Tire spoons and manual tools, what do you use?

[Strouty]

I just installed a 16" truck tire (load range E) and I did not have the proper tools, it was a pain in the ***. What do you guys recommend? I also have up to 22.5 tires on a few of my trucks. Things that I can see I need for sure:

Soap with a brush (I used dawn and my fingers)

Tire spoons

Clip on air chuck

Who makes the best tire tools?

 

[oldtractors]

I use a pair of these curved motorcycle tire irons. I have changed everything from 6" lawn mower tires to 38" rear tractor tires with these irons. Most of the time, you do not need 4' long tire irons. It is all in the technique.
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0007/

 

[RECox286]

Check out Harbor Freight's Tire Changer. I've been using one

for over 20 years, and it sure beats wrassling them tires by

hand. IDK if the machine will take your rims or not, but it's

worth a look. If you want professional equipment (big bucks)

then search the web for "tire machines," and see what comes

up.

Good hunting

Uncle Bob

 

['sallgood]

WOW. Ordering the Motion........NOW. Thanks

 

[theoldwizard1]

What are you using to break the bead ?

Spoons are for light tires or last resort for anything over a 14". You need a decent "platform" that will have a bead breaker and a center post for leverage. HF sells one and so does Northern Tool both sell them for not a lot of money.

Manual Tire Changer Comparison - Harbor Freight 69686 vs. Northern Tool 13474

The key for mounting and demounting (after the bead is "broken") is the bar and the leverage you get with the center post.

Now the ULTIMATE manual tire changer is the No Mar Classic Motorcycle Tire Changer. Yes, it is aim at changing motorcycle tires, but watch this video that show a guy changing a tire from a Hummer (looks bigger than 20" to me). One spec sheet said the "Classic" model would handle tires up to 22.6" !

The real key to the No Mar system is the bar. The "never scratch" tip have a lifetime warranty. Some guys will use a cheap stand (HF or Northern Tool) and buy the No Mar bar.


The real key to changing any tire is keeping the opposite side of the bead you are working on in the drop center ! I can not emphasize this enough. No Mar makes several tools to do this, but a couple of hardwood (not pine) will work well also. This is usually a problem when demounting the first bead and when mounting the second bead.

The second key is lubrication. While some people swear by RuGlyde, No Mar sells a tire lube paste that works well (once you know where to apply it).

The sad thing is this "paste" is basically Murphy's Oil Soap Household Cleaner paste which is discontinued. The stuff was great and cheap.



If I haven't convinced you to buy at least the Northern Tool manual tire changer, you need to check into Ken-tools. There stuff is really aim at HD truck and larger tires. If they don't have it, nobody does and much of it is sold on Amazon !

 

[Strouty]

I saw a video with the murphy's soap being used to seal a stubborn bead.

As for me, all I did is mount one, I did not have to dismount. I guess I need to practice that next.

 

[trackwelder]

I saw a video with the murphy's soap being used to seal a stubborn bead.

As for me, all I did is mount one, I did not have to dismount. I guess I need to practice that next.

No need for Murphys soap, just a couple squirts of starting fluid.

 

[txvwnut]

If it's anything bigger than 17" I ain't touchin it and for everything under I use a 60's era Bishman rim clamp tire machine.

 

[1950mercury]

No need for Murphys soap, just a couple squirts of starting fluid.

And a match

 

[malbojah]

I used a HF tire machine with the motorcycle adapter for 3 years. Hated every motorcycle tire I ever did. Saw an air / electric machine 200 miles away one morning and had it home and working by dinner.

Replaced this

With this

And before anyone screams, "PVC - heretic!' it's already been replaced with copper.

 

[WhiffySpark]

You're not using a machine to change 22.5. It's easier and faster by hand

You can use a bead sledge and the sliding style to break the bead. I'll see if I can find pictures of spoons you'd need

16-19.5 you can use a regular tire changer if you have one. I damn sure wouldn't mess with manual machines for it

 

[Strouty]

I don't have any machines, just me a couple of pry bars, some lube, and a five gallon bucket.

That no mar setup looks pretty nice. At that price, I think I could find a decent used rim clamp though. After tonight, I would be happy with just a small pedestal bolted to the floor.

As far as 22.5s, those would be done on the floor with hand tools, I don't want to lift a tire that big any higher than I need to.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I have the HF tire changer and it works OK, but you really have to bolt it down. All of the videos of the guys using one not bolted down, or not pushing the bead into the lowest part of the rim makes it look a lot harder than it actually is. When I was a teen a friends dad had a manual Coates machine that was similar but a lot beefier than the HF model that one worked great. I bought a gallon of the tire mounting fluid from NAPA for around $8 which really helps.

Chris

 

[AmishFury]

another tip with the HF mounter is to weld the bits that aren't supposed to move...

welded and anchored down those things are solid

 

[Farmall 1066]

I used a Larin tire changer from TSC for years, and got along fine, but upgraded to a Bishman rim clamp machine.
For over 17" stuff, I use a slide hammer bead breaker and pair of 18" spoons from Northern Tool.
Also have a pair of Ken Tool double ended tire spoons I like a lot for car tires.

 

[shockwave]

If you are looking for a universal tire machine I highly recommend a hunter to me they are the best

And you will need a big tire iron for the semi's in 17.5 inch and up and invest in equal packets it will save on wheel weights

 

[Can I try?]

