Changing Tires

[TXGOAT2]

Is removing and replacing 4.40/4.50 X 21 tires on Ford wire wheels easiest to do according to the Ford owner's manual? I have Olympic-style 4 ply polyester tires that need replaced. They are about as stiff as brand new Firestone tires. I can't get them to drop into the rim gutter enough to get any kind of tire tool under both beads.

[Karl Von Neumann]

Take one bead off then pull the tube then take the other that's how they are supposed to come off not both bead at once. I change tires and remove tires all the time easy job

[TXGOAT2]

That's contrary to the owner's manual, but that's the way I've always dealt with tube type tires, so I'll take your advice. I suspect that tires made today are a little different from the 1920's balloon tires. The manual emphasizes centering the casing and tube on the wheel once they're in place. The tires made today seem to center themselves when inflated, provided the rim is slick.

[Allan]

I have 21" tyres on wire wheels fitted by my local tyre shop. Their machine takes up to 22' wheels. He puts a small tab of insulation tape on the "grabbers" to protect the paint on the rim. The rotating arm is set to run around the topsde of the rim about 1/8" above the rim, so again, no paint damage. Easy off and easy on. The $5 charge per tyre may reflect our patronage with all our farm tyre work.

Allan from down under.

[TXGOAT2]

That's a great price. I don't think I'd get such treatment here. In times past, yes. Today, not likely.

[John.Zibell]

I have split rims, but my friend has wire wheels on one of his cars. I change his tires on my manual Coats 220 tire machine. I do them like I do motorcycle wheels with tubes, I set the tube in the tire and set the first bead with the tube stem in the wheel and the remaining tube outside the tire. I then completely insert the tube and inflate the tube before setting the second bead. Once the second bead is set, I check valve stem alignment (to make sure it is straight, I will spin the tire on the rim if necessary) then inflate the tube several times before installing the shrader valve to make sure the tube has settled with no folds.

[TXGOAT2]

That's been my general procedure. The 1927 Ford owner's manual describes a different procedure that sounds easier, but I don't think it's do-able with the tires sold today. Apparently, the early balloon tires made for Ford drop center rims fit more loosely on the rim diameter, allowing for easy manual removal and installation, but requiring manual centering on the rim once installed. Such tires might not meet modern regulatory requirements. The Lucas/Olympic tires currently on the car do not become loose on the rim when both beads are broken down and the casing squeezed as described in the manual. They behave the way typical tube type tires of today behave.