MADSCOTSMAN

Let me start by givng American Mucsle SOME props before moving on with my horror story, they have been pretty helpful and stepped up to the plate in an effort to make things right for me.

I ordered a set of the 18x8 charcoal grey wheels and brought them up to my local Tire Barn to get the stock Pirelli's taken off my stock rims and mounted on them. When the shop went to test fit the rims before removing my tires from the stock rims, they would not fit on my 2013 GT. The inside center holes that go over the axle ends (behind the center caps), were not big enough for the axel ends to fit through so the rims did not sit flush against the hub (they could slide a screwdriver in the gap between the hub and rim . After a call with AM and some conversations with the shop manager, they were sure they could grind down either the rims or the hub's to get them to fit correctly (they had apparently had to do this on a few other mustangs and camaros). On the phone, the guy at AM agreed that should be OK (the hub grinding, not the rims). I was able to get the rims installed, but Tire Barn broke one of the center caps trying to forcefully remove it from the inside (cracked the face of it in half because it was stuck in the rim and would not come out). After the call to and discussion with AM verifying that I had ordered and received the correct rim size for my car, they are now sending me a replacement set of center caps at no charge because of the fittment issues I had, which they really didn't have to do.

After the install was complete and I paid my bill, I went out to the car to leave and the TPMS light was on. The tech had forgotten to change out the valve stems that I paid for, so the car had to go back into the shop again and have all the beads broke on the tires AGAIN, to replace the valve stems. After nearly 4 hours, I was finally on my way home with the new rims (They look friggin awsome by the way).

I was able to get the car washed yesterday (rained the day of install, and all day the next day) and now I find that Tire Barn chipped the rims (very small chips, but they were flawless and new when I brought them in) in several places around the lug holes on 2 of them, as well as a small scratch along the inside of the outside lip of the rim on a third (it's about 1/4" long between the tire and the rim, so there is no way they could say I curbbed it). After a call to Tire Barn yesterday, the store manager agreed to foot the bill for repairing the chips on the rim (sight unseen), but I cannot locate touch up paint to match the wheels anywhere. Apparently these rims are made overseas somewhere and it is difficult for AM to get any type of paint code for them. It seems like alot of people on here have these rims so surely there is a need for touchup paint for these, or perhaps someone else knows of a similar color they have used for there set?? The chips and scratch are very minimal IMO, so I do not want to go through any resolution that would require me to have to get the tires taken off and remounted again (I would have to get them put back on the stock rims then back on a new set of rims again, or taken off and put back on the current rims after a total respray ). The stock tires have already been mounted 3x (1x factory rims, 2x's with my Tire Barn Fiasco), and i'm not sure if there is a limit to the number of times a tire can be stretched on and off of a rim before it causes fitment issues??? Can anyone help with a source/means for getting a color matched can of touch up paint for these. AM has informed me it will be available sometime in the future, but I really need to get the chips/scratches taken care of while TireBarn is willing to pay for it now.

TIA
Bryan

jsimmons

I had wheel horror stories as well. I ordered a set of the gloss black GT500 wheels from AMR, and went to Discount Tire to have them mounted.

One of the wheels had a gigantic chip in the edge (happened during shipping). They didn't notice it until they had mounted the other three wheels. A call to AMR resulted in a new wheel being shipped out. When I got the new wheel, they were putting it on the car and the impact wrench (which I told them NOT to use) slipped off the lug and it gouged the paint. The manager said he'd replace the wheel, but it took two weeks to get it. Overall, it took 45 days from the day I ordered the wheels to the day I got the last one mounted. I'll never go back to Discount Tire.

MADSCOTSMAN

I know any type of chip sucks (especially if you have OCD like I do ), but at least you could probably find a gloss black touch up paint to match. I'm screwed trying to find one that matches the grey, and am positive I would end up going through 3-4 sets of rims before I would get them installed without some DOUCHE screwing them up (Living testament to Murphy's law any time I have anyone other than myself do something on my car).

jsimmons

When I say "chip", I mean a hunk of material that isn't paint. Touch-up paint would not have hidden it.

White5ohh

I agree here. I do everything myself unless its something I can't like mounting tires. But I tell them I inspected them and I Stan by them when the mount them. I've done this 3 times and only once have I needed a new rim. Before I did this it was almost every time.

mikeyt03

I had touch up paint color matched to my charcoal tsw rims. I had to use it once, and I can't even remember where the scratch is now because it was a perfect match. Take it to a rim expert, and let them fix it and then charge the shop. That's what I would do. I'm sure they could fix it in a couple hours.

conv_stang

I agree with mikeyt, make them pay for a true wheel shop to repair them.

AMWill

First, off I'm really sorry about this whole situation. I completely agree it's probably very frustrating! Not to mention I would love to help you out with touch-up paint, but we unfortunately don't have access to it at the moment.

Your best bet is to take the wheels to a professional paint/auto shop and have them match it. They should be able to get it spot on pretty easily, plus I would have the tire shop pay for the work.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do!

Shane

mikeyt03

Not to mention, they will probably give you some touch up paint from the color match if you ask for it.

Getportfolio

I held my breath when theychanged my chrome Saleen wheels. I did the same thing with my Bullitts. Of course they managed to chip the diamond cut lips on those as well as the Saleen wheels.

It's nerve racking going into those places. I thought it was just me! I feel better now. I still cringe at the thought.

AMWill

Also a good point! This is by far the safest way to go for you situation, IMO. I wish you the best of luck and let me know if there's anything else help with!

Shane

Naeem5oh

i felt the same way when i got my gloss black AMRs and hearing discount tire horror stories, i never take my car there anymore.

MADSCOTSMAN

Just wanted to provide an update as many others seem to have these rims. I found a Dupli-color touch-up paint at my local Advanced Auto, that matched my wheels perfectly. Oddly enough after scouring through a wall of touch up paints and bringing every greyish one out to the parking lot to do a side-by-side comparison, the color that matched my wheels ended up being a GM paint color called "Storm Gray Metallic". The code for this is "NG GM 522". I decided to go this route becaus eof the concerns I outlined in my original post, and I didn't want to have to leave my car at tire barn (bunch of younger kids working there, that I don't trust as I heard them revving up my car when then initially pulled it out) for 3-4 days while they dismounted my tires for the fourth time, and sent them out to get repainted (not to mention having to figreu out getting back to work for my wife and myself during that time). Hopefully this information will be beneficial to others with the same rims, I know I always like to have touch up paint for all paint on my cars.

RobDis

I have these same rims and I curbed one. I used Duplicolor graphite grey wheel paint to cover mine up. The color isn't exact but its very very close. I shot a small spray on a piece of cardboard and then used a fine tip paint brush. So far its held up very nicely and you really have to go look for it to see it.

RobDis

Didn't see this post. Glad you found some paint to use!