In the week, I mentioned that this weekend I would be changing & balancing my own tyres.  A few of the fellows have asked how I was going to do this at home, so I have made a photo record.

Obviously, if you attempt this, you do so entirely at your own risk.....

Firstly I buy my tyres online from 'mytyres.co.uk' and my tyre fitting bits & bobs from 'tyrebaydirect.com'

Step 1.
Remove the wheel from the car & remove the valve.


Step 2.
You need to break the bead on each side which seals the tyre on the rim, you will need a lot for force to do this, and I use a bottle jack in a brick doorway.


Step 3.
You then need to lever the tyre over the rim, just like doing a bike tyre.


Step 4.
You then need to get the tyre over the rim & off; I do this with a lever and a hammer.


& off it comes.



Step 6.
Put the tyre on the same way it came off.  If you look at a rim, you will see that 1 bead has more depth than the other, always fit over the smallest bead.


Step 7.
Get the tyre fully onto the rim, again just using the levers.


Step 8.
Then you need to inflate the tyre so that each side of the tyre sits on its bead. The basic trick is to put the air in faster than it can come out.

Once the tyre is mounted, insert the valve, and inflate to the correct pressure.

Step 9.
I have got a Gunson wheelrite for balancing a wheel, I got mine from Millards on Gloucester Road years ago, and it is designed to statically balance a wheel.  The great myth of wheel balancing is that you need a big machine which spins & dynamically balances the wheel, you don't!!!!


Here it is fitted; the aim is to apply the weights to get the bullseys in the middle,



So that's how I do that......

Brilliant !

Well written up with good explanation and pics, thank you for taking the time to do that, I'll have a go when I've tracked down a similar device. I do have a couple of 255 tyres to do at some point soon but can eek them out a bit longer yet.

Thats simply amazing 

Just to say that I've now got 5 wheels to remove tyres from so they can be cleaned. Better stock up on the Shreded Wheat It's gonna be a long weekend. 

Nice to see the old ways brought back again Rosco.

In my teen years as a young mechanic this is the way it was done.  None of the modern machines about then.  Everything was done by hand, and believe me I did thousands including lorry wheels.

The spirit level made for the job then was an alluminium bevelled cone with the bubble in the middle so it fitted any wheel.  This stood on a stand and the wheel was place over the cone.

The only difference when changing the tyre was, I used a rubber mallet to knock the tyre off the rim while being held with one bar.  Plus a sliding bar bead breaker.  To replace you throw the edge of the wheel into the tyre and again knock on with the mallet.

I also used washing up liquid around the rim of the tyre so inflation would make it sit equal all round the rim.   Some times with a good pop of the tyre.

Some tyres were difficult to make a seal with tubeless type tyre when blowing up, especialy when they came wrapped in plastic, so we used a strap with a lever combined which helped, or kick them against the wall with the front of your leg while pressing down on the top.

You have given a good explanation and its so easy once you get the knack.    Others should have a go at doing their own and save a few bob also.

I have a similar wheel balancer branded "PADDY HOPKIRK" had it for 45 years works well on 4 stud wheels but cannot be used on n5 stud wheels for obvious reasons.

For a moment there I thought Rosco was back online. Anyone heard from him lately?

NIce one mate. Only thing I would add is to ensure you use loads of tyre-lub (r good old fashion washing up liquid) on both tyre bead and the wheel to aid not only with the fitting but also blowing the beads over the wheel safety beads..

Very interesting, you are braver then me.

The problem with me doing this is I would probably end up damaging the wheel rim and it costing me a fortune. 

Dont try this on Image or any spun rims -

you will prob end up weighing them in down the scrap yard

I'm afraid I wouldn't have the time or skills to tackle this.....probably end up hurting myself or damaging the new tyre.     For the sake of a fiver a wheel i would rather leave it to the garage.....but i do admire you for doing it!

Being a clean hands office boy I will leave all this to Steve Harkness and his professional fitting gear.  Nice to see the old techniques still being used though, I remember my grandfather telling me about them. 

Nice little instructional piece

Here is a picture of a bead breaker, just because I had one to hand