What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Tire spoons?

AJMBLAZER

AJMBLAZER

Better to be lucky than good.
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 18, 2000
Posts
26,647
Reaction score
7,926
Location
Paducah, KY
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=275387&highlight=tire

Back around the end of the last summer I bought a manual tire changer. Used it a few times and had good luck but they were all small, squishy car tires.

Yesterday I decided to dismount a 285/75R16 Load Range D tire from a 16x10 steel wheel. It kicked my ass. Wasn't able to get it off by myself until my roomie came down and helped me out. The bar I have worked okay but just didn't always seem ideal.

Consulted Youtube again and it sure seems like all the guys busting those semi tires off of the huge wheels like it was easy were using tire spoons. A better tool might have let me get this thick sidewalled tire off by myself.
What do you guys use and where'd you get them?
 
The ones I use came from Tractor Supply Co. I use the manual tire changer as a stand so I don't have to squat down in the floor and kill my back. Watch out, they can spring back and take out your front teeth and nose.
 
Have to look there. Thanks.

Almost clocked myself with my bar last night. Heavy thing too so that would have left a mark...
 
AJMBLAZER said:
Have to look there. Thanks.

Almost clocked myself with my bar last night. Heavy thing too so that would have left a mark...
Click to expand...

I don't know what you were using but my Harbor freight tire changer has handled up to 38" swampers, and up to 17" rims no problem and just by myself.
For big rig tires I would definitely want keep those on the ground though :eek1:
 
Just seems like my tool isn't ideal. Too big and awkward. Several times another spoon or bar to wedge in there would have probably allowed me to get it off myself. I was finally able to by holding the tire in place myself, jamming a large screw driver into the lip we pulled over, and then my roomie getting the bar in after that and pulling the lip over the wheel. I was just running out of hands and technique.

I am definately new at this.
 
I buy tire spoons from harbor freight for $6/piece. They are nowhere near the quality that a $75 used set is, but I have been doing all my tires for several years now with the same pair. I believe they call them tire irons. There's a pair in the trail rig too and they have been totally indispensable on many occasions.

I just built a tire machine and I'm just going to make a spoon for it. I think some 1.5" tube with some 1/2" welded to the end and ground to shape will be great on the palms and I can make it whatever length I want.

You probably know this, but make sure you are working with the drop center side or you will work a lot harder.
 
I use 2 spoons like the ones Sweet posted. I can pop a 22.5 or 24.5 semi tire off the rim & back on so fast it will make your head spin.

One thing that I haven't seen anyone mention is that the semi tires are easy to do because they are a half inch rim size. They are a lot easier than a 15 or 16" rim.
 
I have used just plain prybars for years. They don't work near as well as tire irons, but they do work. That being said, I went ahead and bought a used Coats tire machine last year for $400 off the Snap On truck. Works much better than tire irons.

Martin
 
82355 said:
I have used just plain prybars for years. They don't work near as well as tire irons, but they do work. That being said, I went ahead and bought a used Coats tire machine last year for $400 off the Snap On truck. Works much better than tire irons.

Martin
Click to expand...

I started doing tires with a 12" crescent and a breaker bar handle on the trail lol.

I bet a guy could use a 24"+ wrecker bar pretty easily if he took a grinder and reshaped the ends.
 
Took a 265/75R16 off my 16x7 spare rim and then installed the 285/75R16. Was a bit of fun but I got it done. Definately could have used another bar several times. Many times I had the tire bead stretched over toward the rim's lip but just couldn't get it to slide down my bar. Another tool to shove it would probably have helped.

Oh well, have to hit HF soon.
 
just need to polish your bar :whistle:

the more you use it the smother it gets :doah:

the smother it gets the more the rubber slides over it with easy :woot:
 
I'm working on that dammit! She works second shift!

Oooooohhhhh...you mean the tire thingy. Yeah...seemed like the rubber was glued to it even though I was gouging the paint off the rim and pushing with all my strength to get it to flop in.
 
put some lube on the shaft buddy. :haha:

and this will keep the rubber from sticking to it. :doah:

and jamb that rubber in the grove of the rim center with your foot to help the sideway flop over the rim bead area.
 
I think it's a combination of the machine not being meant for a tire bigger than a 29" car tire, it bouncing around a bit due to how the trailer hitch thing is setup, and my incorrect tool use.

I had soapy water ALL over it, bar included.
 
Is that stuff like grease? I like the soapy water since it will dissipate and won't mess with my balancing beads. Grease and greasy products are a no-no for balancing beads.
 
AJMBLAZER said:
Is that stuff like grease? I like the soapy water since it will dissipate and won't mess with my balancing beads. Grease and greasy products are a no-no for balancing beads.
Click to expand...

Its Basically high concentrate soapy water. I use it at work all day everyday, most the time just as a precaution to avoid ripping beads or getting stuck and it does not cause any problems balancing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom