Changing tyres yourself

Post by **MikeNash** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:50 pm

Greetings comrades!
I've not changed tyres for 20 years, and then they were motorcycles or pre-war cars running on crossplys - what's it like doing it on Minors?
The reason I'm interested is that the cheapest around here are from ATS at about £45, but if I supply them (say from Bull Motif at £25) they want at least £14 to fit each one!
My cheapest fitter is our local blacksmith (Mew & Sons at St Mary Bourne) at £5 each which sounds good (and he's a good bloke too), but I fancy having go meself and then static balancing a la Bmcecosse on a spare hub. I've dug out me old levers - are radials difficult? Regards, MikeN.

Post by **Innovator** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 6:07 am

I remember trying to do them. One of the hardest parts was breaking the bead. We would lay the wheel / tyre on the ground and drive onto the tyre or jack the car up and lower it onto the tyre.

We would also cut the side wall on one side then we only had to remove the bead over the rim once.

Good luck.....

John

Post by **MikeNash** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:30 am

Cor! Don't like the sound of that!
It sometimes needed a bit of jumping up and down on the tyre, but if well soaped they always gave in eventually. Do radials have tighter beading? Does it always need one of those air driven rotating tyre lever thingies? MikeN.

Post by **Kevin** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:58 pm

My cheapest fitter is our local blacksmith (Mew & Sons at St Mary Bourne) at £5 each which sounds good (and he's a good bloke too),

Sounds good to me in fact a bargain if it includes the balancing.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:24 pm

Radials on big narrow 14" rims are easy peasy! Yes - getting the old tyre off can take a bit of effort if it's been on there for many years - but if it's scrap - cut it off. Mahe sure the rims are clean and rust free - a wipe round the tyre beads with Swarfega - and gently work the tyre on. You shouldn't even really need a tyre lever to put these on - just a soft faced hammer at the end to pop the last bit over the rim. Fun and games sometimes getting them to inflate - best to take the valve core out - and use an air line with a good blast. But it can be all be done at home.

Post by **minor_hickup** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:25 pm

Mike, my rather unorthodox way of getting tyres off a rim (if they're knackered) is to let the air out, then cut a slit with a hack saw in the tyre. Use a jigsaw and put it in the slot and cut a large section out of the tyre. Then carefully cut through the bead with an angle grinder and the tyre should come off easily. No tips for getting them on though.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:29 am

I'd just get the blacksmith to fit them for £5 each. That is a bargain!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:08 am

The hard bit is getting the old ones off - if the £5 includes that I am tempted to agree!

Post by **MikeNash** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:45 pm

Thanks for the advice, comrades!
Time to order some tyres and have go, and if its all too much, down to Mr Mew the blacksmith!. (A regular for him is changing tractor wheels often out in fields stuck on the end of a giant plough. And then back home with the wheel to change the tyre - no easy job. Doesn't balance them though!) MikeN.

Post by **Leyland** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:29 am

Hi
While we are on the subject of fitting tyres, does anyone know a good place to buy complete valves from.
My local tyre place won't sell them to me. They want to fit them and the tyres.
I have got all the old ones off and am ready to fit the new ones.

Is there any mileage these days in fitting inner tubes with radial tyres or would it be waste of money?

cheers

Post by **Kevin** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:51 am

Cannot the minor specialist that sell the tyres supply them.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:45 am

Get them at autojumbles - 50P each. Fill yer pockets. Last time I asked in Kwak Fat they wanted £5 each!!

Post by **Welung666** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 9:00 am

bmcecosse wrote:Last time I asked in Kwak Fat they wanted £5 each!!

Sounds about right for them

Try contacting your local tyre distributor (not the local fitter) I bought a bag of 100 long valves some time back and that was only a fiver.

Post by **Leyland** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:50 pm

Any thoughts about the benefits or otherwise of fitting inner tubes with radial tyres please?

Post by **d_harris** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:58 pm

I believe that its considered bad practice nowadays as modern tyres are not designed to have inner tubes, and may have a rough internal surface which can work its way through the tube and will result in puncture and possibly a blow-out if travelling at speed

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:45 pm

I've used tubes in my radials for ages. No problems.