Fitting tyres by hand?

[FurballS2000]

Hello, I'm gonna be collecting some alloys for my s2000 on Friday.

As they won't fit in mine my friend is giving me a lift in an RCZ to get them. Only problem is the tyres are currently off the wheels.

Is it possible to loosely fit the tyres around the alloys by hand, i.e. lots of shoving!!

They're a lot more likely to fit in 4 parts compared to 8!

Cheers

Ian.

[Cemesis]

In short, not without a pry bar (which might damage the alloys

[XG332]

Yes it's possible. But it's a right pain to do.
Truck tyres are usually fitted by hand. Often on the hard shoulder.

[HustleRussell]

Don't even think about it. There must be a tyre fitter within 3 miles who can do them for you for a few notes?

[sherman]

Could you not just arrange for a mobile fitter to fit the cheapest ditchfinders/remoulds/part worn tyres you can lay your hands on where you are buying the tyres from and then get the proper tyres fitted when you are ready?

[carl_w]

Is fitting really required? As long as you can get the inside of the wheel rim into the outside of the tyre bead, they should stay similarly flat as an inflated wheel/tyre combination.

[Leptons]

If you have never tried then why say it cant be done?

Its actually fairly easy. Plenty of washing up liquid around the rim and bead and put the front of the wheel in the tyre first. I never even needed a lever but it might be usefull if they are low profiles.

Edited by Leptons on Wednesday 27th June 14:44

[heretheygo]

it's easy to do.
take some fairy liquid or similar, put the rim on the ground, lubricate the side of the tyre and then push the tyre onto the rim. no damage to rim. no tyre levers reqd.
if you wanted to do both sides of the tyre you would def need the levers.

(I did a 180/60/17 on to a 5.5J rim by hand 2 weeks ago)

Edited by heretheygo on Wednesday 27th June 08:24

[Captain Muppet]

It depends on the tyres - I've fitted some 185/60R14 by hand with no effort (and I'm a flipper handed cripple) but there have been other tyres the same size that have been a struggle using machines, and even pros have asked I don't use them again.

Try it. If it doesn't work use a local tyre fitter. If there isn't one then fit the wheels inside the car and strap the tyres to the outside of the car (which is how I carried a set of four tyres in/on my Elise).

[FurballS2000]

Only need 1 lip of the tyre in, it's just to save space rather to fit them in my mates car

[wormburner]

FurballS2000 said:

Only need 1 lip of the tyre in, it's just to save space rather to fit them in my mates car

Yes, easy. Lay the tyre down, slot the wheel into the aperture at a 30 degree angle, push past the resistance at the widest point, lay the wheel flat.

[Zippee]

Are you sure 4 wheels and tyres will fit in an RCZ? You'll be surprised just how much room 2 take up let alone 4.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

It's reasonably easy.
Put it this way - fitting the tyre is a LOT easier than removing it!

You'll need some tyre soap stuff (eBay)
A rim protector set (ideally) or some hard'ish plastic to act as a rim protector (old milk carton).
And three tyre pry bars.
Oh, and you'll need an air compressor for popping the tyre back on the bead.

Plenty of videos on YouTube showing you how to do it.

[JonnyFive]

wormburner said:

FurballS2000 said:

Only need 1 lip of the tyre in, it's just to save space rather to fit them in my mates car

Yes, easy. Lay the tyre down, slot the wheel into the aperture at a 30 degree angle, push past the resistance at the widest point, lay the wheel flat.

This.

Just shove the tyre onto the rim, will go fine. Thats how you do it on a tyre machine, then leaver bar to get the other bead on.

[FurballS2000]

Some of you have the wrong idea, i'm not fitting them properly.

As per the last post I just wondered if it was possible to push the tyres onto the alloys for space saving in the car.

I not messing about with bars and fitting them myself, i'll get that done when I have the wheels back home.

[SirSamuelOfBuca]

ye you can do it no problem. take a rag you can fold over and a thin bar. You can probably do it without a bar tbh. lube it up and twist it around the rim and it should go on no probs.

[mrmr96]

The alloy will have a well in it called the "drop centre". You need to get the first side of the rim of the tyre into the drop centre, which will then give you enough slack to get the other side of that tyre rim over the wheel rim.



Edit to add; tyre goes on from the "outside face" first of course. (In this diagram the tyre enters from the right and would be travelling to the left.)

Edited by mrmr96 on Wednesday 27th June 14:09

[FurballS2000]

Excellent, thanks.

[shakindog]

To just save space top idea and easy to do as once bottom bead on rim the wheel tyre will only be inch or so wider than with both beads on. As above plenty soapy water or near neat washing up liquid. And at a slight angle to wheel shove should just drop on. Common practice with first bead in the trade as saves time and less chance of wheel damage.

[Frances The Mute]

Depends on the size and tyre type. A low sidewall profile will be a bh and some tyres (Bridgestone, I'm looking at you) are notoriously difficult to fit due to their bead apex rigidity.

Forcing the beads over with plenty of lube may well work - you'll need tt make sure the wheel is rock solid, though. You'll be chasing it all over the floor otherwise.