Tire Installer *Slightly* Scratched Rims... Worth Repairing? (500k of images)
 

I got all season tires put on my car today. I specifically asked if the tire shop's equipment could deal with the 18" rims without scratching them... they assured me it'd be no problem. Well, they scratched all 4 rims. :rolleyes: :mad: However, the scratches are really small so I'm thinking about just shrugging it off. The scratches on two of the rims are insignificant and the scratches on the other two rims are also quite small (as you can see in the image with the valve):

Tire 1:
http://www.bokehdesign.com/rx8/1.jpg

Tire 1 zoomed in:
http://www.bokehdesign.com/rx8/1zoomed.jpg

Tire 2:
http://www.bokehdesign.com/rx8/2.jpg

Tire 2 zoomed in:
http://www.bokehdesign.com/rx8/2zoomed.jpg

As you can see, the damage is really minor though I wonder if the paint will flake off. The tire place acknowledged their mistake and said they'd give me the money back for installing the tires ($60) and send them to a repair shop. Seems reasonable, but they'd said they'll need the rims for a week! I dunno if I want to go through that trouble.

One of my buddies said it's silly to make a stink over something so minor while another one said he would've been livid over this.

Any comments?

I feel your pain. I too worry about people scratching up the rims but I am too a victim. My rims were however scratched at a different loacation. When the dealer rotated the tires from the rear to the front, they broke the cast around the lug nuts with their impact guns.
:(

I would think about that little scratch everyday if I had a new car.

might try on one rim sanding slightly and then use some of the Mazda RX silver paint on one area to see how it blends in.

I have worse damage on one of my stock rims, and it was driven off the dealer lot that way! It is an obvious case of "curb rash".

Not a huge deal, especially since I already have aftermarket wheels on order!

:cool:

We all have a threshold regarding dings and such. If you got the week to give, I would have them fix them. I am looking at damage caused by the gorillas that put the tire locks on at the receiving port of call. Will show to the dealer the next time I visit and I am including my discuse in the customer satisfaction survey sent out by Mazda. Now to find the damn thing.