Removing tires from rims

[camardelle]

I have several small tire/rim combos from a couple motorcycle trailer projects that I had in the past they are old and no longer functional, at least the tires aren't. I want to repurpose the rims as a hose/cable keeper either in my work shed or on a welding cart project.

My question is how can I remove the tires without taking them to a tire place? Can I cut them off with an air cutter? How about an angle grinder?

I'm open to suggestion. Thanks in advance.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[kd3pc]

two large "spoons" or prybars or screwdrivers should do the trick...I used to change the tube on my Triumph Bonneville at the curb.

Just be careful as they WILL pinch your fingers or hands.

You can certainly cut them, but be careful as the steel belts will splinter and spread out.

 

[Lx460]

If they're steel belts they're not that easy to cut through. You'll need to break the bead somehow. Usually the smaller the tire the more of a PITA it is to mount/dismount.

If you use an able grinder be prepared to inhale the goodness of burning petroleum rubber.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

If you wash them off really good with some gasoline and dry them with a match, the bead will be easy to cut through with a pair of dikes in an hour or so....

 

[jayoldschool]

A sawzall will be quick, and leave no rubber to inhale. A prybar and a hammer will take the bead off (and then can be sawzalled).

 

[Rookie2]

 

[Milton Shaw]

I had never heard dry them with a match, LOL that's a good one. That piano wire is still not easy to cut unless you have a set of dikes for hard wire.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I had never heard dry them with a match, LOL that's a good one. That piano wire is still not easy to cut unless you have a set of dikes for hard wire.

I "borrowed" it from a thread I read on GJ somewhere...

 

[TheEquineFencer]

If you can get your wife or G/F to promise you a "quicky" if you get each one changed in less than 5 minutes, I bet they'll come off quick!

 

[Daves69]

My son uses a 2x4 break the beads by placing the tire assembly flat in a corner. He then puts the 2x4 flat on the edge of the tire near the wheel and jumps on the board. the bead will usually break in a couple of attempts.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

It's easiest to use a small pry bar or a BIG screwdriver that should do the trick.

 

[greasemonkey44]

Use a bottle jack and car to break the bead; a friend just uses a car to break it. Then I use a pair of spoons, screwdrivers or pry bars work well.

 

[BD1]

I purchased the harbor freight tire changer. I think it's $35.00. The thing has paid for itself many times. It's a sage inexpensive way.

 

[bulletpruf]

Pry bar or screwdriver works for me.

Best part is putting some new ones back on and using WD40 and a well placed match to set the bead...

Scott

 

[getbent4x4]

I purchased the harbor freight tire changer. I think it's $35.00. The thing has paid for itself many times. It's a sage inexpensive way.

Yep needs bolted into concrete. IT WILL SCRATCH WHEELS JUST FYI

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I have several small tire/rim combos from a couple motorcycle trailer projects that I had in the past they are old and no longer functional, at least the tires aren't. I want to repurpose the rims as a hose/cable keeper either in my work shed or on a welding cart project.

My question is how can I remove the tires without taking them to a tire place? Can I cut them off with an air cutter? How about an angle grinder?

I'm open to suggestion. Thanks in advance.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I use my car as a bead breaker. Hydraulic jack one corner for clearance, slide the tire under and put the scissors jack between the jacking point and the tire, perpendicular to the bead. Let the hydraulic jack down and the base of the scissors jack presses the bead off the rim cleanly and neatly.

Tire spoons work to get the tire off the rim. I have some older spoons but the ones at Harbor Freight look OK. Be sure to brush on plenty of soapy water!

 

[HammerMechanic]

If you wash them off really good with some gasoline and dry them with a match, the bead will be easy to cut through with a pair of dikes in an hour or so....

 

[Showkey]

+ 2 on the saws all. But do not damage the bead seat area on the rim.

If you are changing tires by hand (either with manual changer or spoons) it is an art form .............watch a few youtube videos. If your sweating and swearing........your doing it wrong. It's all about lube and technique...

Motorcycle guys can do it with their eyes closed.

 

[volleyball]

Leave the tire on the rim. Use saw to cut off the tread part and the sidewalls can help keep the hose on.

 

[KenC]

+ 2 on the saws all. But do not damage the bead seat area on the rim.

