Just got myself a 2012 Vantage S yesterday. The car was on aftermarket wheels that kill the look of the vantage for me so I will be swapping them out for the OEM ones the seller gave me. They need new tires + balancing and alignment.

The car is also on aftermarket shocks which I don’t mind but it’s been lowered and makes the ride too stiff so I’d like to lift it back up to original spec.

Here’s my question: for work like this would you ever go to a regular tire shop with good reviews or does it NEED to be a performance shop/dealer?

I’ve spent quite a bit on the car so trying to be a bit frugal (but not cheap) here and avoid paying exorbitant amounts at the AM dealer or another shop that’s used to charging supercar owners who don’t mind the expense.

The other issue is that these performance shops are about an hour drive or more from me (I live downtown for those who know toronto, all of them are in Vaughan, Markham or farther), only the dealer is closeby. There are many regular tire shops around though.

 

All up the individuals at the place, I have had my resto mod Bel Air, Viper, and other high dollar cars done at my local discount tires. Just talk to them prior and have them look at the condition for the wheels and car prior to the work, that way they know you expect it to leave the same way. What wheels/tires did you take off?

 

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...firestone.html (tldr: a member's Vantage was totalled by being lifted incorrectly)

No matter where you take it, make sure they lift using the jacking points. And make sure they use pads or blocks at the jack points to avoid crushing your sills.

 

Call your local tire chains and speak to the manager. Let them decide. I'll use the tire chains without hesitation if they're up to it. Never had an issue. One thing I would mention when you are there is to have them remove the tire weigh adhesive residue.

My local dealer used to, and I assume still do sell tires at TireRack prices. They'll charge more to mount the tires than the chains do.

Which tech do you think mounts more tires in a month? Dealership or tire chain?

 

BBS 20” with yokohama tires. Putting on the OEM 19s with Michelin Pilot sport all season 4

 

Definitely a chain, but if you ask which tech mounts more tires on Astons in a month it would probably be the dealership. Just afraid of having someone used to hondas and toyotas wreck my sills, even moreso now that I read the thread YVR posted above. Probably a good idea to call up ahead and ask if they have experience with these cars.

 

If you take it somewhere make sure to give them the jacking plugs, then you will know that it is being lifted correctly.

 

I don't use the dealer for tires. My tire guy runs a humble shop but he's an enthusiast that appreciates nice cars. I take the time to explain the jacking points and I provide jack pads whenever I bring the car in (these ones, others use hockey pucks). Shouldn't be a problem as long as you're dealing with a shop that gives a damn. Most times I remove the wheels in my garage and take them in using a different car, but that might not an option for you living in downtown Toronto.

Wheels that get scuffed by mounting/dismounting can be refurbished. Bent tubs can't.

 

Depends on wheel/tire size for me, I find that the chains are not good at mounting 20" and larger diameter tires. My cars with those sizes get tire changed at the dealerships exclusively.

 

The only concern on the Aston is the jacking points. 20" wheel from an Aston is no different than any other 20". For you have to call ahead. They are unlikely to have the tires on site. The tires may have old codes. Make sure they torque the wheels in the right steps. Remove old tire weight adhesive.

I need to replace the rears on summer wheel set this spring. Do I go with the OEM Bridgestone's that have older production codes (rears only) or go with four new production tires of a different brand? Leaning towards Conti's.

 

Take off the existing wheel weights before you take it to the tire shop. If not they will gouge the rims while removing them and leave the adhesive backing.

 

Its all about the machine they have. Even the same chain can have different machines location to location (as is the case by me). If they have a good machine and you remind them about the proper jacking point and know the torque setting for the wheel nuts, you should be good.

 

Absolutely bring your own jacking pads and beware of swollen nuts... I try not to use my impact driver for loosening or final tightening of the nuts as they are prone to separation. I have no issues having the tire guys mount the tires on the rims. I have severe anxiety about them correctly lifting the car and removing/remounting the rims on the car. But that anxiety goes for all my vehicles so I usually just bring them tires & rims and take care of the mounting myself.

 

I never take a nice car to the local shop (unless you're taking it to one of the super high end shops that supercars go to); I always take the wheels off at home and drive them to the shop in a different car/truck. I then have a good discussion with the salesperson at the tire shop to get a read on them; most of the time they pick up on the seriousness of my requests and normally do a good, careful job of mounting the new tires.

But never the car, regardless of the annoyance of having to mess with the lift/jack/stands.

 

ZERO chance I'd take an Aston to a "regular" tire shop unless I already knew them extremely well and was 100% confident that they specifically know Astons -- including the jacking points. I get the desire to not spend extra money after having spent a bunch, but is saving a little on this worth putting that expensive car at risk? All you need is one thing to go wrong...