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  • I want to change my own tires

    From Wolf Greenblatt@21:1/5 to All on Tue Mar 11 05:17:07 2025
    XPost: alt.home.repair

    I want to see if I can change my own tires at home.
    Just for the fun of it.

    What tools do I need that everyone doesn't already have.
    I have the jacking & compressor related tools.

    But what specific tire-removal & replacement & balancing tools do I need?

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  • From Ed P@21:1/5 to Wolf Greenblatt on Tue Mar 11 09:18:35 2025
    XPost: alt.home.repair

    On 3/11/2025 5:17 AM, Wolf Greenblatt wrote:
    I want to see if I can change my own tires at home.
    Just for the fun of it.

    What tools do I need that everyone doesn't already have.
    I have the jacking & compressor related tools.

    But what specific tire-removal & replacement & balancing tools do I need?

    Have you watched your tires taken from the wheel and the new one put
    back on? Tire shops have expensive equipment to be able apply the force needed. Unlike bicycle tires, you need more than a screwdriver to do it.

    This will show you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YixAQy4HjGw&ab_channel=TutorialGenius.com

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  • From root@21:1/5 to Wolf Greenblatt on Tue Mar 11 13:15:42 2025
    Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> wrote:
    I want to see if I can change my own tires at home.
    Just for the fun of it.

    What tools do I need that everyone doesn't already have.
    I have the jacking & compressor related tools.

    But what specific tire-removal & replacement & balancing tools do I need?

    Don't do it, it isn't fun at all.

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  • From rbowman@21:1/5 to Wolf Greenblatt on Tue Mar 11 20:51:13 2025
    XPost: alt.home.repair

    On Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:17:07 -0400, Wolf Greenblatt wrote:

    I want to see if I can change my own tires at home.
    Just for the fun of it.

    What tools do I need that everyone doesn't already have.
    I have the jacking & compressor related tools.

    But what specific tire-removal & replacement & balancing tools do I
    need?

    Tire irons (spoons)

    https://www.harborfreight.com/24-inch-general-purpose-tire-iron-93230.html

    Sometimes a singlejack (5 lb. short handled sledge hammer) helps. I change
    the tube-type tires on one of the bikes. Tubeless tires can be problematic
    to get the bead to seat. You can find youtube videos of people using 5
    gallon air tanks with high flow capability. There's also the not
    recommended explosive method involving starting fluid.

    Another way is sort of a inflatable band around the circumference of the
    tire that will tend to spread the sidewalls out. It depends a lot of the
    tire characteristics. Even with tube-type Kendas getting the bead to seat
    can be a PITA while other brands are no problem.

    If you can back the brakes off so there's very little drag you can sort of balance a tire on one of the non-driven hubs. I don't bother with the bike since I run DOT knobbies and balance is a moot point.

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  • From Marion@21:1/5 to badgolferman on Wed Mar 12 06:56:54 2025
    XPost: alt.home.repair

    On Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:13:29 -0000 (UTC), badgolferman wrote :


    But what specific tire-removal & replacement & balancing tools do I
    need?

    It's not that simple, but you can do it if absolutely necessary. I've
    done it with motorcycle tires using the zip tie method. It is very
    possible to damage the sidewall bead though. For balancing you could
    use dynamic beads or a bubble balancer. Harbor Freight has a tire
    changer but it's debatable how easy it is to use and how long it will
    last.

    Hi badgolferman,

    I just picked up two free SUV tires from Amazon Vine & along with the free
    tire irons, tire valves, wheel weights, etc., I mounted & balanced them.

    IMHO, it's simple but without the right tools, it's nearly impossible.

    You need, at the very least three fundamentally different tools.
    1. Bead breaker
    2. Tire mounter
    3. Wheel balancer

    I have the crappy tools from Harbor Freight. They work. But they stink.
    1. https://www.harborfreight.com/portable-wheel-balancer-59140.html
    2. https://www.harborfreight.com/manual-tire-changer-58731.html
    3. https://www.harborfreight.com/bead-breaker-58769.html

    I have those tools but the bead breaker looks like this instead: https://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/i/m/image_25063.jpg

    It looks like HF doesn't sell that particular style anymore. https://www.harborfreight.com/bead-breaker-92961.html

    If anyone wants pictures of today's mounting & balancing, let me know.
    Pretty much everything but the compressor I get for free on Amazon Vine.

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  • From Woozy Song@21:1/5 to root on Thu Mar 13 10:35:15 2025
    root wrote:
    Wolf Greenblatt <wolf@greenblatt.net> wrote:
    I want to see if I can change my own tires at home.
    Just for the fun of it.

    What tools do I need that everyone doesn't already have.
    I have the jacking & compressor related tools.

    But what specific tire-removal & replacement & balancing tools do I need?

    Don't do it, it isn't fun at all.

    we used to do it out in the desert, 40 Celcius in the shade (on
    Landcruisers with split rims).

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