"panel" is on the right track. my 50 3/4 ton has the 17"s and for the most part the guys at the local "big truck" tire place are relatively amicable to working on them.

are they split rim or lock ring? mine are the lock ring style and they actually are not that bad to work on.,,and way safer than the split rim. lock rings seat up in a more positive nature than a split rim. my dad had a 69 gmc with split rims. we tied straps around and through the rims when we mounted a new set of tires up before puttin air to them. never did have one test the straps capability but sure didn't want to take the chance. still not a bad idea if it's your first time beading one up.

i changed a flat about 2 months ago and decided to do it myself. best advise i can give you is make sure to put a heavy solution of soap around the rim to ease the removal of the tire from the ring. once the soap was worked into the ring it slid right off.

it also helps to make a block spacer to put under the tire/rim assembly. if it's sitting on the floor you'll never get it broke free.

the chevrolet truck shop manual for 48 to 52's outlines tire removal procedures pretty well.

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