The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How do you get a tire off a rim?

Ok, I know 55 years ago folks (especially folks out on the farm) didn't go running to the local garage to get a tire changed.. so how did they do it?

How the heck do you get a 6.00 16 tire off the rim?

I bagged a 600 - 16 tube new off the clearance rack at Autozone for $5, and i've got a used tire.. I just have to get the old tire off the rim.

I considered using the ole SawsAll but my good used tire is on another rim.

I've tried the claw hammer and WonderBar method, but there seems to be some sort of bead holding the tire on there like glue.

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

If you can put the tire in a vise and clamp the heck out of it, this will cause the bead to break off the rim. Once she breaks, start working the tire off slowly small sections at a time. Don't be to eager. This will just cause you STRESS !!!! Try to get yourself some long crow bars, tire bars work best. And go hand over hand removing the tire. You may need some one to help hold that girl down. Once shes free, flip her over and repeat process. Hope this helps.

Jason

You have two options:

1. Take the tire to a tire shop and have everything dismounted and mounted like you want.
( best option)

2. follow these steps
- Remove all valve stems
- Break the bead, this means seperating the bead of the tire from the rim, I don't know if you have a vice big enough to use Skiffmans method, so try laying the tire flat on the ground and stand on the tire as close to the bead as possible, use a hammer to break it away so you can get a real tire iron in there.

- Once you a tire iron in there, hold the end hammer the iron around inside of the rim to completely seperate the bead from the rim.
- turn the tire over and repeat the process

- push one side of the tire down and on the opposite side pry the bead over the top of the rim and and stand on it
- use a second iron to start pulling the rest of the bead off the rim
-pull the tube out
- use the same process from the inside of the tire to get the second bead off the rim

Reverse the process to replace the tire and don't pinch or cut the tube with the tire irons.
This method should only take a few hours of frustrating labor an d vilolent swearing.

another trick that works pretty good is get a bumper jack lay the tire on ground put the base of the jack on tire next to rim hook the jack under the bumper and jack it up this should break the bead loose flip it over and repeat on the other side.once this is done get some soapy water or WD-40 and spray on the tire bead grab a couple of big pry bars and work it off the rim.

The way I have done it if you don't have a big vise, is to set the wheel/tire on the ground, and set the bucket of a tractor on the tire which will break the bead, or you can drive onto one edge of the tire and break the bead that way. After that, take your prybars and work it off. Good Luck

I used to repair split rims and big old tractor tires. There's special tools that make the job a whole lot easier. You'll need some wedges and a three pound sledge to break the bead and some smooth tire irons to pull the tire over the rim. Always be sure not to snag or pinch the tube when dismounting and mounting the tire. When filling the tire, make sure your stem is square in the hole, apply some tire lube (dish soap works in a pinch) and fill to around 20PSI. Let the air out completely to let the tube center itself in the tire and reinflate to the pressure you desire.
Scott

I agree with MikeE...

REMEMBER to remove the valve stem first. Even the ammount of air in a flat can create enough pressure to prevent you from breaking the bead.

I have used all of the above methods to break the bead including the "sawzall method" plus one other... Drive on it flat until it takes itself off...LOL...Of course this wont work for the replacement.

Last week I had to change a back tire on the John Deere. The rim was rusted tight to the shaft and even heat, a jack, and WD-40 wouldn't get it off... I ended up changing the tire with the rim on the tractor... Four hours later it was good as new...and I was almost drunk...LOL

Got good and practiced-up on on my curses that day too... Might have even invented a few new ones... (I would share them with you but Peggy might get mad)

GOOD LUCK...

When you replace the tube dust the inside of the tire with talcum powder. (There used to be a tire powder that was used but talcum is just fine) If and when you have a flat the tube will not be stuck to the tire casing.

Cheers, George

Fumblin,
I assume that these are not split rims? If they are, there are a lot of safety considerations to be be followed airing them up again.

I think getting these tires off by hand is one of the easiest ways to get a sore back that I know of!

Well after I posted this, I called WalMart (the only place open on the 4th) and the guy said, come on down i'll take it off for you.

I dropped it off, went with the wife to shop, and when we came out, the tire was off the rim, free of charge.

I get back to the house, all excited to get the new tube installed, and whadda ya know? I bust the belts on the tire getting it back on the rim.

I saw a cat on eBay selling a pair of 6.00 - 16's for $155 (including the tube) I guess my best bet will to be to quit messing around with this old crap and bite the bullet for some new tires.

Thanks for everyones help and ideas.. my big problem getting this tire off the rim was breaking the bead.

I'd thought about using the clamp method, but I don't have a clamp big enough.. the "jack on the bead" method is what i'll try the next time I try it.

.. ahh.. torn between doing it right, and the satisfaction of driving it around the yard now.. i'll bet i'm in the yard with a bumper jack and a old tire before the week is thru!

