fitting own tyres - how tricky?

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:15 pm

ello chaps,

How hard is it to fit your own tyres?

wibble

Post by **AndrewSkinner** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:17 pm

Used to be done by hand so cant see why it cant be done now. Obviously the hardest bit is getting the last bit of the tyre over the lip of the rim and not nipping the inner tube. Also not sure how important that sealant is that they put round the rim! I am guessing you probably need it

Can you take some pics when you do it?? I may do mine myself

Also dont forget they wont be ballanced!

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:23 pm

Fitting tyres and then balancing the wheels is one of the few jobs I'll pay someone else to do.

Post by **bigginger** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:37 pm

Me too

a

Post by **dunketh** » Fri May 30, 2008 3:41 pm

Easy in theory.
Use a garden hoe to break the beeding on the old tyres then soap up the rims, then slip new ones on using levers, same as doing a bicycle.
The white stuff they put on at the tyre places is only a soap solution.

Should be easier on minor rims than newer ones because the tyres are narrow and high-walled and the rims have no 'inner' lip to hold the tubeless tyres in place (I've never used inner tubes in mine).

The only problem is - you can't balance them. Wheels need balancing after having tyres fitted and you cant assume because they were true before they still will be.

Post by **dalebrignall** » Fri May 30, 2008 4:18 pm

i think for the cost its better to go to your local tyre fitters,they will probally do it for a drink.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Fri May 30, 2008 4:34 pm

cheers, everyone. Great to have a pretty unanimous vote on something like this

Post by **bigginger** » Fri May 30, 2008 5:53 pm

I shouldn't bother iuf I were you - I did. Never again

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Fri May 30, 2008 6:25 pm

have booked with local tyre fitting place - except I don't trust them to torque up the nuts properly (bad experience in past

) so am just taking wheels in to have new tyres supplied, fitted and then balanced. Nankang brand tyres (only ones they can get).

thanks very much for your advice, everyone

wibble

Post by **Alec** » Fri May 30, 2008 8:39 pm

Hello Wibble,

fitting tyres is very easy, the difficult bit is removing the old ones.

With levers and a heavy mallet, 2 minutes tops a wheel.

Alec

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Sat May 31, 2008 8:41 am

The Nankang's are...alright. I've got them on 'becca - the one thing they're great for is flying across fields after a show, 'cos they look like fairly worn town-and-countrys....

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sat May 31, 2008 9:08 am

cheers, PK

. I thought I remembered hearing that some people like them and some don't. But as long as they aren't dangerous.... my choices are a bit limited just now!

wibble xx

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sat May 31, 2008 9:44 am

I've got one of these -
http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.a ... uctid=8457
I paid around £50 off an eBay seller.
Makes breaking beads and removing old tyres easy - even Land Rover size.

Paul Humphries

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat May 31, 2008 9:48 am

So what about seating the bead when you inflate the new tyres? Or do you just use inner tubes?

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sat May 31, 2008 9:55 am

alex_holden wrote:So what about seating the bead when you inflate the new tyres? Or do you just use inner tubes?

No problem - I've a big compressor and they "pop" on like when fitted by tyre dealers.
One method I've seen, but not used myself , is to used a large ratchet strap around the tread. When tightened that helps force the tyre against the rim and seal enough for blowing up.
I'm sure others will say otherwise but tubless tyres need a compressor to seal as a footpump just won't produced enough pressure / volume of air to push the bead into the corner of the rim.

Paul Humphries

Post by **aupickup** » Sat May 31, 2008 10:09 am

well i had nankangs on one of my vans for 3 years , that was used everyday, and had no problems at all

i have had firestone and found that after 18 months the walls started to crack

so wibble go with nankangs

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sat May 31, 2008 10:33 am

aupickup wrote:well i had nankangs on one of my vans for 3 years , that was used everyday, and had no problems at all

i have had firestone and found that after 18 months the walls started to crack

so wibble go with nankangs

cheers, au - i have to go with them, really, so it's good to hear you have had good experiences with 'em

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sat May 31, 2008 10:33 am

aupickup wrote:well i had nankangs on one of my vans for 3 years , that was used everyday, and had no problems at all

i have had firestone and found that after 18 months the walls started to crack

so wibble go with nankangs

The Firestones on my car were cracking as well.
I went to local dealer for the same again only to be told they hadn't actually made them for years.
Still plenty available but will be NOS.
I suppose, therefore, it depends on how well they have been stored.
Practical Classics the other month had an article on tyre identification and how to tell when manufactured by the codes on the sidewall.

Paul Humphries

Post by **polo2k** » Sat May 31, 2008 10:43 am

Its worth noting that when your popping a bead back on, it is almost always advised to inflate to 50 psi to make sure it is fully home and then back the pressure off. also when you are seating the beed, keep ALL apendages/extremities well clear of the gap

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:38 pm

Easy to fit Minor wheels with tyres - in fact you should be able to get them on without using a tyre lever (not so for removal of old tyre!) by using a heavy soft -face hammer and gently working the tyre over the rim being careful to NOT damage or kink the bead on the way. I have fitted these tyres many times - both tubed and tubeless. Sealing to the bead has not been any problem - tip is to have NO valve fitted at this point so there is a good rush of air into the tyre - and some Swarfega hand cleaner smeared on the rim to make them nice and slippy! The wheel is then balanced statically on the front hub - and these run perfectly smoothly on my car - sometimes to well into the fuel gauge !