Topic: Replacing tires
in Forum: C6 General Discussion
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Copperas Cove, TX - USA
Joined: 8/6/2008
Posts: 58
Vette(s): 07 Machine Silver Coupe
6 sp pattle shift auto
72 Stingray convertible
Just had my tires replaced at 
Discount Tire, I had them put on the cont.extrem contact DWS. The tires seem to be great, overall, however all the damage they did to my wheels was tatally uncalled for. If you take your care someplace I recommend getting the manager to go over the car with you before any work is done on it. They are going to fix it but I should not even have to go through something like this.
Discount Tire, I had them put on the cont.extrem contact DWS. The tires seem to be great, overall, however all the damage they did to my wheels was tatally uncalled for. If you take your care someplace I recommend getting the manager to go over the car with you before any work is done on it. They are going to fix it but I should not even have to go through something like this.SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C6VR)
The same thing has happened to me more than once. They have also damaged the body where it wraps under the doors by lifting improperly, again more than once. I suggest you check that area because it is not normally visible. The last time the repair cost was over $1,000 and they fought me on it.
Good Luck,
Dave
Nothing personal,but you should have known better, than to have gone to a place like DISCOUNT TIRE. They do not have a habit of dealing with Corvettes. Regardless, most knowledgeable tire shops should be able to mount and balance alloy wheels on machines that do NOT touch the wheels.
After DT fixes the wheels, you might want to take them to a 3rd party to confirm their proper repair and balance. The wheels are typically repaired by roving repair facilities that visit car dealers, etc.
Steven
2001 Intimidator Coupe, 19K miles
As for damaging the underside of the body ... most auto repair facilities have NO CLUE when it comes to proper jacking points on a Corvette. C5 and C6 Corvettes have specific jacking points, and call for the use of a jacking pad. I am not sure of Chevy dealers use them (or an alternative), but you should always keep a set in your car ... no matter where you go for service.
Steven
2001 Intimidator Coupe, 19K miles
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Copperas Cove, TX - USA
Joined: 8/6/2008
Posts: 58
Vette(s): 07 Machine Silver Coupe
6 sp pattle shift auto
72 Stingray convertible
They did a good job jacking car, which gave me a warm fuzzy about the rest of the job, boy was I wrong, they used my pucks and four jacks to put it up. Discount is the biggest place where I'm located, not many choices and everyone takes their corvettes to Discount, I guess I made the mistake of taking it to the one in Copperas Cove, TX instead of Killeen. Military towns you know how that goes.
They are sending the wheels to Austin to a company that does this type of work, they do all the insurance jobs. I have seen some wheels done by these folks after an accident and they look brand new.
|UPDATED|8/29/2011 1:14:28 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
My rear Goodyear tires lasted 35000 miles.
My front lasted 18000.
The rear tires came from the factory in alignment. The front was out.
The alignment is the issue.
Were I picking up a new vette today, I would get an alignment.
Firestone offers a lifetime alignment for around 200.00
I now have the new Michelin runflat tires and absolutely love them.
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Upland, CA - USA
Joined: 2/25/2005
Posts: 10
Vette(s): .....2009 ZO6 Velocity Yellow
I have purchased tires for both my 2005 C6 and my 2009 ZO6 from Discount Tire, (America's Tire here in Calif.)
Haven't had ANY issues on damage, or mishandling the car or the wheels.
EXCELLENT service each time!
I got 50,000 miles on the OE set on the C6 before I had to replace them.
The ZO6.. a different story! First set left me at about 30,000.
Up to that point I had 2 replaced under a road hazard warranty.
One had a hole in the sidewall so big I could put my fist through it.
Hit a piece of Scaffolding on the freeway in the dark before dawn. OUCH!
And drove it another 125 miles to a shop to get it repaired.
(No replacement charge to me..), as I purchased the road hazard warranty upfront.
And numerous flat repairs on my ZO6 as the Goodyear tires, (and their size of course), seem to be "nail magnets".
The last set I purchased for the ZO6, I changed over to
 | |
| Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position Run Flat
Color me HAPPY!  |
Much better ride. Lasting much much longer than the Goodyears.
Feels like I'm in control now!
No more fishtailing, just straight line performance even in wet weather
And to date.. NO flats!
But as someone else said!
Make sure you keep the tires balanced and the car aligned!
Thanks Firestone for that "Lifetime alignment."
I drive in every 3 months and leave it with them for a few hours.
On a side note....
I might have purchased the Bridgestones at Firestone, but they would not sell me road a hazard warranty on a run flat tire.
But America's Tire would, so they got my $$$$$ !
Happy cruising!
