putting new tire on wire wheels

FrankWest

FrankWest

Well-known member
for 1933 Ford
it is easy to install a new tire with inner tube on a wire wheel and inflate, or do I have to bring it to a tire shop. I know modern tires need special tools to install on modern wheels. I guess even if i get the new tires installed they will have to be balanced.
 
This topic has come up several times on the Model A forum. My suggestion would be to get a couple of reproduction tire irons (file off any rough/sharp edges), and a couple of plastic bags. If you want bigger tire irons check out SnapOn, Proto, or Craftsmen etc. Lay the rim on a soft rug and have at it. Remember to fill the tubes with air one time and let it back out to allow the tube to center itself. Don't pinch the tube between the tire and the rim. If you decide to go to a tire shop be warned that most of them are staffed with young kids that know and care a lot less than you do. If they just put it on one of the modern tire changing machines powered by air they will probably badly bend your rim. They have to be done using tire irons, a talent usually reserved for old shops that do truck tires. Take it to a tire shop to have it balanced (try to get the weights on the inside if possible).

Charlie Stephens
 
I do all my own with a couple of motorcycle tire irons, it helps to also buy a tool for installing valve stems, a T handle with a cable attached, put it through the rim and screw on to tube stem, pull sten through rim, saves pinched fingers.
Napa carries them .
 
I have used the plastic bag routine and after "getting the hang of it" could install a tire in less than five minutes. It takes a little muscle but I will never mount tires on painted rims any other way in the future.
Install the flap if required and then place the plastic bag over the rim. Put one side of the tire on the rim. Install the tube and a liberal amount of baby powder. Install the other side of the tire. Pull the bag out.
Yep, it's that easy.
 
texas webb said:
Kube,what is the flap and how does the bag help/function?
Click to expand...
Some rims require a rubber "band" to cover the ends of the wires. I may not be using the correct word but I have always known them as "flaps".
The plastic bag acts as a lubricant to ease the tire over the rim.
I had seen a U-tube video a few years ago depicting this method. i tired it and was amazed at hpw easy it was.
 
Flaps and rim liners are a little different. Rim liners are thin like a rubber band and fill the center of the rim where the spokes are welded on. Flaps are rather large and cover the entire inside of the rim, generally lapping into the sidewalls of the tire. Usually flaps are only used in larger truck style tires.
 
Harbor Freight tire irons won't blow your budget, work well. Pu t enough air in the tube to give it some shape. Not so much to make it taut. Talcum sounds good for lube if you can"t find ru-glide. Do not mistake soap as a substitute - causes rust. Plastic bag would be a good trick, I would find a way to louse it up. Lastly if the valve winds up crooked don't inflate 'til you get it straight. Its easier than it looks if you can secure the wheel (axle lugs) work the tire and tube to direct the valve straight. When done, you da man! (ps if you've never seen it done its one bead, then insert the tube with a little air, the valve through the hole, last the second bead)
 
Kube said:
I have used the plastic bag routine and after "getting the hang of it" could install a tire in less than five minutes. It takes a little muscle but I will never mount tires on painted rims any other way in the future.
Install the flap if required and then place the plastic bag over the rim. Put one side of the tire on the rim. Install the tube and a liberal amount of baby powder. Install the other side of the tire. Pull the bag out.
Yep, it's that easy.
Click to expand...

I couldn't find anything on Youtube re: the palstic bag trick. Could you explain? Thanks.
 
I generally laid the tire on the grass to do them. At car shows I would look close at old car wheels to see if I could see little bits of grass sticking in between the rim and the tire. Then I knew he was a do it your selfer!
Frank, if you do it your self keep in mind to use the deep center part to your advantage. The tire has to be down in there at first to get the other side to slip over the rim.
 
Don't be afraid of using tire irons, I mounted a 11.2x28 tire om my Ford 8N, I only have one large tire iron I picked up from Tractor supply and several car size irons acquired through the years.
 

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I spent about $150 on a cheap tire machine and bubble balancer from Northern Tool. (I have been trying to find a used regular tire machine for a while with no luck.) After trying to use it a couple of times, I had to modify and reinforce the tire machine quite a bit, but I now have it working the way I want. That and a couple of tire irons, and I can do all my own tire work. I have mounted and balanced a set of Coker Classic radials on my '51 and have fixed all of my slow leaks and done a bunch of stuff for friends. Running one of these things is a bit of an acquired skill, but once you have done a few, it becomes second nature. I no longer need to go to the tire store and take "pot luck" on who is there. The bubble balancer takes a little fussing with, but has produced great results for me. Granted, if it might not be up to handling tires/wheels with serious problems, but so far I haven't run into any. The only problem I have run into is it didn't like to handle the 14" tires on a friends old van, but that's not my problem. I'm glad I spent the money, and it's come back several times already.
 
I do all my own tire work by hand, and Ken-Tools makes the best tire irons. They have dip in them that hooks around the wheel, and eases the whole process. I have used RuGlide, ever since I worked in a Jenney station as kid 55 years ago. The bag trick sounds good, I will have to try it.
 
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