DIY Tire Changing

[Blan37]

Anyone do it themselves? I've been watching a lot of videos of people changing their own tires. I bought a HF manual tire changer, some tire irons, and a valve stem kit and will be putting drop in anchors in the garage for it so I can move it out of the way to store it. I don't have tires that need changing at the moment but until I do I'm picking up a few things here and there to get ready. I've seen vids of doing everything from low profile to light truck tires. They sell a balancing tool and weights too, but I'm leaning toward buying ceramic balancing beads instead of doing the balance/weights routine.

I'm considering buying a nomar mount / demount bar so I can do aluminum rims. The bar that comes with the HF changer works fine for steel rims but tears up aluminum unless you modify it.

Any DIY'ers for tires? What's your method?

 

[giles]

What’s it do to the tire manufactures warranty?

I also get an alignment every time I get tires, so it has to go in anyways.

What’s your plan with the old tires?

Seems like a lot of effort for very little reward.

 

[Iowa_Buckeye]

My DIY method is to take my truck to the tire shop about every 5 years and let them do it!

 

["J"]

With all the modern day rims and the different alloys used, I’d be Leary of a DIY and screwing up the finish on them...

 

[hickslawns]

I do my own motorcycle tires. Wheel barrow, lawn mower, quads, and stuff like that I'll do. Done messing with big stuff. I swapped plenty of them on deuce and halfs. Stupid split rims. Those things could get you killed. Lol

 

[Blan37]

What’s it do to the tire manufactures warranty?

I also get an alignment every time I get tires, so it has to go in anyways.

What’s your plan with the old tires?

Seems like a lot of effort for very little reward.

Don't know if it does anything to the warranty. As far as the used ones go, it's my understanding that you can take them to tire places and pay the disposal fee. I think it's a few bucks per tire.

 

[giles]

Idk Joe, I think I could find better things to do on the weekend. I’ll pay they extra money and get the roadside for my wife and kids. Also keep the much needed space in my garage.

 

[Blan37]

With all the modern day rims and the different alloys used, I’d be Leary of a DIY and screwing up the finish on them...

Yeah, me too. I've seen videos of guys melting milk jugs down and then using that to coat the ends of the bar that comes with the HF tire changer and that seems to work. I don't think I'll go that route though.

 

[Blan37]

I do my own motorcycle tires. Wheel barrow, lawn mower, quads, and stuff like that I'll do. Done messing with big stuff. I swapped plenty of them on deuce and halfs. Stupid split rims. Those things could get you killed. Lol

Have you done alloy or chrome? Do you do anything special to keep things from getting marred up?

 

[Chass]

I wouldn't do anything that goes on the highway myself, I opt in for the free mounting/balancing from whomever I buy the tires from. For the lawnmower and quad, sure. Unless I get new spiffy wheels on the quad which I don't see happening.

 

[hickslawns]

Have you done alloy or chrome? Do you do anything special to keep things from getting marred up?

Most of mine have been dirt bikes. I ride them like I stole them. Never worried about a blemish on the rim. On road bikes I have simply been careful.

 

[Blan37]

Idk Joe, I think I could find better things to do on the weekend. I’ll pay they extra money and get the roadside for my wife and kids. Also keep the much needed space in my garage.

I like doing things myself where I can. I make my own soap for crying out loud lol. I could pay to have my brakes done, my oil changed or a bunch of other repairs I do myself. I guess I don't see doing my own tires as being all that different. We have roadside assistance on our insurance, so no loss there.

 

[giles]

I like doing things myself where I can. I make my own soap for crying out loud lol. I could pay to have my brakes done, my oil changed or a bunch of other repairs I do myself. I guess I don't see doing my own tires as being all that different. We have roadside assistance on our insurance, so no loss there.

Do your thing man!

 

[Jackalope]

I like doing things myself where I can. I make my own soap for crying out loud lol. I could pay to have my brakes done, my oil changed or a bunch of other repairs I do myself. I guess I don't see doing my own tires as being all that different. We have roadside assistance on our insurance, so no loss there.

Cool.stuff man. If you don't mind start a thread on how you make soap. I know that interested and I'm sure others would be too.

 

["J"]

Cool.stuff man. If you don't mind start a thread on how you make soap. I know that interested and I'm sure others would be too.

I’ll have too look into that....

 

[tpierce]

I have that same HF tire changer. I used it to replace the tires on my Honda Pioneer back in the spring. The first one took 45 minutes with the learning curve. Hardest thing to get the knack of was breaking the beads. After the first one, I had it down to <20 min a tire. It beat the heck out of taking the vehicle to a place or taking the wheels in to have them changed.
That said, I always have my truck's tires changed at a tire store with a fresh alignment.

 

[Blan37]

Cool.stuff man. If you don't mind start a thread on how you make soap. I know that interested and I'm sure others would be too.

Yeah I can do that. Might be a little while before I can get to it though.

 

[Blan37]

I have that same HF tire changer. I used it to replace the tires on my Honda Pioneer back in the spring. The first one took 45 minutes with the learning curve. Hardest thing to get the knack of was breaking the beads. After the first one, I had it down to <20 min a tire. It beat the heck out of taking the vehicle to a place or taking the wheels in to have them changed.
That said, I always have my truck's tires changed at a tire store with a fresh alignment.

Nice! From what I'm seeing online most videos are less than 10 minutes per tire. They offer advice like keep the tire down in the groove while you're mounting it and it goes on a lot easier. Also, it seems like most of them are able to get the back side of the tire mounted by just pushing it on after they lube it up.

Did you use soap or tire lube? I've read soap can be corrosive and can make it so it's harder to break the bead down the road.

 

[Jackalope]

You guys don't have a Felons R Us tire shop close by? Mine will do a 4 tire swap with balancing for like 15 bucks a tire. Ain't worth my time at that rate.

 

[hickslawns]

Nice! From what I'm seeing online most videos are less than 10 minutes per tire. They offer advice like keep the tire down in the groove while you're mounting it and it goes on a lot easier. Also, it seems like most of them are able to get the back side of the tire mounted by just pushing it on after they lube it up.

Did you use soap or tire lube? I've read soap can be corrosive and can make it so it's harder to break the bead down the road.

A little dish soap on the bead helps. Not on a tubed tire. Those I wipe the tube down with baby powder to slide in easier and hopefully avoid pinching the tube.