Protecting Fuchs Wheels from scratches while new tires are installed
 

Hi Everyone:
I am fortunate that my Fuchs wheels are in pristine condition since I had them refinished by Harvey Weidman. It is now time for new tires, and I wondered if anyone has an idea about protecting those rims from scratches when the tires are installed. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can keep them perfect? Any advice much appreciated! Thanks in advance

Best bet is to take them to a shop that knows what they are doing and not necessarily the cheapest big box tire center. I’ve had tires drop shipped to my preferred Porsche mechanic who’s then installs them. The other thing you need to keep an eye on is the AC and oil lines that are subject to getting crushed by lift operators who are unaware.

Thanks. I have always taken my cars to Tim's Treads here in Marin County. I have never had a complaint, but maybe someone in this area has another dealer that they use?

The more communication you give the tech the better. Just be friendly and explain the pitfalls and you can get good work done even at chains like Discount, usually by the managers. If they are cool they let you stand right at the machine and watch them. I've done this a few times. If you just say "mount them" 90% of the time they will get jacked up, over weighted, the weights will be in the wrong spot, or they will damage the inner center lip or external lip. They seem to be especially destructive with the weight remover tool, leaving big gouges in the back side. I want to try these new breed of mobile tire guys. They come to your spot with a truck and mount /balance them on board.

Explain how much they are worth to replace/repair. That should get the point across if not scare them off!

I won’t let any shop mount my tires unless I can be there. To many possible bad outcomes as laid out by 75 911S.
It’s no different than when it’s time to run cable at the end of one of my remodels.
I learned the hard way years ago when one of em drilled right through a new wood window frame for cable TV ingress. Not a fun conversation to have with the homeowner the next day. I should have been there to oversee it.

I used a mobile tire service company (through tire rack) and it was pretty awesome- he arrived, let me check out the van and watch as he did his thing and he was super stoked about getting g to work on a set of wheels they wasn’t for an suv. I gave him a little ride up a frontage road that runs by my work and I think that made his day.

He was super sensitive to weight placement and making sure to not mar the wheels. Wholly recommend.

I think the subtext here, although it doesn’t necessarily protect the wheels, is to dismount the wheels and take them in for the tires. I haven’t and would not take the car to a tire place and have them take them off and put them back on the car unless I was extremely familiar with them.

Totally agree. I don't know who I would trust to jack up my car and change my wheels. Of course my car is a long hood which has no jack points, f-glass bumpers, and is very low.

I always take the wheels off the car myself. The fellow who owns the shop is a local PCA member and understands my concerns about boogering up one of my precious Fuchs. I have seen the damage to an aluminum rim when the motorized & gear driven auto dismount machine jumped off the rim bead & gouged a 18 inch scar on the rim, everyone standing around doing Ralph Kramden, a humanahumanahahumana.

It is possible to dismount a tire the old fashion way, by hand, with a delrin tipped tool on a five foot lever. When properly manipulated, new tires can be mounted by hand, with no tools involved.

Find yourself a reputable tire store with someone who will take a modicum of personal interest in your efforts. It's the guy, not the store.

True with 15" wheels. Try it with 205 16s.:D