Tire mount recomendation?

greg schroeder · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 10:16 AM

I have some new tires I'd like to have mounted and balanced. Does anyone know of a location to have this performed accurately without damage?

Often wheels are bent with the condition unknown to the owner as they rarely see their own wheels in motion. For the last set of four tires I had installed I went through five bent wheels at three dirrent mounting locations. Yes I used 9 wheels to install 4 tires.

RedBarchetta · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 10:21 AM

Greg, if your tire shop is not using a GOOD 'rim clamp' style machine, then you are wasting your time and money. I would search for a shop that specializes in custom rims and tires...they usually have the better equipment for the Mercedes and Beamers they sell to.

-Dean

greg schroeder · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

Greg, if your tire shop is not using a GOOD 'rim clamp' style machine, then you are wasting your time and money. I would search for a shop that specializes in custom rims and tires...they usually have the better equipment for the Mercedes and Beamers they sell to.

-Dean

I went to three different shops to complete the last install for a set of tires. All had very high end equipment boasting about their installs of Lamborghini, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc. I'm sure they bend those wheels just the same to have people drive off not knowing their wheels are bent. I don't think it's the equipment, but rather who you get doing the work. Part of the problem was also that I was installing very stiff sidewall tires the last time around on 17 inch wheels. They bent those wheels like they were working with clay one after the next. My wheels were coming new out of the box.

RedBarchetta · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg schroeder

For the last set of four tires I had installed I went through five bent wheels at three different mounting locations. Yes I used 9 wheels to install 4 tires.

So three diff. tire stores ended up buying five rims?

greg schroeder · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

So three diff. tire stores ended up buying five rims?

Some were paid for by the shop and others I absorbed expense to put it behind me. Ultimately I ended up with three of four perfect and about a millimeter of bend on the 4th. Pissed, I took a video of the last bent wheel while in slow rotation and gave up in order to clear my mind of the events.

The stories I could tell about tire mounting and balance over the years would make it seem it's a near impossible event.

tman8 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 07:32 PM

Are your rims aluminum?

tman8 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 07:34 PM

Sorry or tin?

Danr55 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 07:39 PM

Greg, try Gunnells on Gilbert and McKellips in Mesa. 844-1090. They've always shot straight with me.

Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB · #9 (**permalink**) 10-24-2007, 11:25 PM

Greg, I used these guys twice a while back. They came closest to perfect balancing new tires on my Trigo rims. I did buy the tires from them. They know wheels.

http://www.wheelspecialists.com/

They are located in Tempe, AZ

AZ Bob

greg schroeder · #10 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 06:43 AM

Thank you for the tips guys.

The past wheels that were bent were the type pictured in the below link. The front left wheel is the one with the tiniest little bend which wouldn't be noticeable after maybe five or ten miles per hour.

17" wheel on front left still bent

The wheels may be cast aluminum, but I'm not sure. I got them from Vintage Wheels and they look to be identical manufacturing of the original Superformance type, but larger. Vintage Wheels has always given me superior service and even helped me along through the wheel bending ordeal.

Danr55 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 07:26 AM

Great picture Greg, but your car needs a coat of wax! (Keep smiling, that was a joke!!)

davids · #12 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 08:09 AM

Beautiful Car Greg.........dave

Bx1 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 11:23 AM

I had good luck with Les Schwab tires (Sacramento) ... they had new equipment and my wheels were unscratched/undented. The operator/tech was very careful as well....It might have helped as I was watching every move he made... P.S. Greg, stunning car!

Fitz · #14 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 11:42 AM

Never knew this was such a problem. Never had any situations like this. Got my tires second go around at Discount and the rims and tires were fine. Not sure if that shop had other stuff but I think Levy got tires though them as well.

Fitz · #15 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 11:44 AM

OK, a little misleading. Levy got the ROH rims and Discount the tires a few times for balancing and purchasing new tires.

jetsbaby · #16 (**permalink**) 04-16-2010, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB

Greg, I used these guys twice a while back. They came closest to perfect balancing new tires on my Trigo rims. I did buy the tires from them. They know wheels.

http://www.wheelspecialists.com/

They are located in Tempe, AZ

AZ Bob

I will going there today as they may have bent my Vintage Rims wheel in the past and I never noticed it till the dyno operator pointed it out to me..Still in the F5 go cart stage...I will update this when I find out..

Karl Bebout · #17 (**permalink**) 04-16-2010, 07:17 PM

Greg, glad to hear you got your car back? I thought you'd sold it to your brother-in-law, or someone. What tires are you putting on it? More MT street radials? Front and back?

greg schroeder · #18 (**permalink**) 04-21-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl Bebout

Greg, glad to hear you got your car back? I thought you'd sold it to your brother-in-law, or someone. What tires are you putting on it? More MT street radials? Front and back?

The Brother in Law still has it. He wants to sell it at this time to gather funds for an investment.

It's a very solid car if anyone is interested.