HowTo: DIY Car tire mounting

[Joel The Biker]

I hand mount tires for my Car, truck and Spyder. I use a manual tire mount that is available from Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply. I also use the No-Mar tire bar(best tool I own!). I also have a set of spoons that are sometimes necessary. Tires for cars and trucks are very easy. The rear tire on my Spyders are reasonably easy. The front tires on the Spyder are very difficult and definitely not for beginners. They require the use of spoons to mount and lots of muscle and care not to scratch the wheels. Tape around the wheel will help prevent damage. The No-Mar Tire Bar wont mount the front car tires for the Spyder.

I also maually balance my wheels using a balance rod and cones from No-Mar and my own homemade balance stand. It works very very well and is very sensitive. I can static balance to within 1/4 ounce. Has always worked well on my cars and trucks, and only limited experience with the spyder, but so far, good results.

If you like to do stuff yourself, you should check out the Tire Bar and balance products from No-Mar. At least watch some of the videos on youtube. It really does work as easy as the videos show. It wasn't super cheap, but it was worth the cost. Hope this helps out some of you guys who like to do the work yourself. Here is one video I found with the same setup I have:

 

[UtahPete]

That is awesome! Thanks. I may just try that setup.

Is anything special needed for Spyder rear wheel?

Why are the front tires so much more difficult?

 

[Joel The Biker]

When installing car tires on the front wheels, the car tires seem to have a larger bead? If thats the best way to describe it. I mounted 2 Federal Formozas tonight and it was a tremendous struggle. I remember the tire shop also struggled mounting car tires to the spyder wheels on my 2014. I had to fight with them tonight and actually put a small scratch in one wheel that I had to repair. Had to use spoons. no room for the tire bar. For the rear tire, I used the motorcycle wheel clamp on the tire changer. It clamps to the outside of the rim to hold it so I can dismount the tire. Its available from harbor freight also. https://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-tire-changer-attachment-60810.html I did bend the grip tabs a little so it grabs the rim better. You can glue some rubber on the tabs for better grip also.

 

[wyo85]

This is what I got on Amazon to change trailer tires and my motorcycle tires, hope it works good on my Spyder too. Also use a cheap tire changer from Harbor Freight .

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LC4MLP...colid=DUGSWLJYOA7E&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

When installing car tires on the front wheels, the car tires seem to have a larger bead? If thats the best way to describe it. I mounted 2 Federal Formozas tonight and it was a tremendous struggle. I remember the tire shop also struggled mounting car tires to the spyder wheels on my 2014. I had to fight with them tonight and actually put a small scratch in one wheel that I had to repair. Had to use spoons. no room for the tire bar. For the rear tire, I used the motorcycle wheel clamp on the tire changer. It clamps to the outside of the rim to hold it so I can dismount the tire. Its available from harbor freight also. https://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-tire-changer-attachment-60810.html I did bend the grip tabs a little so it grabs the rim better. You can glue some rubber on the tabs for better grip also.

I don't think " bead size " has anything to do with it ..... The BEAD on the tire and corresponding LIP configuration on the wheel are FED- D.O./T. Regulated .... and they MUST MATCH ..... it's more likely the narrow width of the tire you are using .... JMHO ....Mike :thumbup:

 

[Knizar]

That is awesome! Thanks. I may just try that setup.

Is anything special needed for Spyder rear wheel?

Why are the front tires so much more difficult?

I change my own tires. The rear rim is wider which makes it a little easier to mount a New Stiffer Sidewall car tire. Note: (I remove the rotor & drive sprocket)
The front rims being narrower, and trying to protect the outer face of the rim makes it a bit more miserable to work with the New Stiffer Bead and Sidewall. The old Kenda tires are made from used condoms, softer and short on Viagra.

I use a bead breaker, Black Widow BW-2065; and (3) Stens tire tools 750-644, 16" length. All came from Amazon. Use plenty of Lube & Patience!
IT is a JOB, (at least my Kumho tires were) , Front worse than the Back! Good Luck....:thumbup:....Bill

 

[PMK]

I also have done tires on our and friends Spyders. Yes, both front and rears are done by hand. For balancing, the rears are static balance checked, the fronts I use my spin balancer and balance within 0.1 ounce dynamically to prevent precession and wobbles felt in the handlebars.

Actually, I have fixed a few Spyder vibration issues the dealers gave upon and stated were normal.

Regardless, changing tires is not my idea of having fun.

 

[Joel The Biker]

Here is my homemade balance stand. Just mounted these car tires on a set of scratch-n-dent spyder wheels I got on ebay.

 

[UtahPete]

Nice balance stand, Joel.

 

[Joel The Biker]

Nice balance stand, Joel.

Thanks. The largest wheels I have balanced on it so far are 19" with 245/40R19 General Altimax RT43 tires for my Honda Accord. They ride smooth as glass. It is made from aluminum from Lowes that is simply bolted together. The bearings are from Amazon.

 

[cptjam]

I have the No Mar complete set up. No trouble with front or rear Spyder tires. I’m sure we have done over 100 sets. Easy to do, and have their wheel balancer, too. Great company, great product.

 

[UtahPete]

I have the No Mar complete set up. No trouble with front or rear Spyder tires. I’m sure we have done over 100 sets. Easy to do, and have their wheel balancer, too. Great company, great product.

Hmmm....I seem to remember this strong ox of a guy using that rig to do my back tire! Maybe I need a hydraulic / pneumatic rig!

 

[Joel The Biker]

Or you could make one of these. Im going to try it.

 

[Bensonoid]

HF tire changer

Here's an easy mod to the original mount bar that comes with the HF tire changer. It doesn't bugger up the rims and makes dismounting the fronts as easy as peeling a banana.

 

[UtahPete]

Here's an easy mod to the original mount bar that comes with the HF tire changer. It doesn't bugger up the rims and makes dismounting the fronts as easy as peeling a banana.

What is it?

 

[Bensonoid]

What is it?

The pictures are of a mount dismount bar that comes with the HF tire changer. If you have one you can see what I did to make it work without scratching your wheels. The dismount end is a replacement No-mar tip and the mount end has a piece of laundry detergent jug zip tied to it. It only makes sense to someone that has the HF tire changer that the OP was referring to.

 

[UtahPete]

The pictures are of a mount dismount bar that comes with the HF tire changer. If you have one you can see what I did to make it work without scratching your wheels. The dismount end is a replacement No-mar tip and the mount end has a piece of laundry detergent jug zip tied to it. It only makes sense to someone that has the HF tire changer that the OP was referring to.

I understand now. Thanks

 

[Joel The Biker]

The pictures are of a mount dismount bar that comes with the HF tire changer. If you have one you can see what I did to make it work without scratching your wheels. The dismount end is a replacement No-mar tip and the mount end has a piece of laundry detergent jug zip tied to it. It only makes sense to someone that has the HF tire changer that the OP was referring to.

Looks good Gary. How did you attach the Mo-Mar black tip?

 

[Bensonoid]

The tip fit inside black iron pipe (I think it was 3/4 inch) ,then that fit in the mount/dismount bar. I used a roll pin to hold the tip.

 

[wyo85]

I mounted some tubing on my HF tire changer to slide into the hitch on the back of my truck so I didn't have to permanently mount it on my garage floor . It likes to twist a little because it about 4 feet back from the truck but works good. I guess I could put straps on the changers feet and then to the truck would fix the twisting but its not to bad.