buddyb

I've inherited a 1998 GS 300 from my in-laws, and took it to a large name brand tire store early yesterday afternoon for four new tires. They told me I could have four new Yokohama AS530s put on within an hour.

They ran into what they say is an unexpected problem -- they couldn't get the new tires to fit over the GS 300's rims without a high pressure air tool, a "bead blaster". I was told that the shop normally had one around but that theirs was missing, possibly had been borrowed by another branch. Supposedly they were going to call around to their other branches, find one of these tools and get my car fixed.

It's the next morning and I am still waiting for my car. Questions: Is there something about the design of the '98 GS 300's rims that make it harder than normal to install new tires? Wouldn't any respectable tire store have a tool like this on hand?

gsjerk

iTrader: (2)

They really shouldn't need a cheetah, its not a hard tire to mount. we mounted 205/40 on 16x8 wheels which even then isn't hard to do without a cheetah.

onekoop

iTrader: (3)

I believe its the kind of tire that has a hard time sealing to the rim. When i used to work at NTB there were certain tires that need a "bead blaster" to make the bead seat on the rim. Most big reputable tire shops should carry the air tank to seat the bead.

buddyb

This is happening at Merchant's Tire, NTB's sister company. Never had a problem with Merchant's before. If these things are only a few hundred dollars, I can't imagine why each store doesn't have one of its own.

VNN326

iTrader: (21)

tell them to leave it out in the sun for a bit, then try it. theyres other method if beeding on tires without that cheeta.

SorrGwa

iTrader: (1)

the oem wheel has these air channel grooves on the inner drum side. without air injection (depending if the tire mounter has it, or need the use of a bead blaster) its hard for it to "break the bead" to push the side wall outward to touch the lip of the wheel.

im probably not doing a good job explaining it, but even on a stock wheel, its sometimes hard to get the tire inflated even if the side wall isnt crazy.

on truck tires, u really need the bead blaster as the side walls are too flimsy and so collapse and wont push outward so it sits next to the lip on the wheel. thats how it holds air. u need that moment of increased pressure just enough to push the sidewalls out.

geeznuts

iTrader: (14)

That shop sucks lol! I mount stretchEd tires in my own garage without a cheetah blaster there is other methods Indeed

buddyb

I finally got the car back, and now I notice some scratches on the wheels that I swear weren't on the wheels before. The tire store insists that they didn't use any extra tools when they tried to force the tires on (other than human hands) that could've caused the scratches. Maybe they're right and I'm wrong, but I've learned a painful lesson about trusting a formerly trusty tire store.

excluesive

iTrader: (10)

that's really crappy man.. Sorry to hear