If you are changing tires by hand (either with manual changer or spoons) it is an art form .............watch a few youtube videos. If your sweating and swearing........your doing it wrong. It's all about lube and technique...

Motorcycle guys can do it with their eyes closed.

We still talkin about tires, right???

 

[that-guy]

if the tire are junk, just break the bead using any of the methods mentioned, stab a hole in the sidewall, and use tin snips to cut through the tire. 10 minutes MAX. no clean up, no nasty burning rubber smell, and you won't hurt the rim by prying on it with crow bars and such

 

[bgarrett]

I use a jigsaw to cut close to the bead. The tire falls off, then I use the hammer and wedge to get the bead off the rim and its all easy

 

[stikman56]

My son uses a 2x4 break the beads by placing the tire assembly flat in a corner. He then puts the 2x4 flat on the edge of the tire near the wheel and jumps on the board. the bead will usually break in a couple of attempts.

We used to do it that way and drive up the board. It works. HF tire machine is much easier and faster though for around 40 bucks.

 

[camardelle]

All great input guys, I really appreciate everyone's input. The tires are trash so I have no vested interest in keeping them in good shape. At the moment I'm leaning towards the sawsall or maybe a 4 1/2" grinder. I doubt any of the tires are still maintaining their beads. I'll update in a few days as I came home with a new project. Here's a pic of my new shelving project for my TuffShed. I think there may be "some" assembly required. LOL

 

[300Deluxe]

I found an early 70's Chevelle/Camaro "five spoke" wheel with a tire still mounted in the woods by my house a few years back. I used a hacksaw to cut across the tread and down the side walls in short order. The hardest part was cutting the portion of the tire behind the bead of the wheel.

 

[kmkalf]

I use my 4 1/2 angle grinder with a cut off wheel attached to it to remove junk tires. Takes a few moments

 

[FTG-05]

Break the tire beads with something like this:

Good luck.

 

[Jere]

Yep needs bolted into concrete. IT WILL SCRATCH WHEELS JUST FYI

I have one also just bolted it to a palette. There are some tricks to keep from scratching the wheels. A simple one is to tape some milk jug plastic to contacting surfaces. And drilling holes to bolt the wheel to the stand rather than using the spider washer thing.

 

[Kevin54]

All great input guys, I really appreciate everyone's input. The tires are trash so I have no vested interest in keeping them in good shape. At the moment I'm leaning towards the sawsall or maybe a 4 1/2" grinder. I doubt any of the tires are still maintaining their beads. I'll update in a few days as I came home with a new project. Here's a pic of my new shelving project for my TuffShed. I think there may be "some" assembly required. LOL

Carmadelle....welcome to Garage Journal, and hope you hang around. For what it's worth, and the time and effort, for a couple of bucks, take them to a tire place or WallyWorld and have them popped off. A few minutes, and you are done. Take the old tires with you so you don't have to pay a fee for disposal, unless you don't mind dropping an extra $10 or so for disposal.

And just for future reference, and to keep from getting blasted by many, and there was a CL or FleaBay thread about it........the word of the day is Sawzall with a "Z", or to really cover bases...."reciprocating saw". When people see the word saw-saw, they get up, get dressed, and start looking through the toolboxes for the long breaker bars, pliers, and hammers to proceed to give someone a thrashing.

Show some of your projects, AND garage when you get a chance. Any toys, such as cars and or bikes? If so, post the pics, as we all very much like pics on here.

Pet peeves, my friend.....pet peeves

As far as making a hose reel out of a motorcycle wheel. is the rim wide enough to do that? I would think for maybe a 25' piece it may be alright, but I wouldn't think you could get a 50' length on there, unless it was a wide rear wheel.

Show it off as I know many would be interested in it.

 

[camardelle]

Kevin, I never thanked you for your comments. I appreciate the input and guidance. Being a good married man, I try to avoid a thrashing whenever I can. LOL

 

[jdepiero]

I first spray the bead with Dawn dish washing solution and let it soak into the bead. you will be surprised at how this helps.

 

[sberry]

Good experience for a guy. I own 6 golf carts I keep mounted spares with new tires. I know my way around mounting tires these little fuggers may be a challenge and one may need to grind the bead.