"Soap with a brush (I used damn and my fingers)"

Too funny!

I'm guessing you meant Dawn (soap), but I'm sure a lot of "damns" were used, as well.

 

[Strouty]

Yup, dawn. There were several damns as well.

 

[volleyball]

I don't have any machines, just me a couple of pry bars, some lube, and a five gallon bucket.

I think that statement will get the T man all excited.

I use motorcycle spoons for the small tires. I have a machine for regular vehicle tires and farm out the big ones as it is rare.
A little dish soap with a brush or mop to put on the bead makes a world of difference.

 

[gte718p]

I use a five dollar bill as my tool for tire changes a 10 if I want it balanced. Generally takes about 5 minutes at my local rim and tire place. i'm fairly convinced that the company never see that money it goes right in the tire kids pocket, oh well. He does a good job and you can't beat the convenience.

 

[Strouty]

I use a five dollar bill as my tool for tire changes a 10 if I want it balanced. Generally takes about 5 minutes at my local rim and tire place. i'm fairly convinced that the company never see that money it goes right in the tire kids pocket, oh well. He does a good job and you can't beat the convenience.

Problem is it was after dinner on the 4th of July, you think your tire place will be open?

 

[ibedayank]

bead breaker http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/Ken-Tool-35427-TG11D-18in-FG-Duck-Billed-Wedge-p/ken35427.htm

 

[Strouty]

bead breaker http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/Ken-Tool-35427-TG11D-18in-FG-Duck-Billed-Wedge-p/ken35427.htm

I would probably end up going with one of these, less chance to damage the rim.

http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/Ken-Tool-35926-T26B-HD-Impact-Bead-Breaker-p/ken35926.htm

 

[ibedayank]

deadblow or brass hammer but if aluminum I would not use either impact style breaker
I have changed a couple for 1950s macks that it took 2 of us and a breaker and a 10 pound sledge to get the beads to move

 

[Strouty]

Admittedly it took me close to 30 minutes to install the one 16" tire. I never even had to break a bead. I did however break a sweat!

 

[WhiffySpark]

I would probably end up going with one of these, less chance to damage the rim.

http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/Ken-Tool-35926-T26B-HD-Impact-Bead-Breaker-p/ken35926.htm

We have both styles.

Then 18 and 24 demount spoon

36 straight mount/demount

And a pair of grip on vise grips for mounting

 

[Strouty]

The funny thing is my biggest tires should be easy to mount, they are all beadlock. I guess it will take more time, but I should not have to fight it quite as much. We will find out, I need to change the orings in a couple of them at some point.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The funny thing is my biggest tires should be easy to mount, they are all beadlock. I guess it will take more time, but I should not have to fight it quite as much.

If you are fighting it, it is because the opposite side of the bead is not in the drop center !

Check YouTube. Lots of videos.

 

[Strouty]

If you are fighting it, it is because the opposite side of the bead is not in the drop center !

Check YouTube. Lots of videos.

It was in the center, I had to adjust it a few times. I was fighting it because the bars I was using are ¾" thick and at first I had no lube. Had I been thinking I should have grabbed my wood working pry bars, I bet that would have made it easier. Once I added the lube, it must have only been a few minutes to get the tire on, then I had to fight with the bead.

 

[chillrich]

This is my favorite for dirtbike tires
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-tools/stubby-tire-tools/

 

[ex-x-fire]

When I was a kid I used to changes my own tires, I'd carefully drive a car onto the wheel/tire that I was trying to collapse, flip & do it again. It probably wouldn't work on the low profiles though.

 

[Smokeshow69]

You really need to get a cheetah if you are changing any thing semi truck size related. Also get a couple of double sided tire spoons at least 24" long which are made for semi truck tires with the bead lock nubs on the spoons. If you get the cheetah you will not need any murphys tire soap since the cheetah will seat the bead safely and will also make a nice big bang

 

[2oolhound]

One thing we used to do with MC tire irons was thin them down with a file and remove and square or sharp 90' edges that could pinch tubes. These were great for starting or working the tight area as you progressed. Thicker ones could be used behind them but I really liked the ones that were filed thin.



Another thing I've read on motorcycle forums is the use of a rope with a turnakey around the circumference of the tread and tighten the heck out of it. A strong ratchet strap is supposed to work as well. Tires are supposed to practically fall off or on but I've never tried it.

 

[malbojah]

Another thing I've read on motorcycle forums is the use of a rope with a turnakey around the circumference of the tread and tighten the heck out of it. A strong ratchet strap is supposed to work as well. Tires are supposed to practically fall off or on but I've never tried it.

I've only done that with ATV tires.

 

[Jake79]

Check out the tnt100 tire set for heavy duty tires it works great. Its a little pricey but it will pay for itself if you end up doing a lot

 

[gte718p]

Problem is it was after dinner on the 4th of July, you think your tire place will be open?

I've only been driving 20 years, but I've never needed an emergency tire mounting that could not wait till tomorrow or Monday.

I do have spares on all my vehicles though. Three of them for my trailer.

 

[Strouty]

I've only been driving 20 years, but I've never needed an emergency tire mounting that could not wait till tomorrow or Monday.

I do have spares on all my vehicles though. Three of them for my trailer.

I was headed to the Northern Maine along the Canadian Border and I did not want to be without a spare. While there were repair places up there, they were few and far between in some of the areas I was. Besides it was an excuse to learn something new.