I picked up a set of 19" Nismo's over the winter and now I'm looking to get my tires mounted on them. However, I'm scared as hell that a shop will screw up the outer lip. So my question is...

Did you guys have your tires mounted on a regular mounting machine? Should I just give them the wheels/tires and hope for the best? Anyone have any experience with mounting their Volks, Nismos, etc and having them screwed up?

 

you can't go bannanas worring over your wheels, stone chips in the bumper, or door dings. you will grey prematurely.

trust the local tire guy (find someone over 27)

 

Yeah, i feel i shouldn't have to worry about it so much, but I just cringe when I picture some guy prying the **** outta my wheel with the crow bar (metal-to-metal contact ftl)...

Do places give guarantees that if they scratch it bad they'll replace it?

 

Ask around locally where guys have had good luck getting wheels mounted in the past. Not every shop can mount/balance wheels and tires larger than 18". If you have a performance shop that deals with high end wheels, it's usually best to go there because they will be used to working with picky customers and delicate finishes. Many times they will have all plastic or shielded equipment used for working on larger diameter polished and chrome wheels.

And no, places don't have guarantees when it comes to mounting wheels. If they chip it, most of the time they will say it was already like that no matter how you argue. They might replace it if you're very lucky.

 

go to a no touch place with new equipment. one that is used to dealing with large diameter/width rims.

I have a PITA finding a place to handle a 19x10.5... too large for most.

 

Alright, I'll do some asking. I called the best place in town and he said they just have a "normal, aluminum mounting system".

Can they really tell me that my wheels were already chipped when they'll be taking them out of the box at the shop? Ha.

I think I might just bite the bullet and hope for the best

 

Most custom tire/wheel shops who deal with expensive wheels should have you covered. Not to nit-pick, but sometimes a bar (although a crowbar sounds very excessive) is actually necessary to mount low profile tires as the sidewalls are pretty damn stiff to begin with.

 

What's a good way to locate these kind of shops? Just call around?

 

being you live up in boon-**** nowhere you are limited. You could come down the cities and go to Norm's tire in little canada. Discount tire could mount them up for you, but will charge an arm an a leg if you didn't the tires from them. I have been referred to a shop in plymouth to mount my new setup. If you are willing to make the trip, I can probably get you a very fair price at the shop I am going to...actually taking my setup there on Friday.

 

If I can arrange for someone with a truck to make the trip with me by Friday I'll let you know. One of these "touchless" places would be sweet, but none up here. :-\

Living all the way up here, I expect someone to try mount my tires with crowbars and starter fluid

 

It doesn't have to be by this friday. When the MNSC site gets back up I will give you a contact in regards to getting them mounted. Otherwise, Norm's tire in Little Canada will do a fine job. what are the specs of your wheels/tires?

If you come down to the cities, you should stop by.... got a few cool cars at my shop -
60's chevelle being restorted
32 ford Roadster being built
just started my suspension on my car yesterday (tein coilovers and goodies)
Got Steve's Z down here to install a supercharger
Tom's G35 is getting ready for a new motor

 

if there is no touchless places in your area, make sure the place you bring it to uses "plastic" tool to pop on and off the tire. You'll know what i mean.

 

Ask for a shop recommendation in your regional forum.

 

it's tough for him to get a good recommendation based on his location. He is 204 miles north of civilization......

Actually, you might be able to find a reputable shop in the Duluth area, let me look around bit

just did a quick search on Tire Rack for Recommended installers for your area code:
ROYAL TIRE INC
1910 A 4TH AVE E
ATTN GARY STARK
HIBBING, MN 55746-0000
(218) 262-5258

K & S AUTOMOTIVE & TIRE
12 NE CENTRAL AVE
CHISHOLM, MN 55719-0000
(218) 254-2003

ARCHER RACING ACCESSORIES
4415 VENTURE AVE
DULUTH, MN 55811-5705
(218) 727-4806

FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF DULUTH INC
722 E 9TH ST
DULUTH, MN 55805-0000
(218) 722-2246

 

i just took mine to discount tire. asked them to be very careful because the lips scratch easily. they have mounted and dismounted them a few times with zero issues.

 

Like I said, he lives over 200 miles away from the twin cities so his choices are pretty limited unless he makes the trip down

 

I bought my 19" wheels with tires pre-mounted from an online vendor, and when I got the package I noticed a few small indentations on the inner edge of the rim (not the polished lip edge), which I assume is from when they pryed the tire to get it on there. I guess they put the tires on from the back of the wheel instead of the front.

 

Alright I'll watch for the hookups on MNSC. I have Nismo LMGT4 19x8.5 and 19x9.5 wheels with 245/35/19 and 275/35/19 tires. Next time I'm in the cities I'll let you know beforhand so I can stop by and drool at your cars. Steve's becoming supercharged, that sounds good

 

How about looking for a shop using Hunter equipment, and then going from there? I was able to find a good shop that way. G/L www.hunter.com/pub/company/findrep.htm

 

This was one of my concerns getting a 19" wheel. I was thinking of buying the tires seperate (locally) but instead, I'm planning on having the shop I ordered the wheels from install it there since, they deal with only high end brands. 80+ miles is worth the trip for the price I paid for my wheels, let along the 3 months I waited for them to get in from Japan :0 Great thread to read up.