Mounting small tires

Texasmark1

Well-known Member
Still chasing a soft rides so current task is removing the 13x5x6" fronts on my Ferris IS700z and replacing with 15x6x6s. Getting tires on 6 and 8" rims are usually difficult but this rim was only 4.5" wide and that added to the hassle. As you all have experienced I'm sure, the assembly won't sit still and you play chase the bar around the wheel as you try to get the tire mounted, especially on new, freshly painted wheels.

I made an adapter for small tires to fit my regular hard mounted tire changer but the mounting stud is ?" and this wheel has a ?" axle opening. I tried putting it in my 6" vise but wound up wrestling it on the floor.

Initial mounting the first side with soapy water, was just a matter of pushing it on. The other side as usual was the problem.

The lip on the rim was such that it accepted vise grips...one of those improved seal types with a little extra rim sticking out beyond the tire bead. One pair locked the starting point and the other pair followed the screwdriver around the side as it made some headway I followed with the grips so I didn't loose progress made on that end. This way the locking point didn't follow you around the wheel and nullify any progress you thought you were making. Working dry worked better than wet on this side and in short order the tire was on the rim.

Thought you might find this helpful the next time you challenge those little boogers.
 
I just gladly pay my locally owned Firestone dealer to mount small tires for me. He only charges $3.00 for tubeless and $4 if you want a tube put in them. He only charges for mounting tires that you buy elsewhere. He does not stock a lot of ATV and mower tires so he does not mind if you carry them in. I always have tubes put in any small tools or equipment that I own that have inflatable tires.

If you do a lot of them or just want to do it yourself. For around $50 or less you could get a [b:840432066f]Pittsburgh Automotive Mini-Tire Changer[/b:840432066f]. It takes all of the work out of mounting small tires. Neat tool for small tires.
 
Thanks for the tip. Will have a look. I have a pretty good setup but until recently I didn't have the hurricane air canister that the local tire guy had. I felt
guilty every time I brought in a pair for them to mount as I had worked myself silly attempting and failing. Now, per NT having them on sale for 100
bucks I have my own hurricane box and see how that goes.

These didn't need it as I'm going the other way, 6" wide, soft sidewall rather than 10" hard sidewall tire.
 
Harbor Freight makes a small tire changing tool. Removes tires from the rim beads so you can lever them off, also install them.

Works best when you have Real tire spoons to lever the tires no matter how big or small off or on the rims. Screwdrivers are NOT tire irons.
 
I use a short piece of 3/8" all-thread rod and secure it to my work table.
Thread the rod through the axle, or the lug holes, and through a small hole in the table and tighten it down.
It stays secure and I can then do my business on it.
 
I got that tip from another site and pulled it up and looked at the video. Was going to get one next time I went to town. Changed my mind and went to town yesterday just for it. Some of the best money I ever spent. Can't believe what I went through over the years would nave been unnecessary had I had one of these little darlings. Don't know why it never appeared in HF ads since they are in the mailbox probably twice a week.....these things keep the trash man busy. At least I have a store within driving distance now.
 

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