Manual tire changer for low profile tires?

[A-R-K]

Is there such a thing? I see the HF, Northern tool, and Atlas manual tire changers all top out at 16" rims. Even the heavy duty Atlas. Most cars I'll be working on have 17"+ alloys. Suggestions? Budget and floor space make a real tire machine difficult at the moment. Thanks!

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[A-R-K]

I should clarify I'm not looking to do super low profile, just tires like 225/45/17. I don't expect to have 40 series or less in the foreseeable future. (I'm not sure what the actual definition of "low profile" actually is)

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[kd3pc]

spoons and spindle firmly mounted, like the old coats machines. Usually work from the backside, IIRC

 

[A-R-K]

spoons and spindle firmly mounted, like the old coats machines. Usually work from the backside, IIRC

Gotcha. Do you think the HF bolted down would suffice to hold it?

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[kd3pc]

The HF would likely work fine, secured correctly. I would spring a bit more money and go with this, easier on the body...and more robust

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Heavy-Duty-Manual-Tire-Changer?gclid=CKWno7mPuswCFUk6gQod1Y0E1w

best of luck.

 

[joe_padavano]

I should clarify I'm not looking to do super low profile, just tires like 225/45/17. I don't expect to have 40 series or less in the foreseeable future. (I'm not sure what the actual definition of "low profile" actually is)

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The aspect ratio is less important than the actual sidewall height when it comes to ease of tire mounting. Your 225/45-17s only have a 4" sidewall. One of my cars uses 195/60-15s, which have a 4.6" sidewall, and those can be tough to mount. I finally got some bead holders, which keep the bead down in the low part of the outer rim while you work your way around the tire. These are the ones I got, but there are many different styles.

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, sometimes breaking the bead is the most problematic. Some of today's wide alloy wheels have a wide inner shoulder which is a tight fit against the tire ID. I've given up on doing wide alloys with low profile tires. Just not worth the grunting.

Bottom line, even though the local tire shop charges extra for anything over 16", I pay them to mount and balance; it's not likely the homehobbyhack is going to have a spin balancer and that's an absolute must with large diameter tires.

A plus having a relationship is they also offer free flat repairs and they even replaced bad valve stems a couple of times.

jack vines

 

[A-R-K]

Joe: thanks for pointing those out. I've seen them at Greg Smith, I'll be sure to grab a couple.

Jack: thanks for the comments. Do you think even that heavy duty changer from Greg Smith, linked to above, would have a hard time breaking the bead? It's funny, my local tire shops are what's driving me to do this. 6 out of the last 7 sets of tires I've had put on were done wrong for one reason or another. At 4 different shops... I've wasted so much valuable time going back due to mistakes... I give up, I'm going to get a spin balancer and do it all myself.

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[theoldwizard1]

I should clarify I'm not looking to do super low profile, just tires like 225/45/17.

I consider anything less than 60 series to be "super low profile" !

 

[theoldwizard1]

The aspect ratio is less important than the actual sidewall height when it comes to ease of tire mounting. Your 225/45-17s only have a 4" sidewall. One of my cars uses 195/60-15s, which have a 4.6" sidewall, and those can be tough to mount.

WRONG ! Aspect ratio is just another way of stating side wall height !!

Take the width (225) and multiple by thee aspect ratio which is a percentage (40% or 0.40) 225*0.4=90 which is in millimeters. Convert to inches is 3.5" !!

That is "extreme" !

I finally got some bead holders, which keep the bead down in the low part of the outer rim while you work your way around the tire. These are the ones I got, but there are many different styles.

At least 2 or 3 of those, a GOOD mount/demount tool (like NoMar) and plenty of lube APPLIED IN THE PROPER LOCATION and it CAN be done. Use rim protectors on alloy rims work CAREFULLY from the back with a protector on the machine so the face of the rim does NOT touch the metal base.

Demounting is all about keeping the bead opposite th area you are working on down in the "drop center".

Mounting low profile tires is usually much easier. Work on grass or a piece of carpet withe the rim face down. Lube the appropriate areas. place the outer face of the tire partial on the rim (which is face down) and use you body to pop it on making certain the area opposite where you are working is well in the drop center. Bead holders, spoon and rim protector are necessary for the second bead.

With the proper technique, patients, and tools IT CAN BE DONE !

 

[atikovi]

Do you think even that heavy duty changer from Greg Smith, linked to above, would have a hard time breaking the bead?

I have a regular Coats changer and seeing it struggle with some stubborn tires to break the bead makes it uncomprehendible how someone can do it manually.

The aspect ratio is less important than the actual sidewall height when it comes to ease of tire mounting. Your 225/45-17s only have a 4" sidewall. One of my cars uses 195/60-15s, which have a 4.6" sidewall, and those can be tough to mount.

You must have got that backwards. I have those 225/45-17 tires on a Cruze and could barely get them off the rim. Decided to take them to a shop to put them back on instead of risking tearing the bead. I have 195/60-15 on a Mercedes and they are a piece of cake to change. The lower profile tires are harder to work with because they have a shorter and thus much stiffer sidewall.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have a regular Coats changer and seeing it struggle with some stubborn tires to break the bead makes it uncomprehendible how someone can do it manually.

Lube (yes, while breaking down the bead) and technique !