Mounting tires and different mounting equipment
 

Recently ordered some tires from tire rack to install on my new RPF1s.

Shipped them to Tire Rack's leading authorized installer in my area. When they saw my wheels, they balked, and told me that they could mount them but could almost guarantee they would scratch up the wheels. Said they don't really do a lot of "custom" wheels and that anyone who does do it runs the risk of scratching up the wheels. They said the only way to not scratch the wheels is to use a touchless mounting system, and that it is typically $100/tire. Lol.

Needless to say i left with my tires unmounted.

I've been running aftermarket wheels for 10+ years and never encountered this... most I've ever paid is $30/ wheel. Never had any damage to my wheels. Is this common? Maybe they are using an ancient tire mounting machine... but aluminum alloys are pretty damn common these days... seems any machine that scratches up the wheel (new or used) should be unsuitable for a good shop.

Wondering how Tire Rack has these guys as an authorized installer....

Report that shop to the Tire Rack!

You dodged a bullet. At least they admitted their incompetence and didn't just scratch them and deny/act dumb like most places would do if they damage them.
I had a shop install tint on my week old car almost 20 years ago. Next day I find a round burn hole in the back of the cloth seat the exact same size as the heat gun tip would be.
They denied it and being a dumb 20 year old, I let them walk away with not doing anything. el-guapin nailed it, let Tirerack know they need to delete them off the list.

Good call, they're not worth the risk. Finding a good tire place is so hard when you have wheels you care about. Try and find a tire place where most employees are enthusiasts, they will take the time and care to mount your tires right, even without a touchless machine. My local discount tire'semployee parking lot is always filled with interesting cars with nice wheels, that's a good sign.

As long as the face of the wheel does not stick out from the rim, then most normal mounting systems will work and they can mount them with minimum scuffing/rubbing if they do it right.

Sometimes a smaller shop will take more time and care than the big tire places.

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