Tire place scratched my deep 6 fuchs - recommendations??

I just got back from having a tire repaired (slow leak) - Once I got home I noticed some pretty significant scratches that run about half around the lip of the wheel. Clearly it was not there before - these wheels were restored and are perfect - except for this now. I'm going to call and speak with the manager and I'm sure that they will be accomodating but the question is what should I do? I'm guessing they will have a relationship with a local wheel repair shop. Are scratches in these anodized wheels reasonably easy for a non fuchs specialist to address or do I avoid that solution and seek some other remedy? I'm most interested to hear from those who have encountered this kind of problem before and I'd like to understand how the various solutions worked out. I'm going to give them a call in the morning so any feedback I can get tonight would be really appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Best,

Alex

Get a 9 millimeter!

That would make me feel better - but it likely wouldn't do anything for my wheel! Plus I probably wouldn't get to drive for 20 years or more!

This happens a lot. The anodize can't be touched up. It has to be refinished. Do not use a "local" shop. They will not be able to do the job.They will just make it worse. Send the wheel back to the shop that did them.

We currently have 4 singles in for similar problems. All of the shops are paying the bill and a rush shipping fee. Last year a shop ruined all 4 wheels with acid while "detailing" the car. It cost them big money. I tell my customers when having new tires installed, get the manager first and explain how much money these wheels cost and have him look at the wheels before the new tires are mounted and that does the trick. And...stay and watch them!....The shops usually use the most inexperienced guy to do the 15" wheels, not knowing the early 6s are more difficult to put on tires than a new M-3...
H

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Originally Posted by lexatola

I just got back from having a tire repaired (slow leak) - Once I got home I noticed some pretty significant scratches that run about half around the lip of the wheel. Clearly it was not there before - these wheels were restored and are perfect - except for this now. I'm going to call and speak with the manager and I'm sure that they will be accomodating but the question is what should I do? I'm guessing they will have a relationship with a local wheel repair shop. Are scratches in these anodized wheels reasonably easy for a non fuchs specialist to address or do I avoid that solution and seek some other remedy? I'm most interested to hear from those who have encountered this kind of problem before and I'd like to understand how the various solutions worked out. I'm going to give them a call in the morning so any feedback I can get tonight would be really appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Best,

Alex

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Wow - that really sucks. Please PM me who the offender is because I too am in Seattle and in line to have some tires swapped from 7 X 15 ATS to just-refurbed 7 X 15 Fuchs, and I want to avoid a similar fate. Also, anyone who has some recommendations in the Seattle area would be most-appreciated. Harvey (as usual) brings us some good advise.

- MR

This happened to me once. I spoke to the owner of the shop, and they purchased me a new "refinished by Harvey" wheel with very little discussion. This is a calculated cost of running their business. Now the tire mounter that scratched it may have a different discussion with the owner.

Always ask if they have "no touch" equipment. Most good shops today do. One of the reasons I buy tires through Costco.

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Originally Posted by RSTarga

Always ask if they have "no touch" equipment. Most good shops today do. One of the reasons I buy tires through Costco.

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+1. There is currently ONE SHOP in all of Atlanta that has the right equipment to mount a deep six from the back of the wheel.

Most places slap will try to slap a tire on it like the wheel is for a Camry. Be careful out there.

Also find a shop that doesn't use the teeth grip to hold the rim in place. Those will leave fairly deep marks on the inner backside of the rim.

The good shops will use hard rubber to grip.

Most tire machines can grip in both directions, pushing out (the infamous teeth marks) or pulling in where the clamp jaw will grip the rim bead (no marks) Most shops just use the push out method as it is easier and for old steel wheels on a Chevy it doesn't matter. To do the pull in grip it takes a moment longer as you have to keep the tire bead separated from the rim as the jaws come in. This is REALLY hard on cantilever race slicks!!