Chevrolet Embarrassingly Can’t Change Tires On The C8 Corvette Z06

[Trigganometry]

The original carbon wheels that came with the Z06 began to crack in the center in November last year, and after a lengthy process of getting replacement wheels sent out to him, he found that no Chevrolet dealership would fit the required tires to the car.
Chevrolet Stumped Even Ferrari Supercar Specialist
Despite multiple attempts, however, not even licensed Ferrari mechanics were able to fit the tires. The Ferrari Mechanics tried multiple techniques, including a Cheetah tire bead seating tool, ratchet straps, and using multiple bars among others. However, no matter what they tried, they couldn’t safely fit the tires.

Chevrolet Embarrassingly Can’t Change Tires On The C8 Corvette Z06

Sponsored

 

[Frenchy]

sounds like GM needs to buy the car back if you ask me

 

[D Fresh]

@Discount Tire would've got 'em on.

 

[9zero1790]

??so gm is not only a govt spook corp. but is really pushing the planned obsolescence thing again. after 30 miles the wheels wear out and are not safe. new wheels are made and sold but no one can put a tire on them correctly... so i guess one just buys another new disposable corvette. (must be goodyear tires).

 

[airline tech]

Back in the day, when I had hard to bead tires.

These were options for those sporty tires, which at the time I was working in automotive they were not common, and very expensive.

Helpful Options to get the job done.

1. Lube (soap) solution is needed.

2. Apply Grease to the bead, light coat.

3. 2 or 3 Techs, pulling up on tire, when you hit the bead blast of air (foot control), its kind of hard to explain, how to position the tire, but get the tire positioned like you are trying to spin it on the rim with one side raised and the other side lowered.
You are attempting to get as much of the bead wedged against the rim as possible for the air blast to push the bead against the rim. (Both sides of it)

4. Ratchet straps do not work on low profile tires with a stiff sidewall, they will work for large truck tires though.

and the unsafe version, which was a last resort.

With the rim securely mounted to the (Rim-Clamp) Tire changer machine.
Spray some Starting Fluid into the valve stem (with core removed), get a brave technician to strike a lighter near the valve stem.
You will hear a load pop, the sound of the tire beading quickly.

The trick is to determine how much Starting Fluid to spray into the Valve Stem, as the Tire and Rim Assembly has been known to come off the machine, hit the ceiling, take out a row of shop lights.
Drop back down and hit the Tire Machine, bounce off of that and hit the tech in the face, breaking out his teeth and breaking his jaw.
Happened down the road at another shop, thus we were instructed not to perform that procedure anymore once word got to management, this was a common practice.

Is it safe (NO), but does it get the job done (YES)
Would I still do that procedure today? most likely (NO)

 

[Langwilliams]

I've seen a few reports of C8's falling off lifts while in for service. Guess that rear engine is tricky to balance on a 2 post lift.

Sponsored