DIY Tyre swap???
Author
Discussion

youngsyr

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

216 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
I asked the question in general gassing and received a resounding "pay someone else to do it" response.

Is there anyone in here who swaps their own tyres, and if so, is it viable both on a practical and financial level to do it yourself?

I'll probably be changing tyres a couple of times a year and would do it at home.

Cliffv8

565 posts

229 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
I could if I had the proper gear, but its not cheap so I don't

gixermark

750 posts

211 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
couple of times a year - can;t see it worth while in terms of cost or hassle ?

couple of times a week might be different....

Munter

31,330 posts

265 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
There is someone on PH who does their own tyres. Cant remember the name sorry. But the only reason they do it is because they have fancy large rims and don't want a tyre place marking them on the machine.

ChrisKKKTurbo

43 posts

249 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
When i was a lot younger i built my own tyre changing kit which was basically a stand, breaker bar and tyre changing bar. Lots of huffing and puffing but changed loads of tyres, road tyres are a doddle much easier than rally tyres that are made of rock hard solid rubber just about.

Nowadays i take it to a mates garage and i change them myself on a electro-pneumatic machine which is a piece of piss compared.

I change about 60 tyres a year, many tyre companies get upset when you approach them with 6 tyres to change on a saturday, thats why i dont use them anymore

Mr.Jimbo

2,084 posts

207 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
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I absolutely HATE inflating tyres after changing them... boxedin I'd imagine for road tyres changing them yourself wouldn't pose any major threat, as said earlier, Rally and circuit rubber my prove more tricky.

OnlyMX5ives

1,142 posts

216 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Find the nearest Kwik fit type place that doesn't have a manager / secretary.

Go in scruffy...

£20 to change and balance 4 tyres is the going rate around here (solihull) compared to an advertised rate of £14 ea (£56)

It simply isn't worth the hassle to save £20 and you can't DIY balance them.

Edited by OnlyMX5ives on Tuesday 20th January 15:03

dxb335d

2,905 posts

219 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Hi there, i have quite a bit of negative camber.

My inside rear edges wear much quicker than the outside. Is it viable to swap them round on the rims to pro-long life?

Ferb

3,112 posts

234 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
dxb335d said:
Hi there, i have quite a bit of negative camber.

My inside rear edges wear much quicker than the outside. Is it viable to swap them round on the rims to pro-long life?
To right it is

dxb335d

2,905 posts

219 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Ferb said:
dxb335d said:
Hi there, i have quite a bit of negative camber.

My inside rear edges wear much quicker than the outside. Is it viable to swap them round on the rims to pro-long life?
To right it is
I will be doing this torrow then. Thanks.

larrylamb11

676 posts

275 months

Thursday 22nd January 2009
quotequote all
In my experience it is only really viable if you have the kit to do it (particularly a bead breaker as they can often be a real bh). If you dont have the right kit, consider it a proper fight of a job where you will likely knick the sealing bead and knacker the tyre anyway, ending up at a tyre place having a new one fitted. I wouldn't do it without a bead breaker and if doing it manually without the right levers and bars and would still only consider tyres fitted at home for 'gash' use... i.e. not high speed. You then need to get them balanced anyway.
As said above, much better to approach a tyre centre when they are quite with your wheels / tyres in the back of your or your mates daily beater and get them to do it... stating early that you intend to pay with cash ;-) As the tyre centre aren't having to 'supply' anything (other than labour/valve/weights) most are amenable to 'discounting' in aid of the staff Christmas fund.

dxb335d

2,905 posts

219 months

Thursday 22nd January 2009
quotequote all
Ferb said:
dxb335d said:
Hi there, i have quite a bit of negative camber.

My inside rear edges wear much quicker than the outside. Is it viable to swap them round on the rims to pro-long life?
To right it is
Didnt work as they are asymetrical or something, have an outside and inside edge..

ave different compounds accross the tyre..... Ah Nutz.

Jon_Bmw

695 posts

226 months

Thursday 22nd January 2009
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4 wheels having tyres removed and 4 new ones put on costs me a crate of £10 beer. All balanced up. I just leave them with a car with all the wheels I want changing in the boot so they don't have to arse around jacking the car up and removing wheel bolts. They can have the car all day as far as I am concerned so no pressure for them to do it. Most are more than happy to oblidge. The funny thing is if you offered a tenner, they probably would say no for 4 tyres but beer goes a long way in the car industry I have found biggrin

stigy

3 posts

207 months

Sunday 25th January 2009
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try ebay matey loads on there buy your own gear then you could make some money at it as well

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/?_nkw=TYRE++MACHINE&a...