First Time Tire Change

shew01

shew01

Well-known member
Today is my first attempt to change a 1931 tire. I am trying to move a useable tire from a cracked wheel to a recently powder coated wheel without messing up the new finish.

So far, I’m stuck at step 1, removing the old tire, which is the spare tire. I didn’t think about it when I started, but I don’t have a tire tool. I do have a very wide, large screwdriver that I have wrapped with tape in hopes of avoiding wheel scratches.

I removed the valve stem; so, the tube is now flat. I broke the tire away from the front and rear sides of the rim. I’ve watched some YouTube videos about Model A tire removal, and they make it look fairly easy. Surprise. ;-) My tire is not easy. The tire is stiff and does not want to give me enough room to get the lip of the sidewall over the edge of the rim. I’m trying to be careful not to pinch the tube in the process.

I’ve never changed a tire before. Should I stop until I can order a tire tool? Does the tire tool below make enough difference to make it worthwhile to wait for shipping? Or, is there an alternative that I am somehow missing.

https://www.brattons.com/spoon-end-29-31-tire-iron.html


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Hmmm... This shows some promise.
37aa2bdf3c4673c597c562526fb4f19b.jpg



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Stop and buy the tool(s). Buy two, if not three, from any Harbour Freight or similar outlet

The tyre tool is about 10x as wide as a screwdriver. Spreads the load and won't break.

You need to get the edges of the tyre down into the central well of the wheel. That gives you enough slack to get the tyre off.

Next to impossible to get it off otherwise.
 
Juggler said:
Stop and buy the tool(s). Buy two, if not three, from any Harbour Freight or similar outlet

The tyre tool is about 10x as wide as a screwdriver. Spreads the load and won't break.

You need to get the edges of the tyre down into the central well of the wheel. That gives you enough slack to get the tyre off.

Next to impossible to get it off otherwise.
Click to expand...


I didn’t think about Harbor Freight. I had a couple of nylon trim removal tools that helped be get the tire off, but there was a lot of grunting. The two wood clamps helped me get the tire manipulated into the center of the rim, which opened up a gap large enough to get the sidewall over the lip of the rim.

I think I’ll take a drive to Harbor Freight to see what they have. Thanks for the tip.


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I usually mount/dismount my tires from the inside of the rim. That way if I slip the scratch in the paint will not show (as much). Lube it up. And remove the cap!
 
A screwdriver sounds like a really nice way to reach the tube resulting in a not so nice cut. Yep, like Juggler said, “get the tire tools”. I bought 2 from Harbor Freight, I wish I had gotten 3.
 
Dean Lemoine said:
A screwdriver sounds like a really nice way to reach the tube resulting in a not so nice cut. Yep, like Juggler said, “get the tire tools”. I bought 2 from Harbor Freight, I wish I had gotten 3.
Click to expand...


I was careful with the taped up screwdriver. I knew there was a risk, but I don’t think I injured the tube at all.


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Last edited:
Patrick L. said:
Liquid soap
Spoons
Garbage bag
Wheel/ tube liner
Click to expand...


I was planning on using garbage bags for reinstalling. Do they work for removal too?

You mentioned spools. Real eating spoons? Or, is there a tire tool called a spoon?


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Think again about reusing the old tire ! It will fight you again going back on, and if you need to replace it later in life. I had to use a hack saw to remove a dry rotten tire, I didn't harm the wheel ! I replaced motor cycle tires once, never again, I'll take them to a bike shop money well spent !
 
Big hammer said:
Think again about reusing the old tire ! It will fight you again going back on, and if you need to replace it later in life. I had to use a hack saw to remove a dry rotten tire, I didn't harm the wheel ! I replaced motor cycle tires once, never again, I'll take them to a bike shop money well spent !
Click to expand...


Thanks for the thought. This one is not dry rotted, and it’s a spare. The entire set is in pretty good shape.

Out of curiosity, roughly how many miles should a fresh set of Model A tires last? These were on the car when I bought it, and I’ve put almost 4000 miles on them in a year.


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I bought some tire irons from Harbor Freight. This is the only model they had. These should help with the next tire removal, whenever that comes.
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I’m going to try plastic bags to get the tires back on. I don’t know if I’ll need the irons for installation or not. We’ll see.

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The plastic bags definitely helped with reinstallation. I used the vinyl trim tools to get the bead across the rim lip.


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Next issue. How do I make sure the tube is not kinked inside the tire and the rim? I can’t see much of the tube through the cracks between the rim and the tire.


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Hi, Shew01...I'm no expert, but having just successfully gone through both a removal and reinstallation of tube and tire, here's what worked for me: Once I had the tire and tube on, I pulled out the plastic bag, and got everything squared up. I reinstalled the valve in the stem, and put in a little bit of air--just enough to make sure there were no kinks or folds by feeling with my fingertips. At this point, the tube could be gently moved around to make sure that the valve stem was well aligned with the hole in the wheel. Once I was sure everything was good, I put in a little more air, rechecked, and finally put in the correct amount. I checked 24 hours later to make sure there were no leaks or problems, and surprise, there were not! Hope this helps!
 
Use the bag(s) AND lubrication. You also may try putting some air in the tube before putting the tire onto the rim. JMO
Paul in CT
 
1931 flamingo said:
Use the bag(s) AND lubrication. You also may try putting some air in the tube before putting the tire onto the rim. JMO
Paul in CT
Click to expand...


In retrospect, that would have been a better plan. I used just the bags and the (modern car) vinyl interior trim tools. Lubrication would have made that easier. This has definitely been a learning experience.


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CabrioletDon said:
Hi, Shew01...I'm no expert, but having just successfully gone through both a removal and reinstallation of tube and tire, here's what worked for me: Once I had the tire and tube on, I pulled out the plastic bag, and got everything squared up. I reinstalled the valve in the stem, and put in a little bit of air--just enough to make sure there were no kinks or folds by feeling with my fingertips. At this point, the tube could be gently moved around to make sure that the valve stem was well aligned with the hole in the wheel. Once I was sure everything was good, I put in a little more air, rechecked, and finally put in the correct amount. I checked 24 hours later to make sure there were no leaks or problems, and surprise, there were not! Hope this helps!
Click to expand...


That seemed to work. I let the air out a couple of times to check on the tube. If it got kinked (I do t think it did), it won’t be because I didn’t try to avoid it. I need to check the pressure again tomorrow.

I definitely got my exercise in for the day.
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