How do you know you can trust a tire shop?
 

So it's time for tires on my 997 and I have some concerns. I have the 5 spoke 19" Carrera rims, perfect condition, nary a scratch on them, not even a chip. Only had the car for a year, the PO replaced the tires sometime back with ContiSport, but the fronts are showing the wear bars. Rear tires probably have a few miles left, but I'm gonna replace them all around.

I'm concerned about turning my car and rims over to a bunch of careless tire monkeys. I had a 911 several years ago with perfect Fuchs, had a flat, and the local shop gouged the rim with the tire machine. They accepted no responsibility and I was stuck.

How can I tell if any of the other local shops won't monkey up my rims as well? Is there a new technology for dismounting tires? I see all these $10k spinners around with low profile tires on them so there must be a way to remove and remount tires without the risk of damaging the rims? Perhaps a serious discussion with the shop manager beforehand would help?

Yes, I am unreasonably anal.

Second part: back to the ole tire question again, and yes I searched the forum already. Any new reasonably priced tires our there? I don't go to the track or anything. Just looking for a fairly nice ride and the longest tread wear I can get.

Wanting a shop to handle your property with care is totally reasonable.

Find a shop that can guarantee the work without damage.
Use them.


KT

If you're not after anything special, go with what was put on the car stock or a near equivalent.
AFA tire shops go try and find who the local Porsche dealer uses. Check with your local PCA and see who they like.

Call a local high end body shop and ask them who they use.

try one of the luxury car custom shops.

Do you have a tirevan style business nearby? They come to your house and do the installation there.

Simple. Discuss your concerns with the manager.

Let him know your rims are cherry and ask for his best guy.

Set your expectations and let them be met.

Tip the tech.

The tire shop has never seen my car.

The wheels & tires are tossed in the back of my pick-up, and I help load and unload them, and offer up some "friendly banter" while the new tires are being mounted. Of course, the freindly banter's real reason is to not let the wheels out of my sight.

So far, never a scratch.

Also- I know the lugs will never be overtorqued if I tighten them myself.

+1

A couple good suggestions here already,
go on a day/time they're not busy, if possible pull the rims from the car and just take them, or when you show up, invite the manager out to your car and show him that the rims are pristine and you would like them to stay that way, be nice about it of course. I would go so far as to snap a couple photos with your phone with him right there.

+2

and I also never bring the car, just the rims.

I hated the same thing about tire shops, plus I have been doing the Unimog tires by hand. So I found a great deal on a tire machine set up for alloy rims and will do the mog tires as well! Price was only $400 for it. Only problem is when your friends find out your have it! they now find great deals on tires on line and you get to change them.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1329066306.jpg

We have a very good shop that does tire work for local lamborghinis, f-cars, and of course Porsches. We usually just bring him the wheel set and pick it up later.

Those who bring the whole car usually call ahead and schedule an appointment. That ensures the best hand in the shop is available to do the work.

angela

also, go by (don't just call) the local high-end car dealers and ask their service manager who they use (I realize that BTR only has high-end car dealerships during oil boom periods... but there must be a BMW dealer there)

that + the above post has worked for me, and I now live in a town that is the size BTR was in the 1950s

Ask around, particularly with the local PCA guys. Then when you take it to the shop insure that you share your concerns with the manager and give them plenty of time to do the job.

We have an excellent tire shop in our area (Park Tire in Lincoln Park, MI) that I trust for all of our auto tire and wheel (and suspension) related work. When I took my '74 911 in to have the new tires mounted on the recently restored Fuchs (Al Reed's handiwork), the owner let me stay in the shop and watch them as they worked. That impressed me and the fact they wanted me to watch them work was proof that they took pride in their work. In the summer, on an especially hot day, I'll buy a 12pk of Bud and drop it off for them. They always treat me like I'm their best customer!

Hey Mark, you have gotten some good ideas about finding a good shop above. As to selecting tires, check out Tire Rack online, they have a good research and testing section. As well as customer evaluations.

Cheers Richard

Drive around a nice area and go where you see Benzes and Range Rovers getting serviced, or go to the dealer.

Stay the hell away from "tuner" shops- they don't get enough practice to know how to treat an expensive car.

You might call the local Hunter rep (Locate a Local Hunter Representative) to see where the closest shops are that have an Auto34 (leverless) changer and GSP9700 balancer.

Yup, we have a coats rim clamp machine.... No longer mess with tire shops.