I'm I doing things well ?

[georgesgiralt]

Hello,
I plan to change my tires myself.
So I bolted on the ground a car 14" wheel inside out. I use an M10 threaded pole, bolted into the ground. Put some garden hose on the rim to protect my snowflakes rims, and I plan to insert the wheel on the M10 threaded pole and lock it up with a couple of large washer and a nut.
I've tried this on a spare front wheel and I'm able to prevent the weel to turn on it's makeshift stand.
But thinking about it, I saw I was putting a lateral force on the rim which is supported by the car's wheel and pressed in the center by the pole bolt.
So I wonder if it's safe or if I risk warping the wheel or, worse, crack it.
What do you think about my method ? Is it safe ?
Am I too much paranoid ?
Many thanks in advance for your help.

[Luca]

I did mine on two pieces of 2x4 pine on the driveway, using my knees to keep the wheel from lifting.  I've seen plenty of people do it like that, and it sounds less kind than your makeshift stand.

I wouldn't worry too much.  Most of the force will still be between the rim of the wheel and the tire iron... there's no way around it and they're made to take it.

If you are still worried, don't overtighten the nut on the pole bolt.  If the wheel moves, give it a little more snugging.  Really it should be ok if your wheel rotates a bit on the stand, as long as the pole bolt doesn't start rubbing inside the hub.  Maybe put a piece of garden hose over the pole bolt.

[montmil]

It's breaking the "bleeping" bead that I hate.

I've made and used a ghetto bead-breaker using 2x4 lumber where one end of the long-arm lever is tucked under a triple chest rollaway tool cabinet. Heavy it is. I could almost lift the cart with the seven-foot lever.

Get that tire bead down in the wheel rim's center section and the tire removal will go a bit better.

Then there is something to be said for taking the wheels to a local shop.  

[marcmax]

I used to take my wheels to a local shop just for the convenience factor but unfortunately they closed.

There is a fairly new shop in Jacksonville, FL called Ton Up Jax. It is only about 30 minutes away. They have fully equipped work bays for rent, a good selection of basic service parts, oil, filters, etc for a wide variety of makes and will order just about anything you want. Plus they have a No Mar motorcycle tire changing station and wheel balancer. $20 rental to install 2 tires.

The owner is a member of the local BMW club and is trying to provide a service. He even has a social gathering each month. The shop is in the "trendy" part of town surrounded by micro-breweries and little cafes. Always something interesting to see at the shop.

That's were my next set of tires is coming from. I could order them elsewhere but I don't mind paying a little more to have him order them and hopefully help keep him in business. I can still install them myself.

[Luca]

It's breaking the "bleeping" bead that I hate.

put the wheel (well, the tire on the wheel) in a bench vise.  Clamp it as good as you can (which might break the bead), and then grab the wheel at 9 and 3 o' clock.  Give it the old push and pull, like you were looking for wheel bearing play... on a dump truck.  Also, push and pull at 12 o' clock as if you were rolling the tire off the rim with excessive lateral force, like a big old dump truck going too fast around a bend.  Rinse and repeat, changing which part of the tire you bite with the vise.  Got my tires broken free like a trick, and they had been on for 30 years!

They have fully equipped work bays for rent, a good selection of basic service parts, oil, filters, etc for a wide variety of makes and will order just about anything you want. Plus they have a No Mar motorcycle tire changing station and wheel balancer. $20 rental to install 2 tires.

sounds like the "hobby shop" my air force friend talks about.  Seems like a pretty cool business.  Always nice to help the locals who run a good operation, and I'm sure you can glean some good advice while you're at it.  I wonder what his insurance costs are?

[Barry]

My tires had been on 28 years and while I managed the front with a vice the rear resisted all attempts until I tried using a trolly jack. It was effortless.

BTW tire lube helps in removal of tires as well as mounting them.

[Bob_W]

A big C clamp makes a great bead breaker.
Bob

[montmil]

A big C clamp makes a great bead breaker.
Bob

Done that, too! Usually use a couple bits of scrap wood to spread the load such as in Barry's photo.

Next time, thinking about shipping everything to marcmax 'cuz he manages to make changing tires sound like fun.

Probably stops at those trendy micro breweries first.  [smiley=beer.gif]

[Ed Miller]

I use one of these, it works great:

http://www.aerostich.com/bead-popper.html

Barry, I hope there's something I can't see in your photo above keeping your wheel from pushing directly against the floor.  My spare 16" ralley wheel off my Chevy (or Toyota 4WD, they both use the same wheels) is perfect, but if it's not handy I'll use a pair of 4 x 4 boards.  I always have chunks of scrap lumber around.