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Lifting a heavy tire

wazzabie

wazzabie

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Recently I took off an oversized tire. Maybe I'm not as strong as I use to be. I struggled to get it back on the hub. It was so heavy. After several attempts and nearly breaking my back I got the tire on the studs. I was by myself and didn't have any help.

I'm thinking about rigging a hi-lift jack so I can raise the tire and place it on the hub and easier align to the studs.

Anyone else have some tricks for lifting oversized tires?


Maybe something like this.

images
 
IDK, simple lever and fulcrum with the load side of the lever toward the hub, roll tire onto the lever and step on the effort side. It's what I've had to do on several occasions with my bad back. Something as simple as pry bar and a hammer.
 
How big a tire are you talking? For most truck stuff I use a pry bar under the tire to lift it to the studs. Big stuff we generally lift with a rail road or house jack so it can be raised just to the point of unloading the tire and it leans right off the studs without leaving the ground.
 
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I always get the hub as low to the ground as possible and still get the wheel over the hub. Then I sit down cross legged next to it and wiggle it up onto the hub and studs. I never try to mount a tire by just bending over and trying to he-man it up on the studs, that's how you get a hurt back.
 
big dan said:
I always get the hub as low to the ground as possible and still get the wheel over the hub. Then I sit down cross legged next to it and wiggle it up onto the hub and studs. I never try to mount a tire by just bending over and trying to he-man it up on the studs, that's how you get a hurt back.
Click to expand...

Yep I do it this way also except I put the tire on my knee area and lift it with both legs a little then lean the top over the studs. Just last week I had a flat and had to take my spare off my tire carrier and then put the flat back up there. Good thing I'm not short and still have some muscle left. The 37 inch krawler wouldn't jump up there on its own.
 
70jimmy said:
Yep I do it this way also except I put the tire on my knee area and lift it with both legs a little then lean the top over the studs. Just last week I had a flat and had to take my spare off my tire carrier and then put the flat back up there. Good thing I'm not short and still have some muscle left. The 37 inch krawler wouldn't jump up there on its own.
Click to expand...

I think you're describing how I do it. I roll the tire in front of the hub then sit down in front of it with my legs straight out on either side of the tire. It's then pretty easy to just squeeze your legs tight against the tire and lift. All of the weight is being lifted by your legs and that leaves your hands free for adjustment and putting the nuts on. The only down side is it gets your pants or legs dirty. :D
 
I use the method Ashman described--sit on the ground,and use my legs & knees to raise up the tire enough to align the lugs--it leaves both hands free to assist...it sucks if the ground is wet or its raining though,which is when 99% of my tires decide to go flat...if I have access to a bar or lever I use that under the tire instead ,especially if the ground is wet...

Tire & rim on a 3/4 ton 8 lug truck can weight over 100 lbs--when I only weight 180 myself,its a battle getting a tire & rim in the bed of my truck without wrenching my back badly...used to be able to lift one right over the side of the bed,now I have to open the tailgate and its a struggle to just get it on the gate,and roll it into the bed...sucks to get old..:mad:..
 
I never see the need to lift a big tire much because it's so easy to set the hub at whatever height you want with a jack. At the right height you can wiggle the tire/rim right in. Then lift it a bit with a prybar and start some nuts. My setup is about 150lbs and a 2' bar is plenty of leverage to tip the tire in place with one hand.

Now getting a spare into place is another issue...
 
Blue85 said:
Now getting a spare into place is another issue...
Click to expand...

Yup, even 35's are a PITA for me to hoist up into the back of the K5. My new Toyo's have a lot of rubber and are much heavier than my old BFG's, plus I have steel wheels now. I can get it in, but I could see hurting myself one day. I'm not getting any younger. :whistle:
 
Ned Kelly said:
Me getting old too. I got one of these tire dolly's for my 39.5" TSL tires. It works great.
http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/torin-big-red-trade-150-lb-wheel-dolly/A-p8536062e
Click to expand...

At my old job they did a lot of work on medium and heavy duty trucks and several of these around. An experienced mechanic could quickly and easily get a 22.5 semi truck on the studs. For even heavier stuff like Super Singles they had a wheel dolly like this.
HT90751-2.jpg


Same concept as the above tool but just taking it to another step.

On my 39.5's and 42's I use the same method as described above where I line up the tire and then sit in front and use my legs to slightly lift it up and over the studs. Sometimes I use a pry bar but usually find it easier to just use my legs so my arms are free.
 
This device is not for lifting tires. That picture is misleading. That is for spliting tractor axles. No on uses it like it is shown in this picture.

images


Martin
 
This isn't a great picture, but this is the only one I could quickly find from when I use to work on tractors regularly. I am using on of those jacks in this picture.

08-05-09_1336.jpg


Martin
 
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