Tire Issue: Should I be concerned?

[pinktimbs]

I took my car to Pep Boys and had 4 new tires put on, stock size 205-55-16.

By the time they finished, it was 8:00 and dark out, so I drove home and didn't think anything more of it.

This morning, I got to work and happened to walk by and glance at my tires. The rear passenger's side tire looks a little funny. It appears as if the tire rubber doesn't quite match up to the edge of the rim. I took a picture of it with my cam phone to examine later at my desk. When I stuck my finger out to just touch the place where the tire and the rim don't appear to have sealed, I got some goo on my finger.

I am so car illiterate it's not even funny, so I don't know whether to assume it's worth driving there this afternoon and having the mechanic look it over or just giving it a couple more days and seeing if it goes away. (That seems rather stupid considering they are tires, but hey, I also don't know if I'm making a big deal out of nothing.)

Any thoughts?

Here's the picture:

(And please excuse the messy stock rims. I was waiting to get the new tires on to do a thorough cleaning to get rid of the yuckiness.)

[FineExampl]

Looks like a bent rim to me.

[pinktimbs]

I'm going to examine it closer when I leave here for the day.

I don't remember the rim being bent, but with my luck, it wouldn't surprise me.

Thanks, though!

[STDave]

I looks to me like the bead didn't seat in the rim correctly. I can't believe they didn't notice it while balancing it for you. Take it back and have them correct this issue.
David

[wawalker]

I agree with STDave. It looks as if your bead didn't fully seat AND don't stick your finger in there! It could just pop over at any time. They need to air up the tire to the max pressure until it seats, then set the correct pressure and have them recheck the balance--it will probably be OK, but I'd ask for it done anyway.

[GatorBeetle]

Take the car back CAREFULLY!! No flying around corners especially!!! Take it slow and easy! That was a sloppy job of mounting a tire!!

[pinktimbs]

Hi everyone!

Well, leaving work, I had 2 of my co-workers give me their opinion. One was like, "Eh, I don't think it'll hurt anything." The other one said, "Hell no. Have them fix it."

Driving home, I stopped by Pep Boys and when I got out and went to look at the tire before going inside, well, here's the best way I can describe it:

The writing on the blackwall - instead of being in a circular pattern around the rim - in the one place pictured above, the writing had begun to get sucked into the rim, so it was warped and crazy looking, like something inside the tire was stretching it inward.

I went in and very nicely asked them to come take a look at it. They did so and were all a little panicked. The guy who drove my car out last night was there and he kept glancing over at me like he was afraid I was going to hit him with my purse or something. I smiled.

About 15 minutes later, they put a new tire on it and after apologizing profusely, had made sure that everything was okay with my other tires.

I drove it home with no problems.. and a smoother ride. Gee, I wonder why.

(And I have to say, they were mighty quick this time. Last night, I waited for 3 hours while they did my tires.)

I wish I had taken a picture of the tire when I got there. It was crazy and distorted, but I was so shocked that I didn't think of it.

Thanks, you guys, for all of your feedback and input. I appreciate it so much! This board is a blessing.

[Maggadog]

Just so you know, the goo on the tire is used to help seal the tire to the rim.

[pinktimbs]

Originally Posted by Maggadog

Just so you know, the goo on the tire is used to help seal the tire to the rim.

Thanks! I thought so, but I wasn't positive.. and I'm always a little apprehensive to assume something and make myself look dumb.

[SilverSportNOLA]

Originally Posted by Maggadog

Just so you know, the goo on the tire is used to help seal the tire to the rim.

Wrong .... it is used to help the tire slide into where it is supposed to seat ... it is a lubricant ... usually just soapy water.

[hako]

My tyre place use a goo which is a lubricant and sealant - it comes in a 4 litre tin. They wipe heaps around the bead before mounting the tyre and if it leaks they dismount and add more. I asked them why they didn't use soapy water and they said that soapy water can accellerate rusting inside the rim causing rim failure plus the goo filled any rough spots in the rim.

[Lnzbug]

WOW! I'm so glad you got it fixed before it caused you to crash! You should play the lottery or something cause it sure was your lucky day

[GatorBeetle]

Originally Posted by Maggadog

Just so you know, the goo on the tire is used to help seal the tire to the rim.

Exactly. I have never seen a tire place not use it, and if they get the tire on, and there is a small edge leak, they will put on more. I am sure it fills both purposes, lubricant AND sealer.

I have had to clean the stuff off a wheel before (never going back to that store) it is much more than soapy water.

[bigsexyTDI]

Wow this is wild.

I am absolutely amazed that they would have put that on the car. How exactly do you miss something like that?

Anyway, to all who are interested in knowing... If your tire shop of choice uses some kind of "goo" I personally would avoid that shop forevermore like the plague.

The simple fact is that like NOLA stated, a lubricant ONLY should be used to help the bead seat to the rim...nothing more. The fact that Rob has NEVER seen a shop NOT use it makes me glad I don't have to have tire work done in Jacksonville, FL! LOL

[GatorBeetle]

Having just completed a little bit of research on the subject, typical Tire Mounting Lube is nothing like Soap and water (which is what I used in college for bicycle tires.) I always assummed the stuff being used was a sealant as well as a lube...BSTDI is right, though, it is typically simply a lube, just more grease-like.

I stand corrected, and am happy to learn something new!!

[SilverSportNOLA]

It just helps the bead slide over to the seat position ... I know I have seen shops use a soapy mixture also ... maybe not so watery ... that is what they use for finding nail holes.

I have seen shops do worse than that .... lets see my 80 Stang with TRX wheels. Dude liked my car ... guess not that much after thinking about it, but He changed the right front tire for me and lowered the car ... said "Okay Sir ... ready to go" I had to ask him if the 4 lug bolts should be put on .... Sorry Sir. Car kept pulling on the way home to the left. Checked pressure ... he left 90PSI in the tire, that had a 60 or so PSI max.

[GatorBeetle]

Reminds me of the story Ron White tells about the time he took his van to Sears..."this is all this guy does, put the lug nuts on the car...he went to school to put the lug nuts on the car...and he left the lug nuts off my van..." Good story...

[bub]

The tire shop was probably grateful that you didn't get in a crash and sue them resulting from this.

Shameful quality control.

Send a letter to Pepboys with your pic and get yourself a refund.