Removing old tires from rims

[The Juggernaut]

I have some rims with tires on them, and I would like to get the tires off so I can use the wheels for other projects.

Most are just 15" steel wheels. A couple of dully wheels from a motor home ect.

I don't want to spend $10 bucks a wheel if there is an easy way. I have about a dozen wheels to do

I removed the tire from one of the dully wheels so I could use it for a base for my grinder. That was way too much work. I had to use an air hammer to brake the bead, then cutting off the tire with a metal blade in a recip saw.

It may be worlds easier to do the standard wheels over the 10 ply dully wheels, but thought I would ask here first

Might find an independent tire shop and see how much for the whole lot if I have to

 

[flushcut]

Tire irons

 

[gayler]

sawzall.

 

[xtremek]

I've done a few tractor tires. Big screwdrivers, crow bars or tire irons, and some thick metal chisels. Drive a screw driver between the rim and tire. Then drive in another on top of that. Then drive the chisel between them. Do that until the beads pop. Then step on one side of the tire and pry the other side up over rim. Work your way around the rim. And yes, the 10 ply will really ****. Maybe a Horror Freight tire machine would be worth the cost.

 

[Farrier]

sawzall.

You beat me to it. I still have to use a cut off disk to cut the bead though. Could never get the sawzall blades at the right angle to finish.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I have used a metal blade on a circular saw as well. You can then use either a Sawzall or die grinder for the remainder near the rim.

 

[PWC Repair]

Let most of the air out. Lay a 2x6 on the tire right up next to the rim. Drive onto it with a vehicle to break the bead. Flip it and do the other side. Lay wheel down face up and stand on the tire keeping the bead down about the center of the rim. Slip a prybar in the opposite side and work the tire up over the rim. Work each side back toward you until the bead is up over the rim. Stand it up and use the prybar to bring the backside of the tire up over the rim face. Then neal down with your knee into the tire while you beat down the bead right next to the rim with a big rubber mallet. I can do one in just a couple minutes.

 

[PWC Repair]

Here's a good short vid.

 

[matt_i]

Haven broken down a few tractor tires, it also applies to road vehicle tires, the key is to get both beads broken so they can collapse down toward the smaller-rolling-radius section of the wheel. Then the tire can be angled so the bead can be started to slip over the rim edge. Once its started, it proceeds rapidly. A couple of tire irons will do fine. If you don't care you can use screwdrivers or even pieces of rebar.

Done correctly its fairly easy. Done incorrectly it requires 100% of your strength, your full vocabulary, and 3 arms.

 

[John in OH]

Let most of the air out. Lay a 2x6 on the tire right up next to the rim. Drive onto it with a vehicle to break the bead. Flip it and do the other side. Lay wheel down face up and stand on the tire keeping the bead down about the center of the rim. Slip a prybar in the opposite side and work the tire up over the rim. Work each side back toward you until the bead is up over the rim. Stand it up and use the prybar to bring the backside of the tire up over the rim face. Then neal down with your knee into the tire while you beat down the bead right next to the rim with a big rubber mallet. I can do one in just a couple minutes.

Haven broken down a few tractor tires, it also applies to road vehicle tires, the key is to get both beads broken so they can collapse down toward the smaller-rolling-radius section of the wheel. Then the tire can be angled so the bead can be started to slip over the rim edge. Once its started, it proceeds rapidly. A couple of tire irons will do fine. If you don't care you can use screwdrivers or even pieces of rebar.

Done correctly its fairly easy. Done incorrectly it requires 100% of your strength, your full vocabulary, and 3 arms.

Ditto both of above suggestions!! It's never an "easy" job, but done correctly .... and with a couple of big tire irons .... it's not too bad. "Big" tire irons (18" or more) will help immensely .... but they aren't cheap. Fortunately for me, I inherited numerous irons in many sizes from my Dad and Granddad.

Be careful if you try using a Sawzall as careless use can damage the wheel bead surface.

 

[Gotcha640]

If you aren't going to use them for holding air again, cutting in to the bead and rim at the same time seems the easiest way.

 

[GabbyC]

If removing with tire irons or machine, be sure to remove them from the side with the lest amount of reverse in the rim. usually the front side but not all ways. Doing it wrong makes for a lot more work

 

[BFBOB]

I had a couple dozen OLD rusty tires to dismount- I got the cheapo HF tire "machine" (fully human-powered) and found it worked pretty well - better than just tire irons and hammers, anyway. I did make one modification. The wheel hold-down does a lousy job of keeping the wheel centered, and flopping around really makes the job hard. I made several spacers, essentially thick washers with the ID to fit the tire machine center post and the OD to fit the wheel.
The bead breaker probably can't handle heavy truck tires- it had a hard time with some larger, like LT sized tires that were heavily rusted onto the rims, but others have given sterner measures that work.
Depends on how many tires you need to dismount. If more than a couple, go for HF.

