Question for tire installers
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Question for tire installers
*****Update- 5/9/09 went to a Goodyear store and they took care of me with no damage to my wheels****
I was wondering if any of you guys could help me with what I should check or say when going to a shop to make sure they can change out a tire without touching the rim. Is there certain machines I need to ask around for or is it just the operator itself. I noticed some machines have heads on them that rim along the rim. I wondered if that would scratch my wheel. Any help appreciated.
I was wondering if any of you guys could help me with what I should check or say when going to a shop to make sure they can change out a tire without touching the rim. Is there certain machines I need to ask around for or is it just the operator itself. I noticed some machines have heads on them that rim along the rim. I wondered if that would scratch my wheel. Any help appreciated.
Last edited by chevygirl; 05-10-2009 at 10:59 AM. Reason: Update
#4
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The HP wheels I had on my car had a lip that was a lay over and dented really easy and even with a good installer and a touchless machine they still put very small dents, but if your wheels arent like mine a good installer and a touchless machine you should be okay, alot of Discount Tires have them, and some small preformance wheel and tire shops have them also. Good Luck!!
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Well in Memphis there isn't any touchless machines that I can find. I took them to the chevy dealer and I was standing right there and they put 3 or four small dings from hitting something and they were only breaking the bead, turning the tire, and rebalancing on the machine. Everywhere I call they say it will be no problem but I am having a bad experience so far. I ask them what kind of machines they have and they act like they don't even know. Some say they use rubber protectors. We don't have a discount tire here.
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Hunter is a pretty big tire mounting/balancing brand. I'd imagine that a lot of dealers/tire stores use them. But pretty much they're all the same. Anyone who isn't mental should be able to mount tires without leaving a mark.
Take it somewhere reputible(sp?) and let them know before they touch the wheels that they will be buying you new ones if they leave the slightest mark.
Take it somewhere reputible(sp?) and let them know before they touch the wheels that they will be buying you new ones if they leave the slightest mark.
#7
We have a touchless machine at work, but i dont remember the manufacture of it. I know its not Hunter. The only part of the machine that touches the wheel is in the center where it clamps the wheel to the machine.
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I have called around and no one around here has one. I will have to go visits some shops this week to find someone. I don't mind dropping a good tip to the guy if he will take care of me. It is hard to tell if someone really knows what they are doing. The bad thing is my wheels cannot be bought anymore so if they were to have to buy one they couldn't.
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The GM SLP ZR1's chrome. They were in mint condition until I took them to 2 places here in town so far. I am trying to minimize the damage. I take them off myself trying to save some problems.
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I found a Goodyear shop with a Coats tire changer that can change runflats and has the arms with all the rubber pieces and plastic pieces. Nothing is suppose to touch the rim but the rubber head will run along the backside of the rim. They have a sonar coats road force machine that is new.
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I work at discount part time n we just adjust the duck head (the piece that rides along the rim) far enough away so that it doesnt touch it. Works every time without scratching wheels
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The machine is a coats 9024E and it has the rubber duckhead and he said they can't move it back to far or it might damage the tire. I will try to ask him again about it. It was rubber. He said it will touch but is rubber so it doesn't scratch. Any help is appreciated as to what to tell or ask of this shop. I am going Saturday morning.
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The machine is a coats 9024E and it has the rubber duckhead and he said they can't move it back to far or it might damage the tire. I will try to ask him again about it. It was rubber. He said it will touch but is rubber so it doesn't scratch. Any help is appreciated as to what to tell or ask of this shop. I am going Saturday morning.