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[dcstep]

I finally put my dry weather wheel/tire package back on the car after a long winter that lasted well into the spring. I was having a Dinan spring set installed, so I just took my dry tires/wheels in their bags to the dealer and had the tech install them

I was shocked the next day to see the damage shown in the attached picture. There was no mounting/dismounting of the tire, simply putting taking the winter tires/wheels off and putting the summers on. When I got the car back was the first time I'd noticed the damage. When I put the winters on in January, I did it myself and didn't notice damage when I put them in the bags, but I didn't really inspect them closely.

I've never curbed the car that I know of and no one else has driven the car unless I was in it, so I'm at a loss as to what caused this. The tech at the dealer says he noticed it and should have written it on his work order but forgot to.

I looks like a strong, sharp tool gouged the tire and hit the rim relatively hard. I'm not losing air, but it looks like it came close to ruining the tire. Has anyone seen damage like this?

[lucid]

Sorry man. Looks you it might have caught a curb slightly and pinched the tire.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by lucid

Sorry man. Looks you it might have caught a curb slightly and pinched the tire.

Well, maybe.

It's not a traditional curb rash. It looks more like a sharp corner of a curb, or a damaged curb with sharp edges. You'd think that I would have heard it or felt it, but... If I did it, it must have been when parking and caught it slightly and then pulled up before the wheel rotated.

Dave

[RandyB]

Looks like it was done by a tool (with a tool) accidentally.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by RandyB

Looks like it was done by a tool (with a tool) accidentally.

My exact thoughts.

Unfortunately, I'm not absolutely positive that it was undamaged when it went to the dealer, since the wheels sat in bags for months and I didn't closely inspect them for damage. I really like my tech there and don't think it was him, but some other guys do screw with the car while it's there doing the easy jobs, like changing wheels. I was out of town, so they had my car for a week. Oh well...

Dave

[lucid]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Well, maybe.

It's not a traditional curb rash. It looks more like a sharp corner of a curb, or a damaged curb with sharp edges. You'd think that I would have heard it or felt it, but... If I did it, it must have been when parking and caught it slightly and then pulled up before the wheel rotated.

Dave

I had curb rash very much like this one (granite curbs around here are not all that evenly surfaced). Yes, I caught it very slightly and corrected before rotating the wheel more. It might be damaged with a tool, but I really don't think you can tell for sure one way or another.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

There's only one solution: replace with a new set of aftermarket wheels....

Yeah, but I like those forged 19s so much for the street.

I've got a set of stock 18s for the snows and AX tires and I'm thinking of getting a set of 18" track/AX wheels (10") because I think 18" with a low profile tire will give me the best gearing for AX. Another set of glam wheels for the street and I'll be overrun with wheels and tires. Any 18s I buy will be based on weight and dimensions, rather than appearance.

Dave