Tyre fitting

[Bob Culver]

In case anyone has some and is tempted to use, for decades I used rubber grease for my "modern" but discovered that it causes old style patches to lift.
For Sevens modern pliable tyres are very straightforward but older more rigid tyres a very different matter. I used to clamp the side walls with G clamps to pursuade them to stay in the well.

[Denis Sweeney]

I had my wheels rebuilt and coated and being very pleased with the result was very wary of fitting the tyres myself and so went to my trusted local village garage to have the tyres, tapes and inner tubes fitted, however they would not take the risk for fear of damaging the rims but did recommend another local specialist tyre dealer.
At the said recommended tyre dealer, I expressed my concern re damaging the rims ….. he gave me one of those looks and pointed to a Harley Davidson that he was re treading and told me the wheels were a special order from the US, carbon fibre and cost over £5k each…… so he “knew what he was doing” ……I said I’d get my coat! He agreed to fit the tyres etc.
When I dropped the wheels, tyres, inner tubes etc in for him to fit, he found the inner tubes I had been supplied were not correct and were the wrong size for the tyre, even though all supplied by the one supplier, so he swapped them over for the correct tubes. He did a grand job and never left a mark on the rims.
Whilst I was waiting a guy dropped off his Mclaren for a set of new boots…….

[gezparton]

I just use Talcum Powder and get the tyres warm.

[Dave Wortley]

Nobody has mentioned KY jelly. (Or is that too rude?)

[Nick Lettington]

Nobody has mentioned KY jelly. (Or is that too rude?)

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Well you better let Johnston and Johnston know!

[Bob Culver]

For years now in the local Jowett mag I have run a same picture cartoon with changing caption. A slightly peeved looking endowed and leggy woman is getting out of the front opening door and commenting to the driver. One caption was "And you are trying to tell me the rubber grease in the dashboard is for changing tyres"....

[Hedd_Jones]

I never use lubricant other than spit as a last resort. However this is usually on 19" tyres as per Reckers and they are relatively easy.
As has often been said, warmth makes an enormous difference. In the summer I stand the tyres in direct sunlight, in winter I use the propane space heater and when tyres are warm they are a lot more supple, so much so that you can "walk " them on with boot heels.
The most difficult part of the operation is getting the valve through the hole past a tricky wall/well gap and I recommend a neat little device which screws into the valve stem allowing you to haul on the handle attached to a  Bowden cable to pull it through.

Duncan

I've always though such a tool would be useful. I can only find ones which screw over the stem, not into it. The ones that screw onto the valves are NBG.

Where can I find one as you describe?.

I've got a couple of tyres to mount, they are stiff old dunlops and getting the valve in is the hardest bit.

[Reckless Rat]

Hedd, just use an old valve and attach some wire to it, pass that through the rim from the inside - you can then pull the valve stem through the rim and lock it in place with the securing ring and replace with a good valve afterwards.

[Duncan Grimmond]

Here is a link to one type of very useful tool( I hesitate to call it a gadget in as much as it actually does work)
I can't find the one which fits INSIDE the valve stem which is far better as it will allow you to pull through the hole in the rim

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184395285653?...mAQAvD_BwE

[Hedd_Jones]

yes its one that fits inside that you need on an austin.