anybody ever gotten a tire on a wheel at home, i have done it before i just could not for the life of me get the forst bead over the wheel completly. i know how to set the bead with wd40 or something but i cant even get the first side over the wheel. its a 35x15.5x15 tsl the last one i did was a 31x10.50 i just remember it was a real pain last time but i cant remember how i did it. the reason im trying to do it is i want to go wheeling tomarrow and one of my tires got cut today, most tire shos arent open on easter.... hollidays suck!!!!!!!!

soapy water????

get one side about half on then useing two pry bars start working it on there.
a bit of soapy water helps.
I use tire spoons, that I bought at a local farm supply.
they have a different shape on each end depending on if you are taking off or putting on.

yea i was thinking i need some tire spoons... thanks for the input guys.

There is a method that I've heard about but never tried myself - but it's supposed to work. I think you have to use starting fluid - "ether".

With the tire mounted on the rim and with the bead of the tire not set. Now spray the ether / starting fluid and get the stuff inside the tire. I think you guys can already see where this is going.

Stand back from the tire, far back, - then with a cigarette lighter light a flame from the can of ether and direct the flame at the tire. The resulting explosion is supposed to set the bead of the tire.

Like I said, I have not tried this, but the method was related to me by a French Canadian diamond driller (these guys are slightly crazy but know their stuff)...lol. Suffice it too say - it's probably not very safe or easy on equipment. Might pay to have a fire extinguisher handy too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

That is for setting the bead and you just use a small amount of a flammable spray. Remember to remove the valve core. He is trying to get the tire on the rim then he will need to set the bead. It works very good, especially for a "trail fix". I have done it a few times along with 5-10 plugs in the sidewall to get off the trail.

Tire irons and a lot of soapy water or you can use a lot of soapy water and a heavy dead-blow hammer; both methods take a lot of patience and sweat. Especially on the type of tire, you are trying to mount.

My bad - sorry! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I picked up one of these tire changers from HF:



http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34542

It works surprisingly well, also picked up some tire bead lube and a brush and that makes the beads easy to get on and off.

Have also used the stock took kit tire spoons, they work in a pinch, but takes a lot more work.

ya if you dont have tire spoons, just use 2 flat pry bars. iv'e found 1 1/2 - 2 inch wide work best. the hardest part is getting the first bead over the rim, as i'm sure you've noticed (sorry for pointing out the obvious) start with the pry bars together using one to hold the bead over the rim where you started and work the bead over the rim around from your starting point. (when doing this i wished i had three hands) ALSO it's a little messy, but last time i did it, i used some bearing grease or some thing similiar. the tires i put on were 31 x10.5 too. the first took me about 20 minutes AFTER i finally figured out the best way to go about it. (the soapy water kept drying too fast, or i was moving too slow probably the latter... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />) never tried the explosive method to set the bead i just wacked the tread with a half jack while simultaneously holding the air chuck on the valve stem to provide pressure from within. took a few tries but worked eventually. i've also heard that a rope cinched tightly around the middle of tread is a little more effective than the method i used to set the bead.
good luck!

I've used a 5 gallon bucket and set the wheel on that. Then get a couple of you larger friends to jump on it with soapy water around the bead and it usually will settle on after a few tries.