I need some opinions from anyone who knows about the process to mount and balance a tire. I noticed what appears to be a tool mark scrape in the same general location, on all 4 rims. I have attached a photo of 1 wheel, but all 4 are similar, and these are absolutely gouges in the rim. My question.....could this type of damage been caused by the equipment used to mount and balance the new tires?

FWIW..No personal experience. However, u can find info if you goog search. Yeah, I think wheel damage can occur during tire swap/balance, even tqing lugs. Special handling is required on some wheels to prevent damage. You say Tire shop (at this time) not excepting responsibility. Speculation could go viral on how damage occurred. Still a bummer. :dunno:

 

So I sent an email to a generic "customer service" address that I found on the corporate web site for this chain. The email was very similar to what I described above, without the photo. About 2 hours later, I got a phone call from a claims rep at Travelers Insurance, they want to send someone out to "inspect the damage in order to process my claim". Not sure what will come of it, but I'll be sure to update this thread.

 

I am hard pressed to think of a way all four tires could be marked in the same way unless by the same mounting machine.

 

I wonder if anyone has had their tires replaced at a Toyota Dealer and had this problem.

 

Preexisting condition. I've mounted and balanced my own tires before. There is not part of either machine that comes in contact with that part of the wheel. Merry Christmas!

 

Hmm, I have see tire shops with the newer machines that have a orbiting tire deflater, and others that use a center brace. If they use a center brace, very easy to be sloppy on a wheel, but all 4..?? for a tire shop, not very likely. Does your neighbor hate you and how much you love your wheels? sorry for the slight humor, but it is odd all 4 wheels have same damage. Was the person doing the wheel work new? or ? Or was there something in the towel when you wiped it? Did the dealership do something when they rotated? That can be a clumsy worker with a heavy handed impact wrench?
Tough call. But I would get more info, and probably guess the dealership./?

 

Insurance adjuster came out and agreed that this was man made damage. Shop has now changed their story from "no way we had anything to do with that" to "new guy wasn't properly trained how to remove a tire". Regardless, they have agreed to reimburse me nearly $700 to have the rims repaired.

 

Shop has now changed their story from "no way we had anything to do with that" to "new guy wasn't properly trained how to remove a tire". Regardless, they have agreed to reimburse me nearly $700 to have the rims repaired.

That was my initial thinking. Good to know shop stepped up and owned it. Curious...not sure. R your wheels chromtec or the other coated/alloys used? Tks for update.

 

the picture he posted is of the alum alloy wheels.

 

Identical damage to all 4 wheels is a crappy installer that wasn't paying attention to his work. Once is an accident, twice is a shame, but 4 times in a row is idiocy or apathy.

 

Nice to see they are taking care of you, nothing worse then someone that is sloopy in their work costing you something.

 

Expensive tires often have very strong bead construction which is hard for new installers to deal with. My '12 SE came (used) with new Michelins .... there isn't a mark on the alloys.

 

That is an interesting option? It would even give you a larger wheel look if you like....Hmmm. I think tires with a thick bead is preferred, but this is interesting. Iits priced as what it can save you vs what it costs in mfg with a fat markup. If I had tires without a beaded lip I would try them for maybe $25...50?..otherwise just deal with a scrape