Tire Mounting

[Rooster59]

Does anybody mount their own tires? This may not be an option for those of us with fancy aluminum wheels but I still use the painted steel wheels. The 16 year old Duro 22x11-8 tires on our EZGO are still fine, but 2ply. That's OK on the front but with a steel bed and wood sideboard extensions the rear is heavy. Not to mention it has HD springs and it regularly will be loaded with 500lbs of fertilizer, potting soil, or pull a 65gal watering wagon. Just 5lbs of air in those tires is too mushy.

While looking at 4ply Wanda AT tires online it occurred to me there is no point in having a tire store swap the tires on the rims. I have changed many dirt bike and lawnmower tires over the years with no problems. Some of those buggers were tube type too.

How about you?


Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[StoveBolt]

They are tough, I have my tire guy do them for 5 bucks ea.

[Rooster59]

I guess the smaller the rim diameter the tougher it is. A huge 6ply rear knobby for my Yam TT600 wasn't bad. But it was 18" diameter and I was much younger.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[sho305]

The 2 ply you can do, 4ply or more not so easy. I made a changer the wheel bolted to and could pry on it. It worked but still not easy. I'm a big advocate of using 4py atv rated tires just because they resist punctures way better if you offroad, also have better sidewall strength. But I ride in the woods a lot, and rocks too.

I also never run 5lbs in my tires, I run 8 in front and 12-15 in rear depending on if I haul stuff in the box. It handles much better and soft tires really slow you down. The front is very light and does not need much pressure. Those are atv tires, I could stand on them with no rim and not crush the tire.

[Rooster59]

Thanks sho. The rears are the only ones that have given me any trouble. The fronts are fine with 5lbs in them. I do very little pavement driving. Probably 95% off road on our property. Soft field roads, gravel roads, lawn, and at moderate speeds. That's why the tires are 16 years old and still have 3/4 of the original tread. Both rears have slow leaks. One had a locust thorn in it from deer camp. The other hasn't had a repair. It leaks down a few psi over the course of a month. The patched tire leaks a few pounds in a week.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[smokindawg]

I didn't install the tires on my new aluminum wheels as I didn't want to scratch or nick the new finish.

But, I do my own steel wheels. I have a decent Coats tire machine for car tires and it will work on the ATV tires, but I have to break the bead first as it won't do that on the smaller wheels. So, I have an old air over manual machine that works to break the bead on them.

Before that I'd just fight them by hand, which makes paying to have it done an easy choice. I'd not fight them by hand anymore.

[Rooster59]

My local country tire and auto shop has done tire repairs for me on big vehicles and the one on the golf cart. He is pretty reasonable. It was just a thought after I replace a front riding mower tire last year by myself. At that time I thought it had been a long time since I had done it myself on anything.

I bought solid tires for my wife's two-tire wheelbarrow just to avoid messing with small tires.

[beater cart]

I do them at home I use my truck and a 2X4 put the 2x4 on the tire close to the bead and rive the truck onto the 2x4 to pop the bead. Then a couple of screw drivers work the tire off the rim then a little soapy water I can manage the first bead on with out the screw drivers second bead I use the screwdrivers never had an issue even do my aluminum wheels.

[scottyb]

For years I used a HF manual tire changer and the tire spoons they sell.
A little dish soap on the beads or spray on tire magic and they slip on and off.

[smokindawg]

One thing I heard about using dish soap on aluminum wheels is that it can lead to corrosion allowing the tire too leak........... Just something I heard and wanted to pass on.