Only one set of wheels, want to powder coat them, where do you leave your car?

[csaudis4]

Hello fellas,

I got a seemingly simple problem without a good solution:

As many new owners, I only have one set of wheels for S4. However, I now need to take them off for powder coating. So my car will be taking off her shoes for couple of days and have to live on four jack stands or something else.

I have other cars that i can drive so I don't have to drive my S4 during powder coating days. But I will have to leave my car somewhere right after taking off the wheels :( This has become a headache. Firstly, I don't have equipment to unmount the tire from the wheels. So I'll have to go to a tire shop. I guess firestone or some local tire shops won't be happy to store my car in their shop for days after they unmount my tires. How am I gonna be able to move my car back home and store it for couple of days? Secondly, if I successfuly solve the first problem, is it safe to just put the car on four jack stands for couple of days? Will strong wind bring it down...?

As of now, the only way I figured is to maybe buy four real cheap wheels/tires and put on my car during the powder coating, but I have no idea if this is a safe move and where I can get such cheap wheels and tires for use during only several days. Is there a place that I can rent a set of wheels and tires for temporary use?

P.S. if I could get four spare tires I'd be really happy

Any wise man can figure this out?


EDIT: during the re-reading of my post, I thought maybe I can take off the wheels at home, take them to a tire shop, and have them unmount my tires, and then bring only wheels to the powder coater's. This way the car will have to be on jack stands for days, is this what you guys will want to do?

[NWS4Guy]

Any wise man can figure this out?


EDIT: during the re-reading of my post, I thought maybe I can take off the wheels at home, take them to a tire shop, and have them unmount my tires, and then bring only wheels to the powder coater's. This way the car will have to be on jack stands for days, is this what you guys will want to do?

I would do it that way in your position. I have a garage to put mine in, so I would get the jack stands and leave it on them in the garage safely away from anyone who might try something stupid.

[Deep Sea S4]

I would check with a local audi dealer and or a good wheel and tire shop around you, they are bound to have an extra set of rubber on some wheels that could be bolted onto your car and let it sit for a few days.

The rubber doesnt have to be right size or profile etc.... just the bolt pattern and then you can slap anything on there, park it outside with the spare ones on and you're done

Job done

[rktskicar]

Hello fellas,

I got a seemingly simple problem without a good solution:

As many new owners, I only have one set of wheels for S4. However, I now need to take them off for powder coating. So my car will be taking off her shoes for couple of days and have to live on four jack stands or something else.

I have other cars that i can drive so I don't have to drive my S4 during powder coating days. But I will have to leave my car somewhere right after taking off the wheels :( This has become a headache. Firstly, I don't have equipment to unmount the tire from the wheels. So I'll have to go to a tire shop. I guess firestone or some local tire shops won't be happy to store my car in their shop for days after they unmount my tires. How am I gonna be able to move my car back home and store it for couple of days? Secondly, if I successfuly solve the first problem, is it safe to just put the car on four jack stands for couple of days? Will strong wind bring it down...?

As of now, the only way I figured is to maybe buy four real cheap wheels/tires and put on my car during the powder coating, but I have no idea if this is a safe move and where I can get such cheap wheels and tires for use during only several days. Is there a place that I can rent a set of wheels and tires for temporary use?

P.S. if I could get four spare tires I'd be really happy

Any wise man can figure this out?


EDIT: during the re-reading of my post, I thought maybe I can take off the wheels at home, take them to a tire shop, and have them unmount my tires, and then bring only wheels to the powder coater's. This way the car will have to be on jack stands for days, is this what you guys will want to do?

Here is a pretty simple solution, will likely cost you ~$60 for two days. I had lots of work done on my previous S4 and what I would do is arrange for a rental car (Enterprise). They will come and pick you up if you need it.

Bruce

[JimmyBones]

I would do it that way in your position. I have a garage to put mine in, so I would get the jack stands and leave it on them in the garage safely away from anyone who might try something stupid.

That is what I would do but make sure that the garage has a good concrete base because the car on jack stands will sink into asphalt over time, which is not good.

I would check with a local audi dealer and or a good wheel and tire shop around you, they are bound to have an extra set of rubber on some wheels that could be bolted onto your car and let it sit for a few days.

The rubber doesnt have to be right size or profile etc.... just the bolt pattern and then you can slap anything on there, park it outside with the spare ones on and you're done

Job done

That comment makes me laugh. The dealership is in the business of making money and they would want labor time to remove+reinstall the wheels along with money for the rented space. You may not like it but they have to make money to eat too.

[csaudis4]

Much thanks to quick replies guys.

I don't have a garage tho, this has become the biggest obstacle. I felt risky leaving the car on jack stands in the parking lot of my apartment neighborhood :( I don't know whether my dealer would rent me some spares either. That be an ideal way for me I guess, with spare on them I can even drive my car away from dealership. I just need to find a real good excuse, cuz i don't think they'd be very happy to know that I was going to powder coat their OEM wheel lol, especially after I leased the vehicle from them. But no worry, I've confirmed with sales manager that I can return the car with aftermarket wheel, and I can change whatever wheels I want. I just don't feel like he will be happy to know that I'm powder coating his wheel XD

[notjoefromnh]

Sounds like more trouble than its worth. Just say'n

[JetBlue]

One of my local tire shops has a deal worked out with the powder coating company. They hold the car in the bay and the PC guys do a 24 HR turnaround. My buddy just did this with his 911. Maybe check around and see if you can set something up like this.

[csaudis4]

Sounds like more trouble than its worth. Just say'n

Yeah, I once have been feeling this way, too, but not anymore after I saw many pictures of a white S4 on gunmetal OEM 5-spoke :D Besides, making the wheel dark color may well save me some time cleaning brake dust...

One of my local tire shops has a deal worked out with the powder coating company. They hold the car in the bay and the PC guys do a 24 HR turnaround. My buddy just did this with his 911. Maybe check around and see if you can set something up like this.

Sigh... Everything is possible there in Cali, but not in Kansas, when it comes to modding cars. What is that shop called anyway? Is it local only or is it like a chain store and all over the country?

[JetBlue]

Just a local shop

[csaudis4]

Sounds like more trouble than its worth. Just say'n

^^^ I feel it now...

Called Audi, they said they don't have tires unless I buy from them, screw them.

Called firestone, they said it's $88 an hour to leave the car on their lift, screw them.

So sad that I'm too young to have my own garage. I don't have any place to store the car safely! My G/F got an B8 A4, I could borrow those wheels from her car if we could find a place to store her car. Damit, this problem can never be solved...

[wwhan]

If you put on the one wheel you buy and use the spare on the other wheel, you can have two wheels
powder coated at a time. I would dismount the tires before taking them to the powder coat shop

[csaudis4]

If you put on the one wheel you buy and use the spare on the other wheel, you can have two wheels
powder coated at a time. I would dismount the tires before taking them to the powder coat shop

Your reply has been really helpful and gave me good faith into doing it. However, I just saw your title, that's even brighter :)

[csaudis4]

As wwhan suggested, I did front wheels at first and mounted tires onto them just now. Now my car has black shoes in the front and silver shoes in the back. Looks soooo silly lolll

Gotta expediate the powder coating on the rear wheels ;)

[EssPhore]

[QUOTE=csaudis4;5454794]As wwhan suggested, I did front wheels at first and mounted tires onto them just now. Now my car has black shoes in the front and silver shoes in the back. Looks soooo silly lolll



You could always put PC'd wheels on one side (driver or passenger), and factory finished wheels on the other side.