Changing tyres are home - what do I need?
Discussion
windy1 said:
mrmr96 said:
windy1 said:
Had the same problem myself so bought the pole type tyre changer (comes with bead breaker) and also purchased a bubble balancer.
Works very well once you get used to it. Invest in a decent alloy wheel tyre lever too - the type with nylon pads - and you'll keep your alloys undamaged.
I reckon I've fitted about 20+ tyres now. No need to get ripped off having tyres fitted any more + I can buy all my tyres on the web and get them delivered to my door.
Excellent answer.Works very well once you get used to it. Invest in a decent alloy wheel tyre lever too - the type with nylon pads - and you'll keep your alloys undamaged.
I reckon I've fitted about 20+ tyres now. No need to get ripped off having tyres fitted any more + I can buy all my tyres on the web and get them delivered to my door.
Is there any chance you could please provide me with a link to an example of each of the pieces of equipment you're using, so I know exactly what you're talking about and what it would cost me? That would be much appreciated as it sounds like you've got process of solving the problem I'm faced with, so I'd like to learn from your experience!
Bubble balancer http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Wheel-and-tyre-...
Tyre changer with bead breaker, can't remember where I bought it but it's one of these http://www.diytools.co.uk/sealey-tyre-changer-manu...
supersingle said:
I've got one of the bubble wheel balancers. I think it's pants!
I ended up using an old hub to balance my wheels. Strip the bearings and clean out the grease and lube it with WD40 instead so that it's very free-running. You then attach the wheel and balance in the same way as a motorbike wheel (see YouTube). Works a treat.
Found a good video of a chap balancing a motorbike wheel using a 'free rotation' method:I ended up using an old hub to balance my wheels. Strip the bearings and clean out the grease and lube it with WD40 instead so that it's very free-running. You then attach the wheel and balance in the same way as a motorbike wheel (see YouTube). Works a treat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2AuivYzaBs
Which looks fine so long as you use good bearings on the shaft. I'll give the bubble method a go, as it looks like it might be faster too. (Plus I don't have an old hub lying about)
mrmr96 said:
They are 235/610/17 Dunlops. Not sure what 'profile number' that translates to in terms of normal wheels, but they are lower profile than my 234/45/17 road tyres.
Please update this thread with how you get on! From my experience of changing low profile tyres, it's going to be a lot of work without a proper machine, but I'd love to be proved wrong.2 big tyres levers and a big hammer and lots of jumping up and down and swearing.
If they are stiff sidewalls and low profile it will be really hard work FAR better off paying £20 at your local tyre fitters and getting balanced as well just drop them off and pick them up next day so they can do it when not busy with retail customers.
If they are stiff sidewalls and low profile it will be really hard work FAR better off paying £20 at your local tyre fitters and getting balanced as well just drop them off and pick them up next day so they can do it when not busy with retail customers.
mrmr96 said:
Nice one, I'll get some equipment similar to that then, looks like it includes everything I need.
No it doesn't. On top of that you'll need the correct attachment for inflating a tyre (£40?), a selection of boxes of wheel weights, a valve stem tool, some valves, AND quite a lot of your valuable time.I'm all for DIY'ing where possible, but I think you're underestimating the difficulty and spending at least £150 (which would pay to properly mount and balance at least four sets) and what you're going to end up with is very sore hands, arms and back, a set of tyres which aren't balanced properly and a lot of stuff you don't need. It is very possible that you damage a tyre trying, then you can add another hundred quid or so to the costs. I really don't think you'll benefit in the way you're hoping and even if you do save some money, you'll cost yourself a lot of time.
Classic Grad 98 said:
mrmr96 said:
Nice one, I'll get some equipment similar to that then, looks like it includes everything I need.
