Okay so here's the story. My last two sets of wheels have been fugged up by two different shops. Firestone took paint off of all four wheels on the lip. They gave me 100 bucks and free mounting (Firestone w/ stock wheels)

The next shop that did my Volk's scratched one of the wheels and they paid 40 bucks and free mounting...

Well here's the worst of them all. I just bought some practically brand new K1's last week. I searched the whole city for a place that can do wheels perfect. At this point I didn't care if it was 30/wheel as long as they did it right and didn't cause me any stress.

After talking to my neighbor, who has nice high end cars (Porsche 911 Turbo, Ford GT40) and my mechanic, they both recommended Leo's Tires.

I went there and told them up front how **** I am about my wheels. I told them if they couldn't do them perfect, then to tell me straight up and I'll find another shop. They assured me that my wheels would be taken care of.

I then proceeded to tell them that I have digital pictures dated yesterday that I took of each rim up close to show exactly what blemishes were on there when I brought the wheels to them. I had also numbered the wheels and documented in writing each of the blemishes on each wheel. The numbers were written on the hub area of the wheel.

They once again assured that my wheels would be taken care of. Then they told me to pick them up in an hour.

I go to pick them up and two out of the four wheels had paint chipped off the face of the wheel

So I talk to the 70 year old guy managing the place and of course he says that his employees couldn't have done it. I tell him that I have pictures to prove it and that if they don't correct it I'll take them to court.

Then one of the third party employees (did not work on the wheels) notices that the paint chips off my wheel are still stuck to the brand new tire that they just mounted Now the old guy changes his tune. Instead of telling me that I'm trying to rip them off he starts apologizing. He then goes to the worker that did the wheels and asks him if he did it. Of course the dude lies.

Well now I gotta go back tomorrow and raise some hell with the owner.

I just need to vent right now. I'm so mad I could have ******* killed that dude that did my wheels.

<------Ken who is unhappy with the situation and just wishes there was competent people who knew how to mount wheels without fugging them up.

Sorry for the long post....really needed to vent

Edited because I offended some people with my immigrant remark even though he is illegally in this country. But hey what the hell do I know. Some of you guys seem to know everything, huh?


Modified by jdmspoonitr at 1:06 PM 11/5/2003


Modified by jdmspoonitr at 1:07 PM 11/5/2003

 

Am I the only person with this kind of bad luck with wheel mounting places???

If so someone point me in the right direction for a place in NorCal that knows how to handle aftermarket wheels. I'm so frustrated right now it's not even funny.

 

Oh jeez. Sorry to heard that dude. Just bad bad luck.

 

.....sorry to hear about this.

Next time, try Discount Tire/ America's Tire.

Their policy is such that if they damage your wheel, they buy you a new one - and yes they carry racing hart and volk/ rays too.....

They have plastic sleeves for everything from the clamp, to the crowbar, to the bead breaker.

 

It just sucks that I went through so much trouble to find someone trsutworthy and I still get screwed. Argh.......I guess the saying is right.

"If you want it done right, do it yourself."

But how much does one of those tire mounting machines cost? Probably a couple thousand at least and the balancing machine doesn't look cheap either.

The old guy even walked me around the shop and showed me the machines he was going to use. Rubber clamps that push outward on the inside of the wheel to keep it stable. Rubber piece that stretches the tire onto the rim.

He said that there would be no metal to metal contact, which it appears there wasn't. I guess the employee either dropped the wheels on some tools, or dropped the tools onto my wheel. Whatever the case may be I am going to make sure that idiot gets fired. If it was my business I'd want someone to tell me if my employee was ******* **** up. A lot of people I know go there, and if they don't correct it they are going to lose a lot of business.

Lesson #1: It pays to be honest when you know you fucked up

I would have let the guy go if he said he was sorry, but trying to pin it on me was a big mistake.

 

sucks - I've had the same problem...

as ridiculus as it sounds, I actually bring my car to the local Chevy Dealer -they have the equipment and experience working with low profile / performance tires and wheels, and they usually do a pretty decent job (they have to mount Corvette tires...). I've actually been turned away from the Acura dealer when I tried to get them to mount my 195/50 So3's on the stock wheels... too stiff I guess

I'd like to find one of the discount tire places around here...

 

i was turned away by a few places when i tried to get so3's mounted also. i ended up taking it to a local shop that said they could handle it, and i watched them do the mounting... they fucked up on one of them and had to back the sidewall off the lip, seriously seemed as if they would have damaged the tire in the process (i didnt think they could bend that much) but it turned out ok, luckily my wheels were not damaged either, but i was really nervous, they were not handling the rims with much respect.

do all chevy dealerships have good equiptment?, HUNTER MACHINE?

 

Yeah.....Leo's Tires is a good place, it's just that one idiot that sucked. But he's gonna get canned tomorrow.

I have digital pictures I took before I brought the wheels in, I also have the previous owners pictures from last week to show them.

If they don't pay for the rims they are going to get slaughtered by me in small claims court. I have the dated proof with pictures and documentation.

I also have a written statement from the previous owner and he is willing to testify for me.

 

I don't seem to have that problem and I go to a hole in the wall shop near my house... Go figure - I just make sure I toss the guy a 20 before he does anything to the car.

