As most know i hate to spend money on things - particularly those as frivolous as life in general.

So pending the reaction Ill start making wee guide threads to help other save money, as well as guides on everyday stuff that noobs may well find invaluable.

Tyre changing

Step 1, buy a mechanical tyre changer - I paid £5 for this at a garage sale, use weight of bar on a torx bit to deflate

Step 2, Get the bead breaker in position

Step 3, Aplly downward force to break the bead from the radial

Step 4, Flip over and repeat

Step 5, attach to top of changer and screw down retainer

Step 6, use bar to lever one part of tyre over rim, then drop in a claw hammer to hold tyre up

Step 7, Give all you got to work bar around rim, leaving hammer where it is

Step 8, Do the same to remove other belt

Et voila

All 4 done in an hour with pickles help

Refitting is common sense as to removal instructions, this works best with steel wheels as if your not careful you can damage alloys.

I just removed all weights from the wheel and refit tyres and 90% of the time never needed them balanced.

Let me know if you want these types of threads to continue and evreytime i work on the car i can do threads that would pictographic-ally explain both periodical and major works, that should help cancel out alot of noob questions and help em. Aswell as any of you who want to improve your knowledge on how to work on a car at roadside with normal tools

Edited 14 November, 201213 yr by Lofty79

ok, but didnt you just scratch up the rim of the alloy with that bar? In essence though, Id love to be able to swap my own tyres at home.

Yeah surely the wheel goes on the upright other way around (face down) so the tyre is levered off the back edge of the wheel and hense not scratching the front face of the alloy with the pry bar?

Luckily we have an automatic version of this that rotates at work and also a balancing machine so i don't have this problem but useful pics for someone to show the process.

Yes! If you read the thread i specified its better for steelies as they dont mark.

If you wanna do it on alloys there are ways and rubber guides that sit between rim and tyre. But as said in thread better for steels

Yes! If you read the thread i specified its better for steelies as they dont mark.

If you wanna do it on alloys there are ways and rubber guides that sit between rim and tyre. But as said in thread better for steels

wouldn't flipping the orientation work though?

Yeah surely the wheel goes on the upright other way around (face down) so the tyre is levered off the back edge of the wheel and hense not scratching the front face of the alloy with the pry bar?

Luckily we have an automatic version of this that rotates at work and also a balancing machine so i don't have this problem but useful pics for someone to show the process.

NO cos at the back edge you dont have the flexibility, manually you need to rely on the one side of the tyre falling into the deepest part of the rim to get enough slack.

These wheels are getting weighed in to not a worry for me - I reitterate BETTER for STEELIES!!!!!!!!!!! Not alloys!!!!!

wouldn't flipping the orientation work though?

Without hydraulics its too hard to get the stretch without using the deepest recess.

I know this isnt ideal and yes tyre fitters can do it and well, but this is Lofty's money saving threads

Edited 14 November, 201213 yr by Lofty79

I feel like a pussy...I'm scheduled 2 weeks from now to change tires.I found a deal on the internet,very cheap, 6 pounds to change 4 tires + balance.

As for Lofty...good job.If you don't scratch the rim and the new tire doesn't need balance,for me is good enough.

And yes,I want more topics from you

£6 is better than my way iulian. haha, its dam hard work.

I shall carry on with other threads, i knew this one would be a gamble and tyre fitters would be able to shed more light, but in a puddle at roadside its hard to do it any other way.

And to add Im a power lifter of 12 years and reasonably strong, if you feel you can get the tyre off back edge it is worth a try to save alloy wheel facings

I can do it that way, over the back but only just.

Edited 14 November, 201213 yr by Lofty79

£6 is better than my way iulian. haha, its dam hard work.

I shall carry on with other threads, i knew this one would be a gamble and tyre fitters would be able to shed more light, but in a puddle at roadside its hard to do it any other way.

I just hope it won't snow for the next 2 weeks :sun:

Braw thread esp as i have steels and needing to change tyre soon. Wink wink nudge nudge you can store tools in my garage again as from next week if your wantin.

cool ill do that bobz, see if we can do all4 in 40 minutes

Need two new tyres first. Were any of the tyers good on the ones we got for jase to swap over.

No garbage

Top tips

Remember to use tyre mounting paste or the tyre won't seat properly. Putting some on the demount end of the long bar will reduce any scratches if you don't have a rim protector.

Very good Lofty

i use a variety of rim sealers. Once i had none and used cv grease, those tyres lasted 30k miles

Just weighed in my old alloys - heavy old hectors, got £46.10p for them great stuff, now to sell the tyres

Nice guide lofty you could do the money saving brake line cleaning guide wire brush engine oil and grease do you know the one ?

No I just replace my brake lines now. Copper ones, all New, all I needed was a roll some ends, and a cutter, and a bubble flare tool. Job done. Cost about 20quid, ill do that guide one day, won't be long before someone needs some done

I agree however it could fall into maintenance. i too have a flaring kit some ends/joiners and a coil of pipe but if needs must its a good thing to know

Sandpaper and copper grease will fool many a tester. Although now they aren't near as fussy. May do a spacer fitting thread soon as I want some 15's on my car soon.

I wuss out and pay my local tyre place a fiver a corner, and thats with mint alloys I want mint after too.

Very topical - National Tyres in Fort William want £12 per wheel to change summer to winter tyres!

The thread is a nice idea - I look forward to the next tip!

Cheers, Terry