No it doesn't. On top of that you'll need the correct attachment for inflating a tyre (£40?), a selection of boxes of wheel weights, a valve stem tool, some valves, AND quite a lot of your valuable time.I'm all for DIY'ing where possible, but I think you're underestimating the difficulty and spending at least £150 (which would pay to properly mount and balance at least four sets) and what you're going to end up with is very sore hands, arms and back, a set of tyres which aren't balanced properly and a lot of stuff you don't need. It is very possible that you damage a tyre trying, then you can add another hundred quid or so to the costs. I really don't think you'll benefit in the way you're hoping and even if you do save some money, you'll cost yourself a lot of time.
You just need to be patient and practice on an old steel wheel first.
Due to the volumes of tyres I get through on my rally car and the hassle of taking wheels off to take down to the tyre fitters, I just got so fed up of the grease monkeys wrecking my wheels, not putting the balance weights where I said to clear my brake calipers, fitting the wrong valves then charging me for the privilege.
Fitting them yourself really is a lot easier.
I already have a compressor.
All the consumables for fitting tyres are available on ebay.
sharpfocus said:
Anyone got a video showing these tools in use?
This guy fits and removes a tyre with irons:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qpKdkTIfSw
(I'm going off this particular idea, as the "walkaround stand" method looks much more controlled)
This guy breaks the bead using a bead breaker built into the "walk around" stand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g9r-TnTq-o
This guy fits and removes a tyre with a nylon lever and "walk around" stand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TLhUYQ8geM
This guy balances a wheel with the 'bearing' method:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2AuivYzaBs
This guy balances a wheel with a portable "bubble balancer":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp3ShyNzK84
I'm still not entirely sure how to seat the bead though. Is it just a case of connecting an airline to the valve and waiting for the pressure to build? That seems to be how it's done in the garages. However the only video's I can currently seen on youtube involve fire, which is pretty cool, but seems to involve luck rather than control. So what's the "proper" way to reseat the bead?
Edited by mrmr96 on Sunday 9th October 16:15
You need to take out the inner part of the valve first. Connect your air line and just inflate the tyre. Sometimes you need to squish the tyre a bit to get it going. Occasionally you'll need about 40 PSI to seat the bead correctly as some tyre beads are tight on the rim. Take the air line off and screw in your valve inner, then re-inflate the tyre to the correct pressure with your air line.
If you have trouble getting a bead to seat on a rim there are other ways:
1) Lighter fluid & a match
2) Special cylinder which you attach to your compressor to charge up. Releases sudden rush of air onto tyre bead.
3) Collar which fits on one side of the tyre, clamps to the rim and stops air escaping whilst you start to inflate it with you air line.
If you have trouble getting a bead to seat on a rim there are other ways:
1) Lighter fluid & a match
2) Special cylinder which you attach to your compressor to charge up. Releases sudden rush of air onto tyre bead.
3) Collar which fits on one side of the tyre, clamps to the rim and stops air escaping whilst you start to inflate it with you air line.
Edited by windy1 on Sunday 9th October 16:19
- I just snap the old valve off and insert a new one.
Personally I think that your spending a lot of time to save a small amount of money.
Classic Grad 98 said:
Personally I think that your spending a lot of time to save a small amount of money.
I think he's really looking to acquire the ability to change tyres rather than obtaining the service for the minimum outlay. Being able to do things is ace. Another thing that is ace are the compressed air tyre seating tools referred to in the previous post. They make a fantastic noise; really dangerous-sounding:
lost in espace said:
That's the kind of thing I started off looking at, and indeed the kind of thing used by the guy in the video in the OP. However they are just metal, no nylon protection for the rim, and they also look like they could be hard work compared with using a longer single bar with rollers in conjunction with a "walk around" type tyre changing stand.Leptons said:
I fitted my winters last year using my bare hands and washing up liquid, I got the idea off You Tube. The hardest part is getting the old tyres off but There were no tyres on the rims. I once cut a tyre off a rim with a hacksaw but that was more trouble than it was worth. 
I once cut a tyre off a wheel using an angle grinder. Caused a bit of smoke it did. There are easier ways.
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