If nothing else, it will hold the wheel/tire steady at a convenient working height while you use all those other implements of destruction.

 

[John in OH]

I had a couple dozen OLD rusty tires to dismount- I got the cheapo HF tire "machine" (fully human-powered) and found it worked pretty well - better than just tire irons and hammers, anyway. I did make one modification. The wheel hold-down does a lousy job of keeping the wheel centered, and flopping around really makes the job hard. I made several spacers, essentially thick washers with the ID to fit the tire machine center post and the OD to fit the wheel.
The bead breaker probably can't handle heavy truck tires- it had a hard time with some larger, like LT sized tires that were heavily rusted onto the rims, but others have given sterner measures that work.
Depends on how many tires you need to dismount. If more than a couple, go for HF.

If nothing else, it will hold the wheel/tire steady at a convenient working height while you use all those other implements of destruction.

HF .... good suggestion!

 

[crewchief888]

for junk tires i spray a LOT of PB Blaster around the bead before i start to break them down..

i use the HF manual "machine"

 

[c4cruiser]

Would that $10 fee include a tire disposal cost? You could shop around for small tire shops ans ask about a single price deal that would include a disposal fee. Our shop charges a $2.50 disposal fee for any tire that gets tossed out.

Does your state require a disposal fee for tires? There would most likely be a fee if you took the tires to a dump or landfill.

 

[TractorJeff]

I use a bumper jack or hilift jack to break the beads. Then like the one guy described, work the tire on the rim down into the depression, left lift over the rim edge.
Tractor tires, truck tires and even car tires.
If I am not saving the rim, I collapse the bead on the wood splitter, then knock the rim out of the tire with a sledge hammer.

 

[tthornto]

It is not easy and well worth the $8-$10 an independent /used tire shop will charge to remove the tires especially if they will dispose of them too. If you really want to do it yourself then the easiest method I have personally used is to use a 6' digging bar and put the flat/chisel tip against the bead of the tire and then use a fence post driver over the other end of the bar to break the bead. After you break the bead use the digging bar to lever the bead away from the rim. The bar is big enough that you should be able to slip a sawzall blade in and just cut the bead plus a few inches of the sidewall, do that on both sides and the rim comes right off. If you cant get the sawzall blade in there then you can use prybars to lever the bead off.

 

[landlord30]

It is not easy and well worth the $8-$10 an independent /used tire shop will charge to remove the tires especially if they will dispose of them too.

Best thing I've read so far. Sometimes it's much easier to just pay up.

 

[Barnabas]

The Northern Tool tire changer costs a little more than the HF version, but is much better. I mounted mine on a shipping pallet.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_18863_18863

 

[Kev442]

Reading a thread like this one makes me glad I bought an old tire changer from the 50's for $200. I'm positive I've broke even by now just working with the steel rims.
A Dawn/water mixture is your friend, it reduces friction so much I may try an old aluminum rim one of these days.

 

[James-W]

Best thing I've read so far. Sometimes it's much easier to just pay up.

I tend to agree. I like doing things myself, but sometimes it is just too much of a hassle. If it were me and I only had one or two tires to do, I might give it a whirl. But the opening poster says he has a dozen wheels to remove the tires from. That is a bit too many to do by hand, at least it is for me.

 

[RocketScott]

Post an ad on Craigslist.

You might find someone with a tire machine that you can use. I have one but no balancer. Found a guy in CL with a balancer but no changer so we trade.


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[padroo]

I am decided to put new tires on my old trailer this year. 13 inch tires, how hard could they be to get off?
They gave me a fit and I bought this tool and it worked great. I don't remember it being this expensive though.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FR73NNQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Lube up the rim & tire. It makes a huge difference. I've used a Hi-lift jack under a bumper to break the bead.

How many do you have to do? Do you ever need to mount any tires? I have worked tires with irons & a hammer for a long time, but recently set up my dad's old manual tire machine here. It is sure easier/faster than irons & a jack. If you have several to do it might be worth picking up one of the manual machines mentioned above.

 

[nickelmore]

If removing with tire irons or machine, be sure to remove them from the side with the lest amount of reverse in the rim. usually the front side but not all ways. Doing it wrong makes for a lot more work

x 2 had to explain that to the tire kids at walmart on some ATV Tires.

