Anybody do their own truck tires?

[Lawnworks]

Anybody replace their own truck tires here? I am sick of trying to take work trucks to tire shops when I work 14 hours a day(and to find missing lugs and loose lugs). Anyone own a machine to take a tire off of the rim? I have found a hook-up to get 16" and 19.5" tires for nothing. It would be less headache to just change them at my shop if I could buy the right tools. What can I expect to pay for a used tire remover machine?

[SiteSolutions]

How many trucks do you have to work on? May be a lot more economical to get a good set of tire irons and tire hammer, etc. You can take them out in the field easily as well and avoid the big dollar service calls.

[ksss]

How many trucks do you have to work on? May be a lot more economical to get a good set of tire irons and tire hammer, etc. You can take them out in the field easily as well and avoid the big dollar service calls.


Heres what I did. When we were doing running the side dump and a dump truck subed out to large contractors, I needed dependable tire service and reasonable prices. I picked three different tire companies that had field service capacity and decent prices. I set up an account and spoke with the rep and told them what I needed and what I expected. I told them you can count on being paid within 10 days of receiving an invoice. I expected fast service. When trucking for the big contractors time is literally money, so if we were jacked around waiting to get a tire fixed, I was on it. Very seldom did I have an issue.

I would do the same if I were you, leverage your volume and your expectations. If you let them they will treat you like the soccer mom. I use commercial tire people. They are used to dealing with guys working on deadlines and higher expections of quality service. I would not bother trying to fix tires. Without a tire machine it is dangerous. I would not waste your time or money getting spooled up for it. Get spare tires and rims for everything, give your guys the ability to change tires and take them in to get fixed. Unless you have a very large company, it would not pay to do your own tires.

[Gravel Rat]

Spare tires that are mounted is far easier than owning a tire machine. You can buy used tire machines for 500 dollars but they are usually the older models that are not safe to use.

Changing tires with spoons is a tough job I wouldn't want to be doing 16 inch tires.

I have been there done that with 22.5 inch truck tires sweating your bag off and you end up with a sore back.

[tenndigger]

I bought a used tire machine approx 5 years ago for less than $500 and has been a very good investment for me. All my equipment is used on the farm and I keep my eye out for good used tires for implements and wagons. Over the years I have accumulated a spare rim for everything. All of my trucks are 3/4 ton with 8 lug wheels and most trailers have 8 lugs. There used to be a wholesale tire distributor about 40 miles away and would come thru once a week if we needed anything. For example we were buying new 10ply 7.50X16 name brand trailer tires for $60.00 It only takes a minute or two to remove and replace a tire for a truck or trailer. Now a 10 ply tubeless skidsteer tire is another story.
I still have to use starting fluid to "air up" and I think the 12X16.5 weigh close to 100 lbs.
My machine is a Coates and I have changed golf cart tires, passenger car tires, truck tires, and the absolute worst is small motorcycle tires.
Typically we schedule tire replacement on rainy days. I do not own a tire balancer but do take highway vehicles to have the tires balanced regularly by a local shop. If you have larger trucks with 20" and 22.5" tires they are easily done with good tire irons and a little experience.

[wanabe]

A slide hammer and a set of irons will do alot. I too got tired of geting jacked arround at the tire shop and the fact that they close at 5 pm. So i started fixing them myself. I can now break down, boot, and re mount in less time than it takes at the tire shop. Very easy to do after you learn how to do it. Most of the bigger truck tires we just fix them on the truck, as long as it is a outside tire. No lugs to deal with this way.

[Dirt Digger2]

we do our own...we have an old tire machine but the thing is more hassle then anything...

a set of irons, bead breaker, homemade cheetah, and bead lube, is all you need

[CAT powered]

I do all my own on all my trucks.

A set of tire spoons, a tire sledge, a Cheetah, and some good bead lube and you're set to change any tires you might come across.

[Lawnworks]

Alright advice taken. I am going to buy the manual tools. Just had a front truck tire go down tonight at 9pm. I had all the new(like new anyway) tires sitting at the shop. I could have prevented this and saved $200 dollars in lost man hours and tow bill. We could not back off those 1 5/8s lugs on the side of the road even with 4' of leverage.

[Lawnworks]

we do our own...we have an old tire machine but the thing is more hassle then anything...

a set of irons, bead breaker, homemade cheetah, and bead lube, is all you need

I would love to see a pic of your homemade cheetah!

[Lawnworks]

What is the trick to breaking the bead?

[CAT powered]

FWIW I wouldn't really want to be putting compressed air in something that has been modified. The proper tool isn't all that expensive and is built and tested to make it as safe as possible.

I know someone who was working with a tire squeezing machine and the center of the rim flew out and knocked a huge gash in his bottom lip and he is now missing 10 or 12 teeth. I don't know 100% what happened, but tires are nothing to mess around with nor are the high pressures created by compressed air.

As much as I disagree with anyone I'd hate to see them get hurt by a home-made Cheetah blowing up on them.

[SiteSolutions]

What is the trick to breaking the bead?

1. Let the air out of the tire.

2. Hit the bead with a big hammer real hard.

[Lawnworks]

1. Let the air out of the tire.

2. Hit the bead with a big hammer real hard.

Sounds pretty simple. I have a feeling it is easier said than done!

[Lawnworks]

Well the guys just got back to shop at 11:30pm. This tire blow out cost me about 6 man hours and a $100 towing charge. The joys of being a business owner!

[tenndigger]

Hey Lawnworks, breaking the bead can sometimes be very tough. My tire machine has never had a problem but for larger truck tires I have used the outrigger on a backhoe to break the tire loose from the rim. There is a huge learning curve to working with certain tires I will admit. There have been a few that we have given up on and taken to a shop.
You said that you could not take the tire off the truck because the lugs were too tight? This can happen if someone uses a large air tool and installs the lugs to the max.

[Gravel Rat]

Tire beads can be real tough to easy. A tire that is been on the rim for awhile it can be stuck on the like glue. A bead breaking hammer works but you need to have a good accurate shot or you will bend the rim or have a bruised shin.

[Dirt Digger2]

as far as "home made"...its a propane tank with the main value un-screwed and a ball valve in its place...then screwed into the other end of the ball valve is a piece of steel pipe that is pinched on the end

a pressure gauge and fill stem have been fully welded onto the tank

[wanabe]

Get a slide hammer for breaking the bead down. If you dont want to spend the $140 then make one. I did and it took less than $10 to make it. Im guessing that you know about tire beads and how they seal right? Don't get in a hurry with the irons and tear the bead or it will never hold air. Be sure to use the drop center of the wheel to your advantage. Things you will need-patch glue, several patches, valve stems, stem cores, core remover screwdriver, valve stem puller, buffer, patch stitcher, couple irons, slide hammer, clip on tire chuck, bead cheatah, rim lube, ect. And a 3/4 impact and a big compressor if you dont have one already.