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HF tire changer:how well does it work?
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I have one of the small HF tire changers for lawnmower tires. It works, but it's crude and a lot of work to operate even on a small tire. I don't think I'd want to mount a large tire with one. I'd rather pay to have them mounted at a tire store. Less chance of bead damage.
Kestas
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I have one. It's main usefulnes is to break the bead and to hold the tire up for mounting. You still have to wrestle with the wheel to get the tire on and off.
They way I use it, it'll scratch aluminum.
After a while, I bought a pair of tire irons from Harbor Freight to help with the procedure.
They way I use it, it'll scratch aluminum.
After a while, I bought a pair of tire irons from Harbor Freight to help with the procedure.
I have one and it's the bee's knees. Shot some vid a while back:
It'll scratch aluminum but not as bad as parallel parking does. You can wrap your tools in duct tape or soda bottles if you really care.
The job goes better if the tires are warm. Also if the thing is bolted down-- a choice I avoided, due to infrequent use and not wanting bolts sticking out of the floor.
It'll scratch aluminum but not as bad as parallel parking does. You can wrap your tools in duct tape or soda bottles if you really care.
The job goes better if the tires are warm. Also if the thing is bolted down-- a choice I avoided, due to infrequent use and not wanting bolts sticking out of the floor.
Many places seem to mount for free but charge for balancing. So I am not sure of the point of having ones own tire changer. Sams Club mounts and does a lifetime balance for I think $9.99 a tire. How can one beat that.
Years ago my Dad would use a bumper jack to break the bead and then use tire irons to do the rest. I do not think cars have bumper jacks anymore.
While I like to work on cars, I prefer to do things that are fun, and changing a tire is not high on that list.
Years ago my Dad would use a bumper jack to break the bead and then use tire irons to do the rest. I do not think cars have bumper jacks anymore.
While I like to work on cars, I prefer to do things that are fun, and changing a tire is not high on that list.
I can do a static balance, either by putting on a drum brake hub loosely adjusted (spin and mark where the heavy spot is) or with a HF cone bubble balancer (never the same spot 2x it seems.)
Otherwise Walmart will do a one time balance for $5.
65 series and up seem to do fine with static balances. 60 series: some do, some don't, but they all do great on the rear axle. So yes I have some random tires that have reserved corners on my car.
The REAL benefit is the used tire pile at the junkyard, $5-10 ea, combined with the savings of free mounting, gets substantial. I inspect my tires, they're fine, and I don't have to hear about the road hazard etc spiel at the tire shop. I've bought $250 cars midwinter with bald tires and no heat-- a $10 thermostat and a few used tires and I've cured all the reasons the previous owner couldn't get around!
Otherwise Walmart will do a one time balance for $5.
65 series and up seem to do fine with static balances. 60 series: some do, some don't, but they all do great on the rear axle. So yes I have some random tires that have reserved corners on my car.
The REAL benefit is the used tire pile at the junkyard, $5-10 ea, combined with the savings of free mounting, gets substantial. I inspect my tires, they're fine, and I don't have to hear about the road hazard etc spiel at the tire shop. I've bought $250 cars midwinter with bald tires and no heat-- a $10 thermostat and a few used tires and I've cured all the reasons the previous owner couldn't get around!
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