fitting 13" tyres to rims by hand

Nutz....some one else with same problem/car/tyre brand

I've not got the air into it at all yet as tyre not on fully but I did get them off pretty easily so I didn't expect so much trouble putting them back on.

Am gonna tackle it again today. The thing is already damaged so can't really make it any worse and if I succeed at least I'll get a result on the other ones. Where do you get the proper tyre lube? I didn't use any on mine

You're putting them on the wrong way they need to go on from the front. TBH for all the faffing just take them to a tyre shop. You'll have to anyway to get them balanced.

Matt

Well....I tried again today and it was a breeze. As some ppl have already touched on, it can only be achieved from one side.The 'drop centre' which is the low part of the rim is the key to fitting it. The first part of the bead to go in has to sit inside that the give enough slack to get that last section over.

I hadn't looked at the wheel to even see that there is a big difference in the distance from the front and back rims to the drop centre despite having painted them myself and spent hours scraping powder coat of them. Pics may explain...


tyre came on from rear of wheel. first face did come on with a struggle



another view



however...second side just would not go over despite trying for several hours



all I achieved was tearing the tire, dirtying up and scraping the primer and distorting the rim edge



...on both sides



damage to newly painted rim



more

Good news however is that I took the tyre off, straightend the rim. Put it on again from front with no problems and did another one in about 10 minutes. Soapy water helps greatly too. Amazing really. The first one almost pushed on by hand on its final 2 or 3 inches.

There was also enough free play on both sides to get plenty paint on the damaged bits after masking up the tires so it was a big success.

Topcoat (matt black) should go on at the weekend then just need to inflate them. I won't be getting them balanced. I had Polo wheels powdercoated years ago and the guy who did them told me balancing was a lot of p*sh (Scottish term) and I have to agree. I've never noticed any vibrations.

LOL the guy was obviously retarded then. Wheels are usually fairly true and don't need balancing, it's generally the tyre that throws them out. I've got a vibration on my polo at 70mph because I didn't have one wheel balanced when I chucked a tyre on. Very annoying.

Matt

we charge £8 + vat for fitting, valve and balance.
it may be possible to fit tyres by hand but was it really worth it. why take several hours when they could be done in five minutes?

I suppose so but I have 5 to do and only paid about £10 for each tyre which is just a little more than I'd need to pay to get each tyre fitted and balanced etc. All depends on your budget I suppose.

Also have learned how to do it now in 15 minutes and won't make the same mistake again.

Jeez, take them to a tyre place already...

Wow. I wouldn't put a wheel even NEAR my car without having it balanced - and balanced right. Even a slightly mis-balanced wheel can be horrible. It's like driving on a square.

Glad you sorted things in the end. I had a set of old Beetle steel wheels with assorted tyres on them mostly bald and knackered. I intended to strip the tyres off them all (I had 8 wheels) sprya them up and sell them at a VW show this year. Borrowed a friends bead breaker whatsit - proper heavy duty lump - after about 1 hour I gave up! The swine would not budge - non of them. I even tried hacksawing a tyre off but no still no joy! In the end for the sheer amount of time and money I would spend on this exercise I just advertised the lot for £25 as is and they sold no issue. Sometimes you have to just cut your losses! So I am really impressed with your efforts there mate nice one.