You really need a tire changing machine to do the job right. Otherwise take it to WalMart.

Wow this is 2005 an were not on the farm. Take it to a tire shop and save your back

You risk damaging the tire without being able to compress the bead. Then, you need to pry the tire with an iron that can wedge it out from the rim. Take it to a gas station and save yourself a lot of problems. Tire machines are great!

I'll admit that taking it to a station or finding access to a tire machine is the preferred way to go, but, we don't always have that option. I've changed numerous tires in my driveway. I usually wedge the tire and wheel between the reciever hitch on my truck and a floor jack and compress the tire that way to break the bead. Some are easier than others and it takes a littl finess to get the jack and tire in the right spot but it will work. Then work the tire off the wheel with a couple of smooth prybars. Its no big deal.
At the tire store (years ago) we used to do all the big truck tires by hand using a special sledge with a curved head to break the beads.
Id rather let someone else do it but I understand that sometimes there is no other option

Good luck
Bobby

That special sledge with the curved head is sold at most big tool stores. They charge me $35 to change a tire or fix a flat on my Bigbolt so I bought the sledge and change my own in about 40 minutes. Those 8.25 X 20's can be really stubborn but the sledge makes it a lot easier. Jim

The day I had to do it was July 4th, all the tire shops were closed.. fortunately for me, the Tire & Lube shop was open in WalMart.

Sure it's 2005, but I like to know how to do things without relying on someone else or having to pay someone else to do it.

I don't take the truck in to get the oil changed or for a tune up, either.. in fact, I rather enjoy working hard on my truck.

I will, however, keep my eye out for a tire removal machine.

I have taken them off with a wood splitting wedge,and a BFH,but it is a BIG job.Start at the valve stem and drive the wedge in til it's near hitting the wheel,and move over the width of the wedge,and around the tire till it gives up.


I have a tire changer now

Fumblin,
I know what you mean. I like to be able to do things on my own. Changing tires is not my favorite but I can get it done if I need to.
I don't change my own oil much anymore, mainly because I don't have a convenient way to get rid of the used oil.

Bobby

If you're lucky enough to have a shop, get an oil burning stove.. it's a great place to use up all the old oil!

In ideal situations, taking your rim to a shop to have it removed is the least hassle, and fastest way to go about things.. but is sure nice to know how to do it yourself if you're in a pinch!

I've got the tools from an 18-wheeler tire shop I used to run, the sledghammer bead breaker, the slide hammer, and the long-handled spoons used to pry the tires on and off. The reason you damaged the new tire is you didn't allow the bead to drop into the center of the rim as you pried it on. If that doesn't happen, the bead wires will stretch or break because the bead is not supposed to change diameter. There's a smaller-diameter section of the rim near the middle where the bead is supposed to go while you're prying it over the edge of the rim.
Jerry

^ What he said.

I learned how to change tires by hand from a guy that did "road service" for big trucks. He was a state champion arm wrestler, and all those muscles came from changing tires. He is the only guy I have ever seen that could throw a 10.00 x 20 tire with a rim on over the side of a tri-axle dump truck from the ground.

One day I stopped by the yard where he was changing the tires on a garbage truck. He bet me $10.00 that he could change the tire by hand in less than a minute.

I was stupid enough to take the bet.

When the clock started, he said "Let me know when 15 seconds are up" and just stood there waiting...

After 15 seconds he proceeded to take the old tire off the rim...

Once the tire was off, he again said "Let me know when 15 seconds are up" and just stood there waiting...

After 15 more seconds, he proceeded to install the new tire, air it up, and re-install the valve stem and cap...

He finished in a total elapsed time of 55 seconds, whereupon he took my ten dollars and went and bought us all a coffee at the Diner next door to the yard. (There were five of us there that morning) I stood there slack-jawed in amazement.

Doesn't anybody have a bead breaker anymore? About 30 years ago dad got one form JC Whitney. I can't tell you how many times I've used it over the years. That and the bubble balancer. Dismounting and remounting a set of tires gives a wuss like me quite a workout, though. Not something I really look forward to.

I got one, Tim. I don't have it bolted down so everytime I use it, it looks like I'm redneck breakdancin' to outsiders

[img]http://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2005/bb050105bt.jpg[/img]

I have a home-made rig like Larry's, except I rigged mine up to work with a hydraulic jack. Works well and takes the sweat out of the project. The breaking hammers work very well, but if you are not a good aim, you will dent or chip your wheels. The slide hammers also work well.
Ralph

I have a home-made rig like Larry's, except I rigged mine up to work with a hydraulic jack. Works well and takes the sweat out of the project. The breaking hammers work very well, but if you are not a good aim, you will dent or chip your wheels. The slide hammers also work well.
Ralph