I'm bumming a ride this year from a buddy who retired his FSP Renault LeCar and bought a 2004 Cooper to campaign in HS. He bought a second set of stock 16" 5-spoke wheels for race tires. I went to Vilven Tire today to buy a set of 205/45/16 Kumho Ecsta V700s and have them mounted up. I chose Vilven (probably Kumhos #2 race tire distributor behind Tirerack) because 1. They offered free mount and balance and 2. They support our local SCCA region.

Much to my suprise they were unable to get the tires mounted on the wheels. This isn't some local tire shop unused to stiff-sidewalled race tires; these guys travel to road-races nationwide with a trailer full of Kumho, Toyo, and Hankook race tires and provide track-side service.

Now I got the idea the guy that was in the shop wasn't the most experience guy in the company (and the head guy was away) but he wasn't unfamiliar with the process either.

Has anyone else had similar trouble? Do I need to find a place that will do it the old-fashioned way, with a bunch of tire-irons instead of a machine? Or did I just get an idiot?

 

I'm getting a set of 225 50 16's mounted tomorrow.. this will be interesting :smile:

 

You got an idot, MANY of those tires have been mounted on those wheels that I know of. So unless there's a problem with your particular wheel...IDIOT it is. He was probably too embarassed to admit he hasn't done that before.
A 215/40R16 is even more difficult and I've had those mounted many times. Don't get me wrong, everytime I've watched it looked difficult, but it's gotten done. It's the size of the sidewall that makes it hard.

Good Luck!

Brian

 

Went back today and Bob Vilven, the owner, was able to get them mounted up using the same machine.