Fitting tyres DIY

Our local scrappy fits tyres and balances them at very competitive rates if we buya set of wheels and want tyres knocking off sometimes they dont charge so long as you take all of the tyres away - it costs them to dispose of the old omes.
Apart from tralier and barrow tyres I wouldn't attempt to swap tyres at home - have done it in the past with vices, clamps, bits of rope etc but a total pia compared to watching someone do it effortlessly with the correct gear
atb
Mike

Thanks folks, good advice, I'll keep looking for a friendly fitter.

If you have no joy with local independents if you know anyone thats into bangers or stocks a lot of those boys have the gear and will do it for beer money.

It should be possible to make a DIY system for emergency use. VW have a drawing for workshops to make their own in the 1950's / 60's.
It may be possible to use the rear wheel hanger to hold the wheel steady with a central rod at right angles to the wheel attached to the wheel holder. It should be possible to attach a bar to this central rod hinged at the end and a curved piece attached to the lever to coincide with bead.
Not a good description so I'll see if I can dig out the original VW drawing which will at least show the concept.

I used a local independent tyre fitter, mainly because all the big names wanted over a £100 per tyre :ohmy: . I suspect most will be willing, a jobs a job in this economic climate. I have a friend who says its easy to fit tyres by hand but then he has done it