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[rwmyo2]

Hi All,

I just replaced my 335i 2010 sport package oem tires with the BS RE960AS RFT. I'm very excited about the new tires as they are supposed to be a much better in terms of comfort..more on that later.

I'm sad to say that I noticed damage on the RIMS after the installation. I pointed the damage to the shop but they said their machine could not have casued such damage and that it must have been pre-existing. I'm confident that I did not have the damage before but I'm struggling how to prove it.

Do you guys have any thoughts/previous experiences on how to distinguish between curb inflected damage vs. installer caused damage?
Thanks,

Rami

Picture links below
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78807666@N03/7219250940/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78807666@N03/7219250472/

[driverman]

When I replaced my RFT's with PS2's, the installer damaged 3 wheels. I saw the damage before he took the car off the lift. He denied it. I took him to small claims court and won.

I've concluded that it's worth spending 5 minutes taking pictures of our wheels BEFORE we replace our tires, inspect them after the installation and take pictures if there is damage. This is especially true when replacing RFT's because their stiff sidewalls increase the chances our wheels will be damaged.

[rwmyo2]

Thanks for the insight. I will work my way through the shop management, Tirerack, and bbb. If all fails, I guess small claims court is the way to go.

[pvas540]

I agree with the above comment. I would think curb rash will show a directional scrap damage compared to a machine chip being not as deep. This might still be hard to prove though. Take pixs is best advise. You would think by not we would have a machine that does not jack a rim.....Good Luck

[VelvetElf]

Originally Posted by driverman

When I replaced my RFT's with PS2's, the installer damaged 3 wheels. I saw the damage before he took the car off the lift. He denied it. I took him to small claims court and won.

I've concluded that it's worth spending 5 minutes taking pictures of our wheels BEFORE we replace our tires, inspect them after the installation and take pictures if there is damage. This is especially true when replacing RFT's because their stiff sidewalls increase the chances our wheels will be damaged.

curious how you proved it in court. how did you win? did he just settle?

[rwmyo2]

Update: So I spoke with Tire-Shop manager and he showed me the machine they use and illustrated that nothing touch the RIM except plastic coated parts. I felt them myself and they are plastic (of course I'm not an expert). Given the lack of before pictures, it seems I have a weak case

[san6279]

Feel your pain, OP. Same thing happened to me first time I changed over to winter tires. Have the following comments:

1. You used the word "confident" in your original post. Those are some pretty significant marks. Most people on the forum (by our nature) would have been "positive" they weren't there before. So, are you sure?

2. My understanding is some machines are more suited for installing RFT's than others. If true, always check. Based on my bad experience, I've decided changing tires is the one thing I'm getting done at the dealer from now on. People may say that is going too far, but I don't want "fixed/repainted" wheels, even if they do look like new. I now have two sets (winter and summer) to avoid mounting as much as possible.

3. Like others have stated, nothing takes the place of pictures. I will do that from now on myself.

4. Find a good repair shop in your area, and they'll look as good as new.

[raceyBMW]

Maybe they scratched them putting it on the lift, or driving it around and touched a curb. Doesn't have to just come from the machine.

[VMRWheels]

Working in the wheel industry, I hear people run into this problem all the time. It's very common for wheels to be damaged by the installer. Based on the photos, it does seem like those wheels touched a curb. Doesn't look like that damage could be caused by the tire mounting machine since it looks pretty rough. Even if metal rods touched it, it would just scrape off the paint and not leave nicks in the metal itself.

[chuckee98]

The 3rd and 4th pics look like curb damage, as the damage runs perpendicular to the circumference of the rim. Not sure about the other two pics and damage, however.

If you can't take pics prior, then at least check each wheel visually with the tire technician, or better yet, the manager, before dismounting the tires. This way they can see and agree that the wheels were perfect before they touched them.

[axis]

Looks to me in the first pic like they were having a hard time getting the tire over the lip of the wheel and used a crowbar to pry on it.

[rwmyo2]

Thanks San. I know there were minor marks, but I'm sure I have not seen these ones before. Live and learn! Before fixing it, I will seek to the help of a friendly installer for a second opinion on what might have happened.