4x4 tire rotation - how to save my back?

[cosmokenney]

I drive a jeep wrangler. Its got big heavy tires. Tire rotation scares me because of my chronic back problems.
Anyone come across a tool that could help me lift the tires to remove them, then move them, then put them on in the new location?

 

[BukitCase]

Maybe one of these?

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...ty-vehicle-positioning-wheel-dolly-61917.html

HTH... Steve

 

[tyyost]

Sure, as long as your on a smooth floor you could get a wheel dolly - https://www.harborfreight.com/1250-...MIs7rGg8HY7gIV4pJbCh0lVQZiEAQYASABEgI_EvD_BwE

 

[dagofast]

Get a Jack & Jill Trolley.

https://jackandjillofalltires.com/tools-you-need/

 

[mark#3]

Have tire up off the ground, use a bar between tire and ground, move/pry it up so tire goes off lug studs, then roll the tire to where ever, to install tire just the opposite

 

[DeeKay]

My F250 probably is 85-90lbs per wheel/tire and awkward, I just roll them on to the end of a Burke bar and then lift the tire with the bar....simple, nothing fancy.

 

[jayoldschool]

I use a folding chair, I sit in front of each corner. Roll the wheel/tire up, wiggle it up next to the lugs, then lift it in place (should be only 1-2") with the top of my feet. The part where the laces are. I keep my toes on the ground. Leverage works. I have three herniated discs, and this saves them. I know this sounds crazy, but try it, you'll like it. Work smarter, not harder.

 

[KSJeff]

Google wheel dolly and see what you like.

I blew out a bicep tendon in each arm pulling off some 20" tires off my tahoe. Be careful. Not uncommon if you are between 40 and 60. I'm 50. And they don't fix it. And it makes your rotator cuff weaker. That they will fix. Good luck and be careful with heavy wheels.

 

[Gummi Bear]

Do it the same way I taught my daughter to


Get the truck up on jackstands, with tires just barely off the ground. Loosen your lug nuts.

Sit on your ****, right in front of the tire, with your legs on either side of the tire. Squeeze your knees together to lift the tire, and pull your legs back towards you.

You can get up and roll it to the new location.

Repeat in reverse to mount the tire.

No lifting with your arms necessary.


My daughter, at 12 was able to mount a 38” on my old Bronco this way.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[Bobioz1]

I use a folding chair, I sit in front of each corner. Roll the wheel/tire up, wiggle it up next to the lugs, then lift it in place (should be only 1-2") with the top of my feet. The part where the laces are. I keep my toes on the ground. Leverage works. I have three herniated discs, and this saves them. I know this sounds crazy, but try it, you'll like it. Work smarter, not harder.

Same here, almost daily. Inch off the ground, knock them off, roll into new positions have a seat on rolling stool and use your feet to lift onto studs. No strain and is actually quick.

 

[NORDFORD]

Pay to have it done. If your back is that bad, it’s not worth the risk.

 

[Packard V8]

Google wheel dolly and see what you like.

I blew out a bicep tendon in each arm pulling off some 20" tires off my tahoe. Be careful. Not uncommon if you are between 40 and 60. I'm 50. And they don't fix it. And it makes your rotator cuff weaker. That they will fix. Good luck and be careful with heavy wheels.

Same here, almost daily. Inch off the ground, knock them off, roll into new positions have a seat on rolling stool and use your feet to lift onto studs. No strain and is actually quick.

For true. I'm seventy-five and have been swapping tires/wheels on four rigs every spring and fall forever. They're not getting any lighter, so don't lift anything you don't have to.

jack vines

 

[Badgerstate]

Pay to have it done. If your back is that bad, it’s not worth the risk.

^This. Sometimes you just need to give it up and let someone else mess their back up.
You can either pay a mechanic to do it for you or you can pay a doctor/chiropractor to fix your back.

 

[justanengineer]

Learn to lift with your legs like Gummi suggests or find a better tire shop that has free rotation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[whateg01]

Dad used to put a piece of cardboard under the duals of semis and then grease it up to slide them on and off. I'm thinking he must've been doing wheel bearings then. You could probably do something similar with just a couple pieces of cardboard so the tire doesn't get all greasy.

 

[bcschief]

Discount tire does free rotation for the life of the tires when you buy the tires from them and have them installed by them they also do free pressure check and you can make appointments to have them done so you don't have to wait for the service.

 

[lilredex]

Use a 2 X 4 under the tire as a pry bar to lift off and on....been doin' it that way for years.

 

[Kscardsfan]

My local shop has lifetime rotation and balance. It’s nice to drop it off and get it done.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I have rolled the tire onto a floor Jack then pushed towards the vehicle raising the jack or lowering as needed. Works for me.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Learn the prybar method. I like about a 42" bar.

I've installed everything from 33" Mud Terrains to giant high flotation Oshkosh mixer tires with one.

