I was wondering if you can change a tube-type tire without a tire machine? I ride motocross and we change tires with tire irons and was wondering if you can do the same with a car tire? I know they are different but in a pinch can you?
If you can change a motocross tire you will find car tires easy (no bead locks LOL) The tire irons you'll need will be bigger but I do it all the time. The only problem you might come across is "breaking" the bead off the rim. Bead breakers are cheap and I have seen folks drive a front tire of another car over the flat tire carefully avoiding the rim and it does break it loose. Just think of a way to increase your leverage and a couple of 2X4s can do it also. Go for it!
Tire s****s/irons. At least thats how I did my 21" A tires. Deflate, step on em to break the bead then pry em off with a pair of tire s****s.
For more modern tires, you will need a breaker of some sort and good lube is a necessity. I use a tire hammer to break old beads down. Tires that haven't been on long respond nicely to a slam breaker. Pinching the tube with a bar is the same as motorcycle tires just be careful. a tool to hold the stem in place while remounting is nice but not absolutely necessary.
Search "tire repairs " on here... I've posted several sources for ancient type tools. Gempler's has a really neat portable breaker and all manner of levers, and I think I posted my find of a place with hot patches still available. Go read "G****s of Wrath" for full instructions. Breaking can be the real sticking point, and many rods aren't heavy enough to squash their own tires off of the rims!
Thanks for the comments guys that helps out alot. i will have to check those other posts and see the "how to" on changing the tires. Thanks alot
2 tire irons and a bead breaker of some sort. Look in circle track catalogs/websites for a hand held bead breaker. Simple but effective. While I've never done an antique car tire, would imagine they're not too bad. It gets easier with increasing rim diameter, 13"s are a real *****, 15"s aren't too bad. 21's probably go on by hand. Have plenty of soapy water as bead lube
http://www.universaltire.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=24613&category_id=294 exactly what I used the last time I did a tire. (2 of em)
Gelper's sells a nifty but expensive clamp type thingy to pop beads, small enough to go into a tool box. Might not be necessary for a rod with clean, painted wheels, but I would have traded an arm for one when wrestling with 14" steel belted tires on salt-encrusted rusty rims on a 20 degree day...I remeber placing a bumper jack on a stuck one, jacking up an Impala to the actual top stop on the jack, and getting...nothing. I went inside to whimper and thaw my fingers, and about the second cup of coffee there was a sound like an exposion outside...damn thing finally tore loose, leaving jack and Impala crossed up in the driveway. I'll try to post some sources of tire tech tools...recreating what a motorist would have used in 1920. One of my road tools is the air pump from a circa 1980 Caddy that had some sort of factory air shocks to adjust ride height...hooked to a pump fitting and a cigarette lighter plug, it is a wonderful option compared to 500 strokes on the depression era Fordpump.
Try fitting that one into a hotrod's toolbox! Here's what I want: http://www.gemplers.com/product/145883/Tire-Bead-Breaker-Manual Not really necessary, if you have a good set of irons, but would save a lot of screaming, cursing, and bleeding... They also have a magnificent range of tire irons, like a 1930 Western Auto Catalog.
I've got a 50's version of that and it does work well. Old wheels don't have the safety bead ridge that holds the tubless tire on. These are easier. Bias plys bite the rim more than radials. I use gas in a dish wash soap bottle. A stubborn bead will get penetrated by the gas. and you can work it in with the breaker. two tire s****s. I use Soap for mounting.
I especially like it when you blow a tire on a halibrand spindle mount wheel -NOW THAT was fun changing on the side of the road!
Organized my sources: Everything you need to live just like Tom Joad! Just add your jalopy and a flat... Tire Stuff Sources Gemplers tire stuff: http://www.gemplers.com/tires-supplies Patchboy: http://patchboy.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=P&Category_Code=VS More tire stuff: http://www.douglastruck.com/dougla****alog.pdf Modern source for Spark Plug tire pump! http://www.nextag.com/More-Categories--zzair+pump+for+tirez2700000zB6z5---html Ultimate pump! http://www.lautard.com/Tirepump/index.html Shrader, Camel stuff, including hot patches: List http://www.ez-flo.com/data/info/Amflo_Catalog.pdf Prices http://www.ez-flo.com/data/prices/amflo.pdf All Schrader: http://www.allvalleyhose.com/catalog/vendor_catalogs/catalogs/Schrader.pdf Weatherhead 59X4 and related fittings: http://hydraulics.eaton.com/products/pdfs/fc/W-HYOV-MC001-E_br***_fittings.pdf
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/BEAD-BREAKER,2657.html Bead breaker. Sort of small enough for a tool box.
You can break a bead with an old bumper jack. Place the base on the bead, jack up the car and it'll break the bead. I have a truck tire hammer here from the days when I did my own split rim work. Bob
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