommended another shop. We will see Tuesday, if it was a good choice.
Would never use Discount Tire ever again. Maybe it was just the incompetent tech, but they scratched the hell out of one of my wheels from my C7.
Would never use Discount Tire ever again. Maybe it was just the incompetent tech, but they scratched the hell out of one of my wheels from my C7.
CF Community Team
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From: Pittsburgh
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This is not a Corvette Specialist job. Even if they had one, it would not be the employee on the tire machine. The newest low profile tires require not only experienced tire people, but the right equipment. They may have had neither. People that are trained, have the right equipment, and have done this many times is who you're looking for. The volume of tire work at a dealer pales in comparison to volume at a reputable tire shop. Be thankful they admitted it.
They didn't damage your wheels 7 that is the bottom line
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 19
Likes: 7
From: Northern Virginia
Also in NOVA and Criswell in Southern MD is close enough to use them.. Good to know when the time comes! I bought my C8 from Chevrolet Timonium in Maryland and they were awesome. Took me through their service department, articulating that they have top tier Corvette techs and 1 in particular is one of the most recognized in the nation. Maybe that will help give you another option?