Had tires replaced, now there is damage to my wheels

Hi all, The other day I was driving to work when I noticed my car making a slamming noise from the rear. I pulled into a shopping center parking lot and noticed that my rear left wheel had a huge bolt sticking out of it. Conveniently, the shopping center had a Pep Boys in it and a tire center. I normally wouldn't take my car to a Pep Boys, but I really had no choice as I was somewaht stranded. Anyways, turns out that the bolt had damaged my sidewalls, so I would need to replace the tire and not just do a simple patch job (which is not recommended on Z-rated tires anyways). Foolishly, when the job was done, I didn't insepct the car and drove it home and garaged it for a few days. This morning when I was about to get in my car, I noticed on the rear left wheel a gash. The paint was chipped off, however, there was tire lube grease all over it. This gash was not there before. I take it back to Pep Boys, where they (not surpisingly) plead ignorance saying that their tire machine uses rubber and plastic parts and could not have caused the damage. My position was that it could have been damaged when they placed the wheel down on the floor or whatever. They tell me that since I drove on the wheel with a bolt on it for a few miles, that the damage may have come from that. I ask you, Rennlisters, for your advice. Could the damage have come from the bolt and by me driving on it? Or could Pep Boys been negligent here? If so, do I have any cause for action?

You could keep in as an ongoing thorn in your side and litigate or simply shrug if off as another of life's many lessons and just get it fixed and move on with enjoying your life.

Yeah, true. I know it can be fixed by one of those mobile paint guys. It's the principle though. I did purchase the tires on my credit card, I am thinking that I might dispute it through them. It is really suspicious if you ask me.

Uploading a pic of it. Notice that the lube marks match up with the tire.

If you would have seen it when you picked up your car you would have a strong case. Now you don't , it's minor , have it repaired and forget it. It's no big deal and if you block your CC payment you better have some kind of proof. They delivered a tire so should be paid.

I've always just pointed to the tire tech doing the job the wheel and any damages it has prior to the job. Any additions and we all know who did it...

Crying over spilled milk...it looks very minor, perhaps it's a good lesson in checking things out carefully before and after having anyone work on anything you own. Otherwise it happens more often than not on most anything you trust to someone else. Unfortunately I had to learn this years ago. Fix it and move on.

Dispute the charge. It worked for me on my Audi TT. Some goof ball damaged my wheel by taking the center car off with a screwdriver. I feel your pain, man was I PISSED!

should be easily repaired for about $70-100. get it done if it bothers you. it's definitely from tire install, not from flat tire or else the gash would be on the lip instead. unless the old tire was nearly flat, i doubt a bolt on the sidewall will damage the rim. get an estimate on the repair and tell them to refund the difference. if not, dispute the charge through credit card if it irks you.

That's exactly what I thought when it happened to me at Discount tire. I had them install my rear tires which I bought online, and found out days later that there were 2 small dents/scrapes (worse than yours) right on the edge of the rim. It definitely is from the machine removing the tires from the wheel, they must have missed and slipped and scraped the wheel Well, I had no proof, I was furious..but life goes on.

This all boils down to an element of proof. You gave up the proof when you drove off from their business without checking out your wheels. You have to realize that as much as there are establishments that mess up our cars....there are also folks out there who will take advantage of a businessman and try to get something for nothing. A lot of these tire establishments have good managers who really try to do the right thing...and they have a whole drawer full of horror stories of folks who have come in and made all sorts of frivilous claims. Sometimes just in the interest of PR, the higher end dealerships may just opt to eat it. I think that sometimes we have a tendency to look only at one side of the issues....but back to the core issue...once you leave the establishment without inspecting your car and making your case on the spot, you lost your case. There's too strong of an argument that the damage could have occurred after it left the establishment...and I don't think that any litigating judge would hold them accountable after the fact. Have the wheel buffed out and refinished like I just did when I didnt check my Fuch wheel after I had the flat fixed.

I agree with Chuck. It's why I always do a walk-around of my car any time it's out of my possession. And that's before I deliver and after I receive the car. It's as much for the shop/parking garage/service center's benefit as mine. Also, I almost never use anyone other than an authorized dealer OR an good Porsche indy to change tires. Had my wheels scratched on my old Boxster S and while I was compensated, it was just a hassle that I didn't need. I feel your pain about having needed the tire change, but hey, that's what our spares are for.... I'd recommend fixing and polishing the wheel; it'll be cheap and easy. Thereafter, consider it a lesson learned on the highway of life. And you got away alright, it could have been a lot worse. Cheers.

Agree fix it and treat it as a lesson learned.

Dispute it. That's why you use a credit card. If you know for sure they did it- I mean for sure, then do it. It will serve to identify a problem they have and save the next guy who is concerned about his car and quality service. You were understandably distracted and assumed they would do the quality job. If I was the owner there or the tech I would bring the customer in to show they prior damage of that degree before working on the wheel. Call them on it or they will do it again.