DIY Tyre Removal?

[Silver Smudger]

Is it possible to safely remove a car tyre from its wheel at home, without using special tools and without damaging wheel or tyre? I want to refurb some tatty alloys myself and it would be easier if they did not have tyres mounted - I will get a proper tyre fitter to re-mount and balance them
Thanks in advance for any advice

[deltashad]

I did the playing card method to respray my alloys.
Deflate the tyre, stick playing cards all the way around then spray the wheels, it worked ok and the little amount of paint which goes onto the tyres is easily removed with a scouring pad.

[morgrp]

Personally, with the time you'll spend and the cost of material namely paint - it's much easier to get them refurbed by a professional

[s p a c e m a n]

Car tyres are too tight to remove without decent tools, you'll need a bead breaker and some long tyre irons at the least. For a one off you would be better off giving someone a drink to remove and refit or mask the tyres up well and clean up after.

[Fartgalen]

I refurbed a set of wheels with the tyres on. Just carfeully masked off all the way around.
Turned out quite nice.

[J4CKO]

Fartgalen said:

I refurbed a set of wheels with the tyres on. Just carfeully masked off all the way around.
Turned out quite nice.

Yep, all in the preparation, no reason to get paint on the tyres, I find using meths to wip the tyres allows masking tape to stick, dont forget to mask the valve.

[N Dentressangle]

If you don't want to mask tyres before painting the wheels:

- prep your wheel all ready for paint

- pour a little neat washing up liquid into a cup

- using a paintbrush, brush a coat of w/u liquid all round the tyre as the wheel is lying flat on the floor

- spray your wheel. Get as much on the tyre as you like.

- wait for the paint to dry. Use a hose to remove the paint film and w/u liquid from your tyre.

Used this method many times in my youth for cheap n cheerful wheel refurb jobs.

[Evoluzione]

You won't get a car tyre off at home without damaging the rim.

I'd just let someone else do it properly (the whole job), but back in the day when I could be arsed bodging it myself I painted washing-up liquid on the tyre. After spraying it just washed off with the hosepipe leaving the tyres clean and black.

[Silver Smudger]

morgrp said:

Personally, with the time you'll spend and the cost of material namely paint - it's much easier to get them refurbed by a professional

Trouble is, the wheels were free so I can't face spending £50 each on tarting up 4 of them - They don't have to look perfect as they are the ones I use for winter tyres, but at the moment they look rotten, so I need to have a go!

[SpaceGhost]

It's like any job, it's easy when you know how. My dad showed me when I was a kid and he was banger racing. I can now take off tyres with a piece of angle iron and 2 screwdrivers lol.

A real simple way of painting, similar to N Dentressangles method, brush some grease onto the tyre and simply wipe off with a rag when you're finished.

[john2443]

It's not worth the hassle of taking them off yourself, it won't cost much to get a tyre place to do it

[seeby]

I normally use a couple of spoons.............................. but seriously if you get someone with a tyre machine to break the bead and then put the wheel with tyre in a plastic bag and cut a small hole in the bag and stretch over the rim . you can then paint your wheels without getting paint on the tyres. then when dry ,dicsard the plastic bag and pump the tyre up. That's what I did .

[Silver Smudger]

N Dentressangle said:

using a paintbrush, brush a coat of w/u liquid all round the tyre as the wheel is lying flat on the floor

Looks like a good tip - Thanks

[Mr2Mike]

Evoluzione said:

You won't get a car tyre off at home without damaging the rim.

It's entirely possible to remove a tyre without damaging the rim at home, but not without the correct tools.

[vikingaero]

Is there no reverse Man method of using lighter fuel to blow the tyre off the rim??? This is PH for Gods sake! :S

[crossy67]

Some really good tips her how not to get paint on your tyres, liking the washing up one.

Now for how to remove tyres without equipment. Easy peasy. Jack car up, remove wheel, place wheel and tyre under disk, drop car onto wheel and tyre so the disk pushed right on the edge of the tyre where it sits on the rim. Be careful the disk doesn't catch the rim. You might need to hit the tyre with a hammer and block of wood just to break the bead. When the bead is broken use some soap (careful what sort as some washing up liquids can eat rubber). Use screwdrivers or crowbars to get tyre off being careful to protect the rim starting on the outside of the wheel then bring the inside of the tyre over the same way as the outside.

Re-fitting is a reverse of removal but be careful not to catch the sealing lip. Best let a pro do this bit and you can get them balanced too.

[N Dentressangle]

vikingaero said:

Is there no reverse Man method of using lighter fuel to blow the tyre off the rim??? This is PH for Gods sake! :S

You mean like this?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wa1CQ3eZRg

I seem to remember reading about someone getting killed when this method, somewhat predictably, went a bit wrong.

[vikingaero]

That'll do. Eyebrows are sacrificial.

[joema]

Just mask it properly...

I'm not sure having grease or washing up liquid around tyre is a great idea as you need it contaminant free as possible.