I went to the dealership today to have my all season tires mounted on my stock wheels. During the process the technician came out to tell me that all 4 wheels now have paint chips where they removed the old weights.

Obviously I'm totally pissed, but I want to know if this was preventable. Is it possible to remove those things without scratching the wheel? They said it wasn't. Should I hold these guys accountable for the damage??

What's your experience with mounting new rubber on the stock wheels?

 

the weights are on the inside of the wheel no? i know when i look on my old wheels there is usually some residue from whatever they used to put them on but nothing serious

 

those always will damage the paint, since the ones they use sit on the lip of the wheel, so in order to grab onto the wheel they pretty much have to hammer them on

 

have them put tape weights on next time and no more problem

 

If it's on the inner edge who cares, you can't see it, that will happen everytime, you should have a hammer on on the inner and sticky's for the outer, or you can have double stickys.

 

Just got back home from getting new tires (RT-615's) and finally took a look at my wheels.

I have scratches where my old weights used to be, and residue.

Oh well...figured it was part of the process.

 

I have been a tech for 7 years now. It really is impossible to not leave a mark if it already has "hammered" on weights. If you are really that concerned about it your should have bought a 100K car cause a Mitsu isnt good enough for you.

If you put "all season" tires on the car to drive it in the winter I will bet you anything worse will happen before the winter is over.

 

They always leave marks on lip of the wheels. It's not there fault. I had mine placed on the inside of the rim on my old stockers.

 

Thanks for the responses everyone. Just wanted to be sure.

 

Yep...actually, one of my wheels was scratched up quite badly...and the tech who was removing them was REALLY careful. I was standing right there. I asked about applying stick on weights only, (i.e. nothing on the outside), but he didn't really like how close they would come to the calipers. He also mentioned they could balance it "better" with the ourside weights? HOWEVER, they have plastic coated hammered on weights that do NOT scratch when removed.

verkion

 

Wow, my Honda S2000 wasn't 100K and I didn't have any wheel scratches.

 

If your worried about scratches park it in your garage with a cover and buy a new car. I know its new, but its just a car. Chips and Scrathes happen. Look at it like this...now you have winter rims, buy something nice for the summer. Paint chips on your front end, thats reason for a new front clip!

 

my evo x rims had the wheel weights on the outside - am i the only one?

 

yup it happened to me. its unpreventable.

 

Nope mine's too and scratched/chipped pretty well when i replace the stock tires..Thank you mitsu for those weights!