Anyone have a make it yourself tire mounting tool idea? I used to work at a tire store and would love to have one of the big mounters, but a bit out of my price range! I've seen the whole strap ordeal, but that's just too time consuming. How about a modified pottery wheel? Haha, I don't know, any ideas or cheap solutions?

 

Thought about the No Mar Tire changer, but it would take 4-5 years for it to pay for itself. Easier just to take it off the bike and bring the wheels in to have them do it.

 

I just use a big C clamp to break the bead and three tire spoons made for tire removal with lots of soapy water for lubrication: a hint for replacing a tube so as not to pinch it when putting it in the tire add just enough air to make it round, then it wont be in the way when you spoon the tire back on

 

Check this link for a bead breaker....IMO not so difficult to make one yourself!

 

And never take a tire iron past 90 degrees to the rim or you will increase your chances of a pinched tube on installation. The tube gets pinched between the tire iron and the rim. Also use plastic rim guards to protect the rim from tire iron nicks. Keeping the bead in the "valley" of the rim will make it less of a stretch with the tire irons.

Tech23

 

I have the Harbor Freight tire changer with the motorcycle adapter. I got it on sale for about $70. I had tire irons already and added the No Mar bar and helping hand later. Then added the wheel balencer. Buying a little at a time was easier on the pocket book. I go though so many tires and repair so many flats that it has more than paid for itself.

Add in my time that I save traveling to a shop and waiting, and I can have tires shipped to the house a lot cheaper than buying them at a shop, it is well worth it to me time and money wise.

 

That's exactly the type of something i am looking for! Thanks man.

 

LOL Ive been breaking the beads With my huge bench vice. Then using the best spoons you can buy with rim savers. The best trick Ive learned is small blocks of wood to keep the bead in the middle of the rim when mounting the 2nd side

 

On that rim saver thought, I cut up some chunks out of an old plastic milk gallon jug and use those to save the rims from damage or marks from the tire spoons. It's even worked for me on the powder coated alloy rims I had on my last ride. Quick cheap and easy.