Have you ever had new tyres fitted and then found that the rims have been scratched and the fitter claimed the scratches were already there?
Annoying and avoidable!
However, there are things you can do to ensure that your shiny rims are not damaged.
1 Find a good fitter
Almost all tyre fitters use a special machine to remove and fit tyres.
They are actually better than manually removing tyres with tyre levers as they have a rubber, kevlar or composite plastic head. Avoid tyre fitters that have a machine with a bare-metal head.
However, to get the machine started, the tech still has to use a prybar.
So you need a tech who is careful not to scratch or even dent the rim lip.
Rather than getting the cheapest fitting quote, check the tyre fitter for quality work.
You could ask on internet forums, ask your mates for a recommendation or go in and ask what care they take fitting tyres.
It’s also a good idea to go and have a look at them changing a tyre.
Sometimes you can see the techs at work, but sometimes they are behind closed doors.
You could always ask to see them changing a tyre. If they object, go elsewhere.
When I got Dunlop Alpha-14 tyres fitted on new Blackstone TEK carbon rims on my Ducati GT1000, I went to Oliver’s Motorcycles in Brisbane because I trust the guys there.
Tech Mark Zach always wears gloves, cleans every piece he removes, and uses rags on the tyre-fitting machine to ensure there are no scratches.
2 Photograph your rims
If you end up with a scratch, the shop can always say it was already there.
So it’s important that you photograph your wheels first with a camera that records the date.
Then you have proof that the wheel was not scratched before you dropped off your bike.
No scratches on these carbon beauties!3 If your rims have been scratched.
Don’t wait until you get home to find the scratches or dents.
Give the rims a close inspection before you leave the shop.
If they are damaged, you should insist on either a new wheel or a proper repair, not just a touch-up job.