tires on wire wheels

There are no great tips just use the right size tire for the rim and make good use of the drop center feature. I have removed tires and replaced them by hand with one tire iron to get things started or finished.
 
Be sure to use the rubber padding rings to protect your tubes from abrasion against the wire ends, and use plenty of talcum powder.
 
Once on, a real good (read older) balancing guy can put all your balance weights on the inside so they dont get seen. I had mine done like that, and they run completely vibration free at 60 mph.
 
Liquid soap might pose less of a threat to the rubber. If you don't want paint chips, heavily wrap your tire iron with duct tape. You can avoid using a tire iron all together if the tires are fresh (recently manufactured and haven't been stacked up on one another) and you walk around the sidewall with ankle-high sneakers. Expect a lot of ankle bruises by the time you mount five tires, however.
 
I just replaced the 19" tires on my 30 A & did it without taking the wheels off the car.I could break the bead by pushing with my hands.Get the upper part of the tire in the drop center & the lower bead can be easily pried over the rim & tube removed,then inner bead removed.When inflating tire,best to deflate tube again to allow it to center itself well & reinflate to correct pressure.
 
If you use the soap be careful not to be pulling the tire irons directly towards your forehead in case the iron slips...... Don't ask me how I know:( . I was able to change mine by hand, wors best with two people and two irons. Get a blanket or something to set the rim on to protect it.
 
When you talk about tire irons it always reminds when I was a teen. My friends father had a 40 Ford pickup. My friend was installing a new tire on the rear wheel, he got it on and blown up, started down the road and a big bang, he had left the tire iron inside the tire and went right through the rear fender. How come we always remember things like that. I guess it's easier that short turm memory. What was i doing? Oh yea, posting a message on the barn. LOL Walt
 
another vote here for the Talc, or just cheap baby powder is what i use. Also as far as the lubricating the rubber I use ruglide which can be obtained at carquest stores. It performs better than regular soap and has been in use since the 1920s. It is good on all assembly when sliding is key so it can be used for more than just tires.
 
Get your mind out of the gutter 38v8, I just used it on installing a windsheild and it also helps when sliding metal to metal. If you want to use it on your wife thats your choice, mine wont allow it (insert smirking smiley face).
 
During my senior year in High School, I worked at a tire center, busting, mounting and balancing mostly passenger car tires. We used a light soap solution to lube the beads. The soap was so good that after a few months experience, I could slam a 7.50x14 on a wheel without a tire iron. Couldn't do it every time, but it was fun trying, and felt good when you got one.
 
If you do use soap. Be sure to rinse it all off very thoroughly. I used soap on a set of tires and some of it dried on them. I never could get the stain off. Jim
 
A jar of water with some dishwashing liquid in it is pretty good. Run it around the tire bead with an old paint brush when you start and the tire will slip on.
 
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