Tyres. To DIY or not: conclusions

[cats-whiskers]

With reference to my post a while ago about being quoted £17+ each to fit my own tyres, and then deciding to have a go at fitting them myself. I'm not going to bore all and sundry with all the details, but just pass on my thoughts now the job is done. Firstly, I'm really pleased I had a go. Fitting all 5 tyres was a success - particularly, managing to inflate them using only a foot pump. However, chaps beware, as I managed to strain the old wedding furniture in the process . Buying valves and tools was very inexpensive and that part of the job very easy. As for fitting the new tyres, I found it akin to carpet laying in as much as by the time I've nearly finished the job, I'm getting quite good at it. But then its ages till I do it again and have to start from scratch. Would I do it again? Probably not - especially as my wife suddenly remembered a "little man" who did her tyres at about a fiver a go. Only remembered, of course, when the third tyre was on and I was lying in a pool of sweat clutching my anatomy. Overview? Yes, I'd say to anybody who's "handy", have a go. It definitely is about technique, but it's not rocket science. And I do feel that there is a bit of mystique about fitting tyres. I wonder how many people on this forum have happily tackled fitting new brake, suspension or steering parts - all paramount for vehicle safety - but would, when it comes to tyres, prefer to leave it to the "experts".

[andrew.searston]

how did you balance them???

[cats-whiskers]

how did you balance them???

Hi. Check out the thread " Valves 7, tyres fitted 1" from earlier this year. Lots of tips therein!

[alanworland]

I can remember at one time I was always swapping tyres round (it seemed) and I would take them off from the inner rim so as not to damage the paint or wheel. Hard work but I would do it because the tyre fitters used to use big old levers and weren't too fussy! Things have changed as my local tyre depot use equipment which will not contact the wheel - so no damage!
I used to have a hub with grease less bearings fitted which would roll round quite freely if a wheel was out of balance - I would then araldite lumps of brass to the insides of the wheel!
Good on you for having a go!

[RobMoore]

kudos to you for having ago, I hope the missus is going to be gentle with you now lol.

previous thread for you andrew was http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=31003

[chickenjohn]

I do everything else on my Minor but change the tyres!!! I do change tyres on my mountain bike.

With a bit of shopping around it is possible to get tyres fitted for much less than £17 a corner!

[kittyfell]

Well done getting the job done - no need for any personal damage though, what on earth were you doing? The tyre should slip on easily, usually the worst part is removing the old tyres, now that CAN be a struggle if they are 'welded' to the rim.

[cats-whiskers]

Well done getting the job done - no need for any personal damage though, what on earth were you doing? The tyre should slip on easily, usually the worst part is removing the old tyres, now that CAN be a struggle if they are 'welded' to the rim.

It was furiously wanging the footpump to get a good airflow that did the damage! As for tyre removal, I put a trolley jack under the wheel and jacked it up against the tow ball on my daily drive. It pops the bead easily; flip it over and do the other side, job done. And before anyone asks, yes, I let the air out of the tyre first....

[Matt]

I have one of these mounted on a pallet in the garden!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEALEY-TC960-Tyre ... 3a598c9714

And its been great - I have changed load of tyres with it and I have yet to find a tyre that is out of balance enough to cause me a problem (I have a static balancer - but never used it)

[bmcecosse]

The front hub of a Minor is an excellent 'static balancer' ! The brake drum gets balanced too.