Friggin' Road Hazards!

[3Phase]

Don't get a steel rim for the spare, all that weight will drop your mileage in half and nothing else will fit in the trunk!

I've got a couple of 130-90 16s that you can have, put 'em together on the rim for a 260-180 16 and you'll be stylin'!

.

[TopCatGr58]

Update

Well, I received the Amazon tire today. I used my C-clamp to break the beads, took a few attempts, spritzes with windex as a lubricant, and then proceeded to remove the tire from the rim with the 24" long motorcycle tire irons I had. It's amazing how stiff/tight those sidewalls are! Got the "new" one installed and aired up, ensured that the bead was seated and even all around. Will be taking it to TreadQuarters to get balanced for just $6.00.

They wanted $24.99 to swap the tire out on/off the rim and balance. Only took me about an hour and several ounces of sweat, no broken knuckles or such!! I guess I'll just keep the pizza tire spare as it is, and just keep this old carcass in case of a more catastrophic road hazard in the future!

Gonna be another hot one here tomorrow, tough getting much work done on my rebuild with this crap!!! Sunday to be cooler! Feel like I'm running out of time/weekends!

T.C.

[rover]

tire

Harbor Freight sells a manual type tire changer for around 50 bucks. I have one, and it works fairly well, but must be bolted to a floor. It has a bead breaker that works good, and much easier to mount and dismount tires than the floor way. I would not want to use this during a tire sale, but for once in a while, can't beat it.

[Schming]

Harbor Freight sells a manual type tire changer for around 50 bucks. I have one, and it works fairly well, but must be bolted to a floor. It has a bead breaker that works good, and much easier to mount and dismount tires than the floor way. I would not want to use this during a tire sale, but for once in a while, can't beat it.

I have used my HF tire changer for the past 6 yrs. for all 3 of our vehicles and some friends also and as You say it works well for what it is. If anything it's a good pattern to build a heavier duty one as it bends quite easily on my truck tires but I still manage to get them changed, smaller tires no problem.

I also bought the HF bubble balancer tool and the stick on weights to complete the task.

I use Fast threaded anchors to mount it to my garage floor when needed.

My first job at 16 yrs. old was in a full service ARCO Station and I had to learn real quick how to fix a flat amongst other tasks and I actually enjoyed using the tire machine, it beat using tire irons.

[ViperRon]

Great proclamation on tire changers guys and true worth every penny however at times everything seems to hit at the same time and the money in life is not there to handle all bills. Have experienced it myself before. Then you have a tire get damaged by some crap someone let fall on the road and the challenge begins. You have to put blood sweat and tears into it. Now there are those who just spend money they do not have or don't pay a bill to get by but there are others who do what ever to get by.

All TC wants to do is get his bike back together and everything gets in the way glad you scrapped through another one TC!!!!!!!!!

[TopCatGr58]

I remember using an automatic/power assisted tire changer when I was in the NAVY, in the self help auto garage on base, it was nice! Usually, I buy my tires in sets of 4 at the local volume store (BJ's), and just let them install them, do the rotations, repairs, etc..

So...although I'm sure the HF changer is a good tool, I can't see me spending the $ for one that I probably would never use again. IF I do experience another road hazard event and have to get another used tire, I'll probably just use the manual tire irons AGAIN...I need the exercise anyways!

Hey Ron, happy recent B'day, sorry I missed your wishes thread a few days ago!

[ViperRon]

One good thing about using your own machine or Irons is if the rim is cracked or bent you know who did it and when it happens in the shop its always the invisible man before they got ahold of it.
When my pickup was brand new I picked up a nail in a tire at 5K miles and went to a firestone. Tire never even went all the way down. I asked if they could plug it and they said half an hour so there I set for 3 and then started asking what was taking so long. They said you cracked your rim when the tire went flat and they were trying to find me a replacement I could buy of course all they found was dealer for 600.00 and I demanded to see the rim they said they had thrown it away already. Well I said I need to see it so after threatening to call the police finally I got to see the rim where the new guy let the changer grab the edge and snap off about 10 inches.
I got a replacement and afterward called main office Firestone telling them about the fraud and they actually sent me 250.00 voucher check and apology. I give the voucher to my brother for Christmas we never got along anyway and neither will Firestone service and me.

Thanks for the belated birthday wish TC.

[puskrat]

Not a mechanic (or technician), but I was a service advisor, and hold a PhD in tire and wheel destruction. Get a new tire. Now, I'm not saying don't drive the car to work tomorrow, but I AM saying keep your speed low and get a tire mounted at lunch if you can.