Can wheels be damaged when installing low profile tires? I got this feeling earlier today when I took new tires/wheels into a local chain to be mounted. The employee working at the time stated a charge but upon seeing the low profile tires, he mentioned that $10 extra is usually charged per tire for low profile. I went back later to find that only two of my wheels/tires had been finished and I would have to come back tomorrow. He seemed to be having a difficult time getting this work done although he told me, up front, that it took longer to install low profile tires.

All of this makes me believe that damage is possible. Is a special machine needed for low profile tires? Am I right or over-reacting?

 

My understanding is lower profile tires tend to have stiffer side walls making mounting harder..
make sure to do a good inspection before leaving the store..

 

Good hardware helps, a pacient skilled tech is almost more importand, imo

Alex[

 

Yeah it does take a tiny bit longer to install low profile tires, but it shouldn't take him all day lol... Be sure to inspect your wheels though, cause most techs aren't careful with YOUR wheels, they just wanna get the tires on there...

 

that's my experience as well, low-profiles cost more.

 

The inside surface of one of my wheels got gouged up nicely when I had a tire changed recently. Argh. Luckily not visible when installed. But I know it's there....

 

Shops that have experience and the right equiptment to handle your tire mounting needs is most important no matter what the charge is.

Normal mounting and balancing can be done at any garage but low profile tires, alloy rims, and runflat tires are troublesome, require more skill and better equiptment.

Risk of damage to rims is very real. Talk to the mechanic or shop about their experience. Cheaper places will not even take your low profile tires and allow rims.

 

If you have ever seen the new Hunter mounting and balancing machines you will understand how the chain stores that don't have them hack up rims.