Tire repair turns into wheel repair nightmare - I hope not

[1HOT99]

Ya know...it's never easy. I went out today and found one of my Mallet 386 chrome wheels with Gforce 295/35/ZR18 KD's flat with a screw embedded deep in the thread. Well I took it off and had heard that Discount Tire had the right equipment and from talking to a few of my corvette buddies was told that if you asked the Manager to do it that they would do a good job without any damage to the wheels. So I go to the Discount Tire place near my home in Plano, TX. Ask for the manager.... he assures me that he has the top guy who does all his high end wheel mounting without ANY problems. I ask how much it costs to repair a flat and get this...he says FREE. We repair flats FREE. I said even on 18" chrome wheel from a corvette? He said sure. I said OK...but lets both look at the wheel before you start and confirm there are no scratches on the wheel. We do it and only found several tiny scratches but for the most part the wheel was imperfection free. So the guy takes it...gives it to his EXPERT and fixes the flat and also balances the wheel. I get it back and there this big .25" gash right on the face part of the flat chrome spoke part. Not up by the tire but near the center of the wheel on one of the open face chrome spokes. Looks like hell, very deep noticeable gouge!!! Why me? So I get the manager and he says sorry....we'll fix it. He makes some calls around and finds out it will take 4 weeks to fix. I told him my car was on a jack and I can't leave it that way for 4 weeks. He says no problem.... and then gives me a used C4 wheel and tire (all he said he had) to use while they get mine fixed. Says it will take 4 weeks to fix cause they have to repair and re-chrome the entire wheel. Then I find out this guy was not the full time manager and the REAL manager was off today. So I have to go back to talk to the REAL manager tommorrow. Why am I expecting this to be a big hassle when I talk to the REAL manager tommorrow? I hope not. What a drag and a run around. So here are a few of my questions I was hoping someone could answer. 1) Will the C4 wheel and tire size P255/50 R16 he gave me fit on my C5 bolt pattern wise? In comparing the wheel/tire two sizes should I even consider putting this c4 wheel/tire on my C5 for 4 weeks? Would it cause problems with three other sized tires? 2) Do you think a rechromed Mallet wheel will hold up fine if rechromed correctly? I thought about just having them buy a new wheel. But Mallet does not sell the chromed versions any longer. 3) Is there any way to repair a small gouge on a chrome plated wheel opposed to having to rechrome the entire wheel? Thanks for any help or suggestions. 1HOT99 :cry :cry :cry :cry

[VetteNoob]

Here are the tire differences.

295/35/18:
Sidewall: 4.1 in
Radius: 13.1 in
Dia.: 26.1 in
Circumf.: 82.1 in
Revs/min: 772.0

255/50/16:
Sidewall: 5.0 in
Radius: 13.0 in
Dia.: 26.0 in
Circumf.: 81.8 in
Revs/min: 775.0

The speed with the 255/50/16 is .3% too fast. At 60 mph, that tire size would actually be traveling 59.8 mph.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Also, I do not think the later C4s had 16" wheels. I may be wrong, but I think the last of the 16" wheels were on the '88 models. The offset may not be correct.

[SlowJoe]

1) It will fit bolt pattern wise, but is definitely a different offset. I had to use 1" adapters to run y2k wheels on my '85 (they're giving you the stock size I used to have). If it fits without sticking out funny, I would consider it as an emergency spare. You may be ok to go small distances, but I wouldn't run like that at high speed or a long time.

2) If rechromed correctly, it will last as long as the original chrome. What you have to ask yourself though is what are the odds of them paying the money to get it done right.

3) I don't think you can repair a small spot without it being noticible up close.

Good luck.

[1HOT99]

Thanks for your info on the two wheeels. I've decided not to use the C4 wheel/tire and will find another C5 wheel from a friend of mine to hold me over.

Well I just got back from talking with the REAL manager and I'm happy to report that they are going to repair and re-chrome the entire wheel. The manager was knowledgable about the Mallet wheels and I think he is even sending to the place (Triple Plating corp) where Mallet origianlly had the wheels chromed. He said it would go through the 3 step process and be just like new. He said it woiuld cost about $200.

Bad news is it will take a minimum of 3 weeks.

Bottom line... I'm happy that Discount tire is going to stand behind their work.
It's a good place to do business with.

1HOT99