After 29K miles I finally needed to change the OEM runflats on my 2004. After I had the tires installed, I was driving away, and the TPMS indicator lit up, and I noticed the car pulling to the right. Sure enough the right front tire was down to almost no pressure.

I was only 200 yards from tire shop, so I slowly drove back. They removed the wheel from the car and were in the process of reseating the tire, when they noted a crack on the rim, down in the hollow section.

My gut reaction was to blame the tire shop, my logic being that if the crack was there before, the TPMS would have noted it.

Is it possible that the crack was there before, but under the stress of the tire replacement that it became bad enough to bleed air ?


They put some epoxy on the crack (on the inside), and it seems to be holding, but I"m guessing I should probably replace the rim. I'm just trying to figure out if I have any claim against the tire shop.

Any ideas ???

BB-

 

Bump ...

Anyone with any thoughts ?

BB

 

Difficult situation. Did you replace the runflats with runflats or normal tires?

 

That is a tricky issue. I don't see how you could prove or disprove the tire shop caused the crack. What about your warranty? If you are at 29K, should still apply, right? I suppose it covers wheels, too. If not, I don't think I would press the issue, unless you find out there is a procedure that they did, which has a history of cracking wheels. I'm no expert, but I can't think of anything, other than wrecks or hitting big bumps hard, that would crack a wheel.

 

I replaced the runflats with non-runflat General Exclaims, though I'm not sure it would have made a difference. The crack is about 3/4", in the hollow of the rim, and in line with the direction of travel.

That's the strange part, there's no evidence of any damage anywhere else on the rim. The bead edge is perfect. It would seem a highly unlikely event for an impact to collapse the tire hard enough to damage the interior hollow of the rim, but do absolutely no damage anywhere else. That's what makes me think the damage was induced by the tire shop, but lacking any real experience in the process of changing tires, I'm not sure if this is possible.

It's a real puzzler.

BB

 

Possible overinflation of the tire could cause this couldn't it?

 

That's an interesting observation. How could that happen ?

 

kinda sounds like someone was a little over enthusiastic with the machine when taking the tires off. maybe that was the first one, and they took more care with the others?

 

That was my gut feel, but proving it could be a bit challenging

 

Depending who you got them from, a lot of time they are happy to try and help, maybe they'll meet you half way, or guve you a killer deal on a new set of wheels... It was holding air before they touched it. They know that, tell them to work something out for you

Just a thought,

Paul

 

Never have heard of a shop that could damage and wheel enough that it would not hold air. Sure they can scratch them to he$$ when installing new tires but cracking a wheel??!!

Take a picture of the crack. More than likely you hit something.. And being the right it's even more likley.. Just IMO,

Did I say take some pictures !!