Originally Posted by
zip439
Look at the machine the tire store uses to change your tires. If you do not care about scratches and digs into the inside of your rims it isn't important, but especially for those with after market chrome rims investigate the machine being used to change your tires! There are basically two types out there; One grabs the inside of the rim and holds it in place with jaw like pressure. The other will run a spindle up through the center of the hub and clamp the rim in place with no fingers on the rim. That method prevents damage to the inside of the rim. Those machines will have an arm come down and break the bead as the tire turns with the spindle. The center spindle machines will not use a lever to get under the tire and spin the lever, vice the rim, to break the bead and thus no scratches from a lever running on your rim.
The tire changing machine that does little to no damage to the rim is called a "touchless" center post or leverless. Hunter calls their models "Walkaway".
If some one comes to your house or business to change a tire on the spot, I feel certain you will have some kind of rim damage via scratches, scrapes or gouges.
There is only one store near me that has the center post, touchless tire exchange tool. Many tire stores did not even know what I was asking about. ( I checked in three counties) The newer machines are expensive, but it is the only way I will have my tires changed on the SRT6 with chrome wheels.
So it is not just the tires, but who is installing them.
DITTO THIS FEEDBACK! I also look for those that use a plastic lever arm to install the tire on the rim if they are using center-hold jaw machines. If not a plastic lever arm, those that know to wrap the end of the metal lever arm with electrical or Duck tape to avoid damage to the rim.
Years back, my oldest son had a 1999 Ford ZX2. I bought him after-market rims & wider tires for the car. The local tire shop I used (which came recommended by the online tire store) severely gouged one of the new rims when the tire tech was mounting the tire. The manager tried to tell me that the rim was damaged when they opened the box. Turned out I had taken pictures of all the rims beforehand at my house. When I showed them to the Manager, he got 'red-faced' embarrassed because I caught them in a lie & apologized his *** off. I told him I thought he was crooked & was prepared to call the cops to have him booked for attempted fraud & anything else I could come up with. The only way to not have the cops involved was the following:
1) I told him he was going to replace the rim with like-kind (gave him the eBay Seller I bought the rims from)
2) Told him if he could not get the exact same rim, he would order another full set of my choosing at or near the same price point.
3) I wasn't paying him for any installation charges because he ran a crooked tire service shop.
4) And I would never be back & wouldn't recommend him to anyone. (Note: He's not in business anymore in my city - closed up shop probably 2-3 years ago.)
I can be a 'rectal orifice' when I need to be!