ct2012

Sorry in advance for the rant, but it was cathartic to write this down, and I wanted it to be heard by people who actually understand what I'm going through.

At the beginning of April, I put my summer tires back on and decided to install Z1 15mm and 20mm spacers at the same time, front and back. For more peace of mind, I pulled all the wheel studs and replaced them with extended studs as well. Those of you who have been through the install process know that it's not too difficult, but did take up the majority of my weekend. Immediately loved the difference they made, both visually and with the overall handling, and I've had them on since then with no problems whatsoever.

On Tuesday, I took the Z in for the annual PA-required inspection. I decided to use a dealership that's right next to my office simply for convenience. About an hour after I dropped it off, I got a call from the tech, letting me know that the spacers had to come off in order to pass inspection... apparently the PA limit is 1/4 inch/6.35mm (even the tech told me that it was a weird/stupid requirement, but the law is the law). I had no idea and told them that was fine, but due to the extended studs, they might have issues putting the wheels back on without the spacers installed. He told me it shouldn't be a problem. Got another call about 20 minutes later, asking if I had any other sets of lugs they could use to reinstall the wheels. I didn't, so I told them to just fail me for the inspection and I'd take care of it on my own. He also let me know that my OEM Bridgestones were toast after 12k miles and I'd likely need new tires before getting re-inspected.

I didn't feel like going back to the dealership so I called a different shop I've used before, set up another inspection for next Monday, and also had a set of new tires shipped to them to be installed at the same time the inspection was taking place. I also purchased some open ended lugs to use for the inspection to accommodate the extended studs, and then I'd change them out and reinstall the spacers when I got back from it. Wouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Well, quickly discovered that the open ended lugs I ordered will not work with the stock Rays wheels. I then thought about putting my winter tires on for the inspection since the open ended lugs would work with them, but I'm having new tires put on so I need to take my stock wheels. I'm pretty much left with no choice to pass inspection but to take my previously-free weekend and change the studs back out and remove the spacers. I then discovered that the dealership put all the lug nuts back on with an air gun, they are definitely over torqued, and I almost snapped a breaker bar in half trying to remove one of them. So it's sure to be an enjoyable one, probably filled with lots of expletives and empty beer cans.

So yeah, I am a complete moron and should have done my research beforehand and realized:
1. spacers above 6mm aren't permitted in PA
2. nothing besides OEM lug nuts will work with OEM wheels
3. nothing good comes from going to a dealership for anything