 

take it to topline next time. theyre located in burlingame. they work on high end cars and have mounted azenis onto my sw388's with no problem. sucks to hear about your dilemna. good luck.....

 

Damn that sucks, some peopel just dont have enough respect or just don't know how much $ they are dealing with. It's not just a fawking konig

whos always been scared to purchase expensive wheels because of this

 

Man, I cringe everytime I have to get tires mounted. I got some Falkens mounted to my WORK wheels not long ago at NTB and I told them they had to be perfect - the manager even had me come back another day so he could have the right guy on the job. Well, of course something happens - they guy breaks one of the custom valve stems in half and then they proceed to blame me because I have 'fancy' wheels.

Thye refused to take care of me so I called Sears and complained - they reprimanded the manager, made him pay for a new valve stem, and gave me some stuff. I'm never going back there....

 

I go to Sears every time, and I dont have a problem. After I pull my car in, I get out and start bullshitting with the guys that work there. I ask them nicely to make sure the wheels are taken care of and they always do a good job.

Maybe because Im standing over their shoulders bullshitting with them about how their cousins sisters boyfriend has an Integra and wants to mod it, or how Sears doesnt pay them enough or whatever...but they always do a great job.

 

My spoonz = go here

 

Ken - take a deep breath. And, try to calm down.

It has happened to me too where they said they were the "best". But I ended up with a fine precision scratching, which could've only happen by the tire mounting machine. I got mad and made a scene. Looking back, I should've just chilled. **** happens and what are you going to do?

The bottom line is that, "<u>**** HAPPENS!!</u>"

Advice: If you want to mount tires w/o scratch and chips, take it to a shop that your friend works at. (And, a friend that you trust.) That's the only way these days.

Or, take it to P1.

 

I dunno if I'm the only one. Unless I suspect that the wheel is bent and need proper balance or inspection. I usually takes it to ghetto tire shop that does $5 per wheel. Sure, some paint chip off, but who cares, my wheel will be covered in brake dust 20 miles later.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nEoMuGen &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I dunno if I'm the only one. Unless I suspect that the wheel is bent and need proper balance or inspection. I usually takes it to ghetto tire shop that does $5 per wheel. Sure, some paint chip off, but who cares, my wheel will be covered in brake dust 20 miles later. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I would be like that if it were my Koseis or if I still had my stock wheels. If I had a nice blinging set of wheels (read: 1K+ USD), I'd be more inclinded to be annoyed if it came back scratched. I know they'll be covered in brake dust and could get bent on street/track. But if it's my fault that's one thing, it's another if it's someone else messing it up.

 

I mount and balance my own tires. Honestly it is pretty hard to do the damage you described. At the same time some of the **** people on here cry about is silly. One guy posted once about the inside of the rim having clamp marks on it. Not like after 3 goood stops brake dust isn't gonna cover it up.

Considered going to a shop and asking what they woudl charge to let you do the work?

 

The only time I have ever had a prob @ a balancing place is when I mounted my BFG Drag radials myself I didn't mind because they going on stamp steels though. Now i bring all my tires to a local discout tire and rim place they do a good job!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nEoMuGen &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sure, some paint chip off, but who cares...</TD></TR></TABLE>

That is ridiculous. I care.
The attitude of '**** happens' and 'who cares' has led to the widespread acceptance of mediocrity...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That is ridiculous. I care.
The attitude of '**** happens' and 'who cares' has led to the widespread acceptance of mediocrity...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That is ridiculous. I care.
The attitude of '**** happens' and 'who cares' has led to the widespread acceptance of mediocrity...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I point is that sometimes things happen. And, there's nothing you can do about it. I can cry about a scratch on the wheel, but it's better to let the shop take responsibility and move on. I mean it's a wear item that gets crap on it all the time from daily driving.

What's it going to do me good, if I hold a grudge against the shop? Some times, things are just out of our hands... that's why we, ITR owners, tend to do most of car work ourselves.

Unfortunately, tire mounting machine isn't one of tools you can purchase easily. That's why you
either take it to someone you know (not by word of mouth).

Ken - we've all been there... it sucks, but move on. Getting angry at the shop will only make you angrier. Trust me, I've been there and I've gained nothing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That is ridiculous. I care.
The attitude of '**** happens' and 'who cares' has led to the widespread acceptance of mediocrity...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I do not expect mediocrity at $5 per wheel. Building up stress due to frustration of imperfection is not worth it. Your stem valve incident is not the same as paint chipped off from the lip, which is often relevant to luck instead of skills.

 

Sorry to hear about your issues. Relative to rough Bay Area highways and debris, my rims aren't exactly prestine. I've had my tires mounted at Exact Motorsports in Milpitas a couple of times. I can't comment if they have scratched up my rims anymore than the condition they were in prior to the mounting...but I keep going back.

There's a place in Santa Cruz called Canepa Design that you can also check out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Asahi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I mount and balance my own tires. Honestly it is pretty hard to do the damage you described. At the same time some of the **** people on here cry about is silly. One guy posted once about the inside of the rim having clamp marks on it. Not like after 3 goood stops brake dust isn't gonna cover it up.

Considered going to a shop and asking what they woudl charge to let you do the work?</TD></TR></TABLE>


OSHA and insurance will never let you do the work unless you are employed by that shop.....