Tire Mounting Concerns.......

jh225 · 02-25-2009, 05:01 PM

For those of you with pristine or refinished wheels, what do you do about mounting new tires?

Pretty much all the tire shops around me have outdated machines that I will not let anywhere near my newly refinished wheels.

One shop I found that recently opened has a state of the art machine with all kinds of arms and adjustments and plastic rim riders, etc., but I am still leary. I don't really want to spend $100 to have someone screw up my wheels.

I would love to find someone who can hand mount my tires on the rims and then inflate, as old time truck tires were done, but that art died years ago.

I may be overworried, but having been in the body repair business years ago, I know how little employees care about their work, today even more so.

Thoughts?

TGTIW · 02-25-2009, 05:44 PM

Well from my experience as a tire tech, nothing makes you do a good job more than the customer standing right behind you.

The machine they use should have a plastic boot for the mounting and dismounting. Just make sure they don't use a metal bar to help hold the tire on during the process.

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGTIW

Well from my experience as a tire tech, nothing makes you do a good job more than the customer standing right behind you.

That is exactly right-start to finish. It also doesn't hurt to talk to the manager. This should take the same amount of thought as you would in selecting a doctor.

Dantilla · 02-25-2009, 06:46 PM

#1:

The tire store has never seen my 911. The wheels/tires are brought to them in the back of my truck. Nobody's going to squish my oil cooler lines, or torque my lug nuts to 200 ft lbs!

I stand close by, and make friendly chit-chat with the guy mounting them. He know's I'm watching, but instead of being the typically anal Porsche "Prick", I'm just B.S.ing with another car guy for the duration.

Tigerrat · Tigerrat's Garage

Agree w/ all above. Maybe you can find a Porsche or other high end repair shop that also does wheels. Or ask them who they use. I was lucky to find a race shop and had a fellow PCA member mount mine(after I had spent untold hours polishing the wheels) Ken

Ritzblitz · 02-25-2009, 07:06 PM

I did the same thing when I had my tires mounted. I went into the back and watched the guy do it, he did an awesome job, just a small time shop with old time machines.

NY91184 · NY91184's Garage

This is the exact reason I'm always driving around on bald tires, call it a tire mount phobia. On one of my old show cars I had these rims with fairly soft lips, needless to say it took ~4 hours to almost repair what the tire place did. Not to mention they stole my chrome valve skirts. Where in NY are you?

KFC911 · 02-26-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dantilla

#1:

The tire store has never seen my 911. The wheels/tires are brought to them in the back of my truck. Nobody's going to squish my oil cooler lines, or torque my lug nuts to 200 ft lbs!

I stand close by, and make friendly chit-chat with the guy mounting them. He know's i'm watching, but instead of being the typically anal porsche "prick", i'm just b.s.ing with another car guy for the duration.

+2

BMWDavid · 02-26-2009, 01:59 AM

Funny how this also is one of my all time concerns. After having a so called hi end BMW shop totally waste the wheels on my '95 M3 many years ago I've been on the search ever since.

I live in a pretty rural area and so my search takes me far and wide looking for that perfect shop. My local Cadillac/Pontiac dealer recently purchased new Hunter tire mounting and balancing equipment. Since I know a couple of the guys that work there I thought I'd give them a chance on my VW GTI wheels.

I took the wheels off the car in my garage and took them in with the new tires. Sort off chatted it up with the tire mounting tech and kept an eye on things. Ended up with the best experience yet. No marks on the wheels and a perfect balance using their Hunter road force balancing machine.

I'm taking my Fuch's there this summer when I get new tires for the '89 3.2.

So I would say that in addition to looking at tire shops one should also check out car dealers service centers as well.

David

175K911 · 02-26-2009, 04:23 AM

First, I'm lucky to have a good tire shop, run by an enthusiast. Maybe part of the reason he's so busy is that he takes care of his Porsche, BMW, Audi, Benz etc customers. He even stores our summer tires when we put on our winter wheels and tires.

Second, it's not necessary to have brand new equipment, but to just maintain the equipment.

Third, the best equipment in the world is worthless if nobody knows how to use it properly. My shop knows to "cone" the wheel from the back not the front for the best balance. Installing the centering cone from the front is easy and safe but virtually all wheels are only hubcentric from the back. This back method is a better way to balance, but requires more time and care since the wheel now needs to be locked down with a part that touches the face of the wheel but if they use a fresh or well cared for rubber protective ring it wil not harm the wheel.

Finally, each time I have new tires or wheels done (which the wallet tells me is too frequently), I take a couple dozen donuts, or big box of candy, or something similar for the shop. In summer I've taken a cooler of soda and ice tea. Never underestimate the power of a thank you in advance.

equality72521 · 02-26-2009, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 175K911

Finally, each time I have new tires or wheels done (which the wallet tells me is too frequently), I take a couple dozen donuts, or big box of candy, or something similar for the shop. In summer I've taken a cooler of soda and ice tea. Never underestimate the power of a thank you in advance.

People who have never done this would be amazed at the response this gets. I used to have a great relationship with the parts cleaners when I worked at the shop. Everyone treated them like bottom dwellers but I would treat them with respect and buy them soda and donuts. Sometimes I'd bring in something the wife made. Those guys would drop whatever they were doing to help me.

175K911 · 02-26-2009, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by equality72521

People who have never done this would be amazed at the response this gets. I used to have a great relationship with the parts cleaners when I worked at the shop. Everyone treated them like bottom dwellers but I would treat them with respect and buy them soda and donuts. Sometimes I'd bring in something the wife made. Those guys would drop whatever they were doing to help me.

