Tire Changing Question

[Bill B.]

I need to replace my tires and I'm a bit hesitant to let a tire dealer lift my C2 and change the tires. Instead I'm thinking of removing the tires and wheels in my garage and just having the shop replace the tires and balance, then installing myself at home. Any opinions or thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Bill B.

[Frank D.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

I always R&R the 63 one-year-only hubcaps myself, but let my guy at Discount Tire R&R the bare wheels....they are extra careful and jack the car at the proper points with floor jacks with foam-padded handles, working one side at a time and never get the frame in a bind... If you don't have techs that careful then yes, you could carry the tires for balancing. I prefer Discount Tire because they have the Hunter Road Force balancers.

[Terry M.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

I need to replace my tires and I'm a bit hesitant to let a tire dealer lift my C2 and change the tires. Instead I'm thinking of removing the tires and wheels in my garage and just having the shop replace the tires and balance, then installing myself at home. Any opinions or thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Bill B.

The absolute best tire place I have seen is Tire Rack. Absolutely NO power tools, and they use a torque wrench properly. Padded floor jacks, and they had the lifting pads that go on the car for the C6. Some of the wheels they sell go for 6K for four wheels, so they know how to change and balance tires. They are not all over the country though.

Discount tire is #2 in my book, but they are not all over the country either. There is a Discount Tire on the West Coast, but I am not sure it is the same company that is in the Midwest.

Wherever you consider using, go there first and watch what they do and how they work. That will tell you their skill level and the quality of their work. And be aware the wheel weights you get today will be zinc and not lead.

[Mark E.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

After several bad experiences with tire jockeys, a few years ago I began the practice of removing/replacing the wheels from the car then taking them to the tire store for mounting and balancing. This is also a good opportunity to detail the suspension, wheels and wheel openings.

Issues I've dealt with at shops include: Not lifting the car properly (one time I saw the wife's Jag suspended on one tire and a floor jack); damaging the wheels/trim/lug nuts by tossing them about or hitting them with the impact wrench; improperly torquing (or not torquing) the lug nuts.

Lifting a C3 or earlier Corvette is straight forward. When I owned a C4 convertible, it was eye opening how clueless or uncaring virtually every shop was about properly lifting the car.

[Gary B.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

Terry,

I believe that Bada, makers of the MICRO logo wheel weights, does not use zinc, but uses steel, coated with something, for most of their modern wheel weights.

Gary

[Jim D.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

I trust no one to lift my vehicles and R&R the wheels. I've seen too many screw ups, especially when it comes to proper lug nut torque.

[Larry M.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

I trust no one to lift my vehicles and R&R the wheels. I've seen too many screw ups, especially when it comes to proper lug nut torque.

Jim:

I agree...............but 50 years ago they were just Chevys, and had routine maintenance done in repair shops like the rest of the cars on the road.

Larry

[Domenic T.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

Bill,
I take my tires off myself and use pads on the frame. So far on my powder coated frame I don't have a scratch, A arm installation or any thing else.
Especially need care on the hub caps as described above. In the past they said they would be carefull but used rubber hammers to dent my caps.
I now change and balance my tires myself with soap or silicone, and my son did all by hand installing my tires on my fresh powder coated rims. Yes he did use his feet also. Any scratch is will invite rust.

Dom

[James W.]

[Joe L.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

I need to replace my tires and I'm a bit hesitant to let a tire dealer lift my C2 and change the tires. Instead I'm thinking of removing the tires and wheels in my garage and just having the shop replace the tires and balance, then installing myself at home. Any opinions or thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Bill B.

Bill------


If you have a pick-up or van available to bring the tires/wheels to/from the tire shop, this is not a bad way to go. All sorts of problems can be avoided, some having nothing to do with tires/wheels. This also gives one the opportunity to check one's brake pads and rotors.

[Joe L.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

The absolute best tire place I have seen is Tire Rack. Absolutely NO power tools, and they use a torque wrench properly. Padded floor jacks, and they had the lifting pads that go on the car for the C6. Some of the wheels they sell go for 6K for four wheels, so they know how to change and balance tires. They are not all over the country though.

Discount tire is #2 in my book, but they are not all over the country either. There is a Discount Tire on the West Coast, but I am not sure it is the same company that is in the Midwest.

Wherever you consider using, go there first and watch what they do and how they work. That will tell you their skill level and the quality of their work. And be aware the wheel weights you get today will be zinc and not lead.

Terry------


I was not aware that Tire Rack had any of their own tire installation shops. I thought they only supplied tires/wheels and had a list of recommended installers in the area where the buyer lives.

In California, Discount Tire is known as America's Tire. Elsewhere, they are known as Discount Tire. America's Tire is my favorite place for tires. Their prices are fair. Also, all they do is sell/install tires and wheels so they don't try to sell you other parts and services. In addition, they don't supply or push "extra cost" nitrogen inflation. In fact, I've heard them counsel customers that ask for it regarding its negligible benefit (they don't need to counsel me).

[Joe L.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

Terry,

I believe that Bada, makers of the MICRO logo wheel weights, does not use zinc, but uses steel, coated with something, for most of their modern wheel weights.

Gary

Gary------


Lead wheel weights are still available but not in California or other "copy cat" states. However, I don't know if MICRO-branded lead weights are still available.

[Terry M.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

Terry------


I was not aware that Tire Rack had any of their own tire installation shops. I thought they only supplied tires/wheels and had a list of recommended installers in the area where the buyer lives.

I wasn't aware of this service either until I got the Z06 and Tire Rack wanted to take pictures of it for their catalog. While they were photographing it they gave me a tour of their facilities in South Bend Indiana. I was extremely impressed with the shop, the quality of work, and their attention to detail. While most of their installs were run-of-the-mill transportation vehicles, they showed me where they mounted the wheel/tire combinations for the very upscale products they sell. The equipment and staff impressed me. If you live close to a Tire Rack warehouse, give them a call and inquire. Better yet go watch them work and decide for yourself. They are not a chain like Discount Tire or Tire America, but I have been driving 120 miles each way to get my tire work done by them and I couldn't be more pleased.

[Tim G.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

I always pull the wheels/tires off the car and deliver them to a place in Austin that does great work. It does provide a chance to clean the wheel and chassis.

[Bill B.]

Re: Tire Changing Question

Thank you all for the replies. I'll be removing my wheels and taking them in for new tires. I didn't know about force balancing and will have that done. I really appreciate the insight this forum provides.

Bill B.