Simple, affordable and effective.

 

[joecon]

They make a tool, it is like a Y you slide the fork under the tire and lift it has rollers that lift the tire then you roll it on little wheels that are on the ends of the Y and repeat to install. We used it for truck tires.

https://www.amazon.com/tire-lifting-tool/s?k=tire+lifting+tool

 

[Jagmandave]

Drive a car with smaller wheels/tries?

I can lift the 10" wheels on my Mini with one hand!

 

[javyLSU]

I solved this problem by putting a lift in my garage. Big wheels/tires are a lot easier to put on when the truck is low...

 

[pwschuh]

Do it the same way I taught my daughter to

Get the truck up on jackstands, with tires just barely off the ground. Loosen your lug nuts.

Sit on your ****, right in front of the tire, with your legs on either side of the tire. Squeeze your knees together to lift the tire, and pull your legs back towards you.

You can get up and roll it to the new location.

Repeat in reverse to mount the tire.

No lifting with your arms necessary.

My daughter, at 12 was able to mount a 38” on my old Bronco this way.

^^^ This. Taught my daughter to do the same thing and I mount my 33" M/Ts this way with no issues. I too have had significant back problems in the past. You got to keep your posture correct no matter what you're doing, even standing in the shower.

.

 

[jayoldschool]

^^this sounds very similar to my foot lift method. It works.

 

[Crow Horse]

The Harbor Freight car dolly works very well. I'm in the same boat although I have a gravel driveway which makes it a little more challenging to position but not stressful at all.
Edit** I have 2 prosthetic knees and the earlier mentioned techniques that I had used no longer worked for me......

 

[Crow Horse]

I added several small pieces of kydex so there wouldn't be metal on metal contact.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Same problem, I switch over to studded for winter. A one ton with 265/70x17s . Once apon a time , no problem. Now I use a pry bar, but I am looking at those car wheel dollies that jack up. I'm 71.

 

[Crow Horse]

Same problem, I switch over to studded for winter. A one ton with 265/70x17s . Once apon a time , no problem. Now I use a pry bar, but I am looking at those car wheel dollies that jack up. I'm 71.

They work a treat. Easy peasy on a paved driveway or garage floor. It's a little more work if on gravel but totally doable without the strain. They'll save you from visiting a chiropractor or an orthopedic surgeon. It's money well spent.

For the youngsters who might be laughing about this issue, all I can say is keep on living. If you're lucky and make it as far as us older folks have you'll realize the real value of working smarter and not harder....

 

[cosmokenney]

I solved this problem by putting a lift in my garage. Big wheels/tires are a lot easier to put on when the truck is low...

If I wasn't renting, this is absolutely what I would do! Still kicking myself for not buying the house I looked at that had a lift installed in the workshop. The workshop was bigger than the house! But the workshop was also not built to code and was too close (about a foot) from the property line. So, I was worried that the county would eventually make me fix that.

 

[cosmokenney]

I really like those dollies. Just need to find one that will accommodate a 35x12.5 inch tire.

 

[Gunfixr]

I've used the foot method, the leg method, and the bar method, all with my old 4x4. It was wearing 38"x15"x16.5" at first, then I went to 44"x18.5"x16.5" later. Used same methods for both sets, in addition to sitting as if about to do the leg method, and just curling them into place.
The foot method was a bit tough with tires this big, but the leg and bar methods were easy.
Btw, the 44s weighed 147lbs each.

 

[Jersey Drew]

Every tire shop I’ve ever been to offers free tire rotation, when you purchase tires from them. If not it’s usually only about $80. You will spend more trying to figure it out, hokey parts, and back pain than just taking it to a shop.

 

[Crow Horse]

Every tire shop I’ve ever been to offers free tire rotation, when you purchase tires from them. If not it’s usually only about $80. You will spend more trying to figure it out, hokey parts, and back pain than just taking it to a shop.

Wow, that's expensive! Up here it's about $25 for a rotation. Either way, rotate 2-3 times a year, it adds up quick. It's $100 well spent if you're inclined to do it yourself....

 

[ericm]

They make a tool, it is like a Y you slide the fork under the tire and lift it has rollers that lift the tire then you roll it on little wheels that are on the ends of the Y and repeat to install. We used it for truck tires.

https://www.amazon.com/tire-lifting-tool/s?k=tire+lifting+tool

These work really well. With the rollers you can rotate the wheel to get the lug bolts lined up with one hand while easily holding the wheel up in position with the other.

 

[Bogie1632]

Tire dolly as suggested. Even cheap ones work very well and a a bit more stable to use than the pry bar or board tricks.

V/R
Bogie

 

[ndnchf]

I restored this bumper jack to work on my jeep. But you could adapt a similar one to raise the tires up. Keep your eyes on CL and FB market, they show up regularly.