If they are not semi tires (which are far easier to mount and dismount by hand, I would price shop as a local garage, junk yard or even wally world if its an option $10. to just dismount 1 tire seems a bit high unless there is a disposal fee included. We get $25 for disposal on semi tires. I myself would spend half that all day long.

 

[Farrier]

Let most of the air out. Lay a 2x6 on the tire right up next to the rim. Drive onto it with a vehicle to break the

You won't do this again after the board slaps the side of your pickup. I caused $800 in damages to my old 2004 Dodge Cummins trying to break a bead like that.

 

[jackson1701]

if you have a log splitter, it works well to break the beads. Then use tire irons to pop them off the rim.

 

[ASHMAN_AZ]

I've done a few tractor tires. Big screwdrivers, crow bars or tire irons, and some thick metal chisels. Drive a screw driver between the rim and tire. Then drive in another on top of that. Then drive the chisel between them. Do that until the beads pop. Then step on one side of the tire and pry the other side up over rim. Work your way around the rim. And yes, the 10 ply will really ****. Maybe a Horror Freight tire machine would be worth the cost.

Don't do this if you want to re-use the wheels, this will scratch up the bead sealing surface and destroy the wheel.

You need to break the bead with a high lift or other pressing down force like a trailer tong jack not a prybar.

I typically pay for dismounts but its a skill worth mastering.

 

[EOC_Jason]

If you don't want to save the tire, a sawzall for cutting the rubber and use an angle-grinder or die grinder to cut the bead (and not cut into the rim)...

Otherwise I think a set of tire irons would be a cheap investment.

 

[Majordisorder]

I've had good luck with a blade specified for cutting metal studs in a worm drive. Negative rake carbide teeth goes through the wires and rubber easily, then the cutoff wheel in a 4" angle grinder near the rim.

 

[94EG8]

I actually own a proper set of tire spoons and have broken down tire by hand before. Never again. It's well worth the $10 a tire to have someone else do it. There are multiple free or nearly free ways to dismount tires, but I guarantee none of them will make you feel like you saved any money.

 

[BD1]

My vote goes to the HF tire changer too. Had mine for 8 years or so and works great. I only used it for farm implement and trailer tires. Almost all were 15''.
It was well worth the $30 or $40 when I bought it.
I found it is a must to be bolted down to concrete slab for best results.

 

[Mk3Mike]

My vote goes to the HF tire changer too. Had mine for 8 years or so and works great. I only used it for farm implement and trailer tires. Almost all were 15''.
It was well worth the $30 or $40 when I bought it.
I found it is a must to be bolted down to concrete slab for best results.

Ditto!

I've broken mine, modified it, moved from shop to shop and still think it's great. If you're mainly looking to do dismounts it works awesome! If you don't care about scratching the wheel it works even better! haha I bought a No-mar bar for removing tires from aluminum wheels that I actually cared about.

Mounting tires is a whole other animal. I haven't tried it many times but never had much luck. Probably did at least 2 dozen dismounts, though. The bead breaker isn't great but I actually like the dedicated bead breaker that HF sells. One day I'll bite the bullet and buy a real machine but for now it helps save me a few bucks!

 

[Mr_fixit]

A good friend with a tire machine would do it for free.


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[Donald Cook]

They stopped the yearly free tire disposal in Illinois, there was no notice, I'm sure tire dealers had something to do with it, so even if you get the tires off it will cost you $5 a piece to get rid of them, could cost as much as 12-14$ for removal . I have started seeing more tires dumped on the side of the road. There must not be any value in recycling them.

 

[rburke65]

I removed two tires from two rims last summer. I like saving money but I'd take Moto a tire shop.

 

[94EG8]

They stopped the yearly free tire disposal in Illinois, there was no notice, I'm sure tire dealers had something to do with it, so even if you get the tires off it will cost you $5 a piece to get rid of them, could cost as much as 12-14$ for removal . I have started seeing more tires dumped on the side of the road. There must not be any value in recycling them.

The way it's done here there's a $4.50 tire levy on every new tire sold so every tire shop is obligated to take old tires since the fee has already been paid.

 

[EOC_Jason]

In Texas they do it as a "disposal fee" if I recall... Which if you keep your old tires then you obviously don't get charge it, and if you want to get rid of used tires then they would probably want you to pay (though never done that so I don't know). We would always give the old tires to a guy that would come around picking up scrap metal, he would use them for his trailer.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Here in CA we pay the tire disposal fee whenever we buy a new tire. It doesn't matter if you are currently disposing of any tires, you are paying to dispose of your new tire whenever you are done with it.

Actually, among all the stupid laws here, that one kinda makes sense. It cuts down on public dumping of tires to avoid the fee at the time of disposal.