[Boyd]

What tools are available for removing and installing lawn mower tires? I tried removing 20x10-8 tires from the back of a JD. It was a major PITA, I couldn't even break the bead on the side of the wheel I was supposed to start on. Please list prices with the tools you show. I'm not going to spend $1000 on these tools.

 

[davidg]

i use a rubber mallet and a couple tire spoons. total cost to me was free, but new should be under 50.00. as far as breaking a stubborn bead, lay the tire in front of your vehicle tire. then drive over it. you don't want to run over the rim, just the tire itself and the bead will break.

 

[Tractor-Holic]

Since I busted my Coats manual tire changer,I have been resorting back to my old standby method of bead breaking,using an old bumper jack that has a square base,I place it on the tire as close to the rim as I can,and hook the bumper jack hook to my K2500's rear bumper..its worked every time so far..I find leaving a tire out in the hot sun a few hours makes a huge difference in the amount of effort you'll use dismounting it and installing it..liquid dish soap helps a lot also..

You can buy "mini-tire changers at Northern Tool ,for less than 100 bucks,(I think 75 even)..a good bead breaker might cost almost 75 too...by clamping a axle shaft in a bench vise,you can use that as a crude "tire machine" to hold the rim while your putting the tire on it..

..for smaller tires breaking the beads can be done in a bench vise,running it over,sometimes just a whack with a hammer and a wedge tool does it...I like the bumper jack myself..

 

[savageactor7]

LOL no it isn't easy that's for sure. I read once on a forum where I guy said he used a wood splitter to break the bead.

 

[C2H8O]

Next time I swap tires, I'm gonna pay a shop to do it! Those small tires are an amazing PITA. My local Tire Warehouse will swap garden tractor tires, perhaps you do not have to go to a mower shop.

Recently I used a mallet and wood block to break the beads. I used flat blade screwdrivers and bicycle tire spoons to re-install them. Mounting the bead can be another PITA.

One very old tire had the steel cables rusted to the rim. That was an exceptional case, and I had to cut through the rubber then grind through the cables.

google for tire bead breaker and 2x4. You will find several variations on this design Little tip: some people find it will dent the rocker panel, so you have to find a place on the car where it presses on the frame or other hard point.

-edit- had to remove the picture because of copyright

 

[gcbailey]

first and last time I ever attempted I used a 3' crowbar, 2-klein screwdrivers, 1-bottle of dawn

 

[GT_80]

Item 92961 $40 at Harbor freight

Item 98875 $25 at Harbor Freight

Item 93230 $6 bucks each ( BUY AT LEAST TWO) at Harbor Freight


I have the first beak breaker. i use it for everything from lawn tractor tires to 35" truck tires! It is my dads and i estimate it has broken bead on over 500 tires in its life!

 

[stladrill]

Here a other kind for around $70.00 it do the bead and install/remove tire. :fing32:

 

[Steevo]

I have that orange $70 unit above from Harbor Freight. It works good, and I got mine on sale for $39.

 

[Merrie]

Or you could be creative and build your own, Rob did like 4 or 5 years ago. It worked great on everything from GT tires to 18" truck tires, in fact it worked so great that someone really liked it, because when Rob went to use it at the beggining of the year it was gone, yep someone stole it. He said he'll make another eventually but not like that one, sure glad that since then we've installed security camera's!!!!

Merrie

 

[SammyRye]

When I needed somthing to change tires, I stopped in at Harbor Freight and picked up one of the mini-tire changers. Built a mobile stand for it so I can easily move it around - works great, and it is onyl $39.95 (less than that if you take in one of the 20% off coupons you can find in a lot of magazines).

Here's a couple of photos of the unti and how I mounted it - Rich

 

[madmantrapper]

If you have a little trouble getting the bead to break, put a little air in it for support.

 

[bstrucker]

It was a major PITA, I couldn't even break the bead on the side of the wheel I was supposed to start on. Please list prices with the tools you show. I'm not going to spend $1000 on these tools.

385/65R 22.5 18ply truck tires are a PITA,they rank right up there with the 22 ply tires that they use on some airplanes,the tires on lawn tractors are a piece of cake.Where most people run into trouble is not getting the tire bead into the deep part of he rim before trying to get the bead started over the rim,the other thing that you have to watch for is that your taking the tire off of the narrow side,most wheels are offset and the rim is wider one side than the other,take of the narrow side.I have a small wedge hammer and a couple of tire spoons that I use for just about everything.I do have one of those small mechanical bead breakers that a friend of mine built one day when he was bored,it works ok on front tires and such.If your having trouble getting the bead to break free from the rim use some penetrating oil.I do prefer dawn for most tire work though,it's notas hard on the rubber.