On the recommendation of Goodyear's EMT service hotline, I took my C6 to a local Discount Tire less than a month after purchasing it new, to have the optional chrome wheels replaced with a set of standard 2008 split spoke wheels I purchased from an owner who was taking his new C6 racing. The workers at Discount did a proper job of jacking the car but did mar one of the chrome wheels through sloppy handling as they were making the switch. To top it off, they also refused to take responsibility for the damage and for that reason I'll never go to a Discount Tire store again for anything.
Here in Michigan we have a regional chain called Belle Tire and I took the C6 to them in the past month to have the original Goodyears replaced, and they did a very good job. I'd driven them just more than 30,000 miles and the right front was worn to the point of being dangerous because the alignment was just a little out of spec. I went with Michelin Pilot Sports, mostly because everyone I know who has put them onto a C5 or C6 has been very happy with them.
By the way, everyone around here with a C6 is experiencing front tires wearing out much faster than the rears, and that seems to be counter-intuative. A recent discussion among my club members who have experienced this came to the conclusion that the C6 scuffs the fronts on turns much more than a C5 or earlier chassis. Although my front tires were worn to about 4/32's, my rears still had more than 7/32s left. I just sold them to another C6 owner who suffered uneven wear on the rear due to bad alignment. It seems alignment should be checked two or three times per year, if you want to keep your expensive tires wearing evenly.
Tom Stoner
Huron Valley Corvette Club
Dexter, MI
2007 Machine Silver convertible (2008-2012)
2013 Arctic White 427 convertible (2012-2013)
2012 Carbon Flash 4LT Centennial coupe (2013-2019)
2008 Indy Pace Car grey top convertible (2014-2019)
2013 Arctic White Grand Sport 4LT 60th Anniversary convertible (2019- )
Though tires CAN go out of balance, it is
not all that common (those of you who drag race will experience a greater chance of this happening). The same can be said about a good alignment ...
unless you seek out potholes, or other destructive driving. With the
exception of an accident (fender bender), I can't remember the last time an
alignment was needed on any of my cars (at least 12+ years) ... and I live in pot-hole central /
Pennsylvania.
Regarding wear (caster / camber), I believe it has been addressed elsewhere, that manufacturers of various vehicles have their front tires set-up at an aggressive angle, to enable the vehicle to handle corners at high(er) speeds ... similar to what is done with a NASCAR race car.
While facilities such as Firestone often utilize the same general equipment, they often do not have access to OEM / manufacturer specific accessories. Case in point ... anyone can perform a basic alignment on a Mercedes Benz. However, only MB dealers have access to caster / camber elliptical bolts, which bolt onto the alignment machine. So while Joe's Repair Shop can perform an alignment, they generally cannot adjust caster / camber. In addition, 3rd party facilities generally do not know they have to set ride height on vehicles with airbag suspension, prior to setting the alignment. Again, setting the ride height is generally something performed with OEM equipment.
Regarding wear (caster / camber), I believe it has been addressed elsewhere, that manufacturers of various vehicles have their front tires set-up at an aggressive angle, to enable the vehicle to handle corners at high(er) speeds ... similar to what is done with a NASCAR race car.
While facilities such as Firestone often utilize the same general equipment, they often do not have access to OEM / manufacturer specific accessories. Case in point ... anyone can perform a basic alignment on a Mercedes Benz. However, only MB dealers have access to caster / camber elliptical bolts, which bolt onto the alignment machine. So while Joe's Repair Shop can perform an alignment, they generally cannot adjust caster / camber. In addition, 3rd party facilities generally do not know they have to set ride height on vehicles with airbag suspension, prior to setting the alignment. Again, setting the ride height is generally something performed with OEM equipment.
Steven
2001 Intimidator Coupe, 19K miles
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Hollywood, CA - USA
Joined: 1/15/2012
Posts: 2
Vette(s): 2006 Victory Red Corvette Convertible, Z-51, Black Top and Interior, Handcooks all the way around, K & N Filters, and that's it.
When it comes to tires, shops like "Fiscount Mires" and most of the chains, mostly have 16 year olds just out of high school tearing up your wheels. Pulling up with 4 different tire pressure lbs when they're finished. In addition, they nickel and dime you with fees, and so much more. I have always found that finding a small family owned shop, with low overhead the best bet. A good sign is that they don't have your size in stock, and have to have them dropped off by the local distributer. Here in Miami, most of the shops usually order them, and they get dropped off in less than an hour. You get rock bottom prices, however sacrificing service AFTER the sale. For that, I would recommend you buy (or order) them from Costco. They have the best warranty, and prices aren't bad either. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
|UPDATED|1/15/2012 8:24:07 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
|UPDATED|1/15/2012 8:24:07 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
in Forum: C6 General Discussion
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