You bet. Maybe it's from having spent so much of my professional life in the sales and customer service world but I've always said thank you with more than words.

And don't just do it when you need something. At Christmas I sent my local 911 shop, the shop foreman at my BMW dealer (X5 is still under warranty), my old shop in VA, and my pastor gift baskets from the Popcorn Factory. And I've taken my BMW dealer tech Starbucks cards too knowing he's a bigger coffee addict than I am. And my 911 guy likes good Bourbon and his wife likes red wine. And my tire guy likes it when I bring his shop something rather than something for him (how's that for respecting his employees.)

175K911 · 02-26-2009, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWDavid

I live in a pretty rural area and so my search takes me far and wide looking for that perfect shop. .........

I'm taking my Fuch's there this summer when I get new tires for the '89 3.2.
............

David

Hey David, if you're in SW Indiana, Have you considered driving up to South Bend to have the Tire Rack do your mounting and balancing? Might even get your tires there as well. Good guys to do business with, and their facility is more than just a warehouse. They have a big shop to mount and balance, and the right equipment to do it. Bit of a haul but maybe you can arrange it on a Saturday morning when one of the Chicago area car clubs are holding an autocross there on their test track so you can have some fun while there. If you call, talk to Luke (he's got a 993).

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

I called the BMW dealer (no Pcar dealrer here) and asked where they took their wheels/tires.

Then I spoke to the shop mgr. and emphasized how much I loved my wheels and that they were "furrin"

BMWDavid · 02-26-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 175K911

Hey David, if you're in SW Indiana, Have you considered driving up to South Bend to have the Tire Rack do your mounting and balancing? Might even get your tires there as well. Good guys to do business with, and their facility is more than just a warehouse. They have a big shop to mount and balance, and the right equipment to do it. Bit of a haul but maybe you can arrange it on a Saturday morning when one of the Chicago area car clubs are holding an autocross there on their test track so you can have some fun while there. If you call, talk to Luke (he's got a 993).

I do buy my tires from Tire Rack. Never gave much thought to actually driving there...quite a haul, about 200 miles. Though I'm sure that would be one of the best ways to go.

Thanks for the suggestion!

David

jh225 · 02-26-2009, 10:55 AM

Thanks for all the thoughts.

I have been using a different shop for years, but I know they only have an older machine and I will not be taking my refinished wheels there. I also never bring my higher end cars there, just the wheel/tires in the back of my SUV. That way, I know they get hand torqued and not fubared. I usually bring donuts and coffee too.

That is how my current search started. The shop I found was glad to bring me in the back and show me the machine. Made me feel a little better, but I don't think they will allow me to hover over the tech when the time comes. He even said that I would need to leave the wheels so they can take their time and do it right. That's not going to happen as I will wait.

I will most likely get there as soon as they open in the morning with a box of donuts and coffee, and plan on waiting around while they do the mounts.

They also have a new nitrogen machine, but I don't know if you can play with the pressure at home by adding/removing compressed air. Anyone know?

Zeke · 02-26-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jh225

I would love to find someone who can hand mount my tires on the rims and then inflate, as old time truck tires were done, but that art died years ago.

Thoughts?

Yes, thoughts. Hand mounting will definitely scratch the wheels mounted from the front. That's why the new machines feed the tire bead over the top of the lip w/o touching anything. I go where the Dubs are mounted. I don't see many wheels costing nearly a grand each getting messed up.

m110 · 02-26-2009, 04:25 PM

Beer

I know very few mechanics who don't respond to a cold beer. My garbage men wouldn't take some stuff from my mother's house so I told her to leave 24 Kokanee beers. Now they would haul away vats of Nuclear waste if she left it on the curb.
When I worked in a shop we would go to town for folks who brought beer/coffee/whatever...put some speakers in if we had them laying around, maybe some new fog lenses on the house, etc
Seriously, any tip is appreciated. Also I ask for the guy/gal to show me what he does even if I know how to do it (or looked it up earlier)
How does that cone go on?
The back or the front?
Is it hubcentric?
Where do you put the weights?
Can you tell me the tolerances you guy's normally use and what my wheels are?
Where did you get that tatoo?

Just don't get the guy fired for taking something he shouldn't

chrisp · 02-26-2009, 06:32 PM

My first priority is finding a shop that has insurance and looks like pockets are deep enough to make me whole if something happens. I've had wheels trashed but the insurance makes it all better.

After finding a place that can afford to replace my wheels, i find one with a good tire machine.

The last thing I'll do is have a friend do it or someone with a personal connection. There's too much at risk. I could never ask a friend to replace a $750 wheel. I used to have access to free mechanics and free tire mount, balance, weights, etc but I never used it. It would have caused too much stress for everyone involved if the wheel was trashed.

For my race wheels I always get them mounted 2-3 weeks before an event so i have time to get a new wheel if disaster hits.

Steve W · Steve W's Garage

After America's Tire trashed the edges of my GT3 rim, follow the advice of the guys here. I know how techs can feel with owners hovering over them while they work plus a lot of them frown upon customers in the work area. However, big mistake that was. I stayed in the waiting room and letting the guys work under their own leisure. Watching the guy repeated hammer a stuck mounting arm on the Corgi tire machine with a big iron mallet while my wheel was on it practically gave me a heart attack. Screw how they feel and either hover over them, let the wheel refinishers mount your tires, or find a reputable place that works on high dollar cars that has state of the art equipment such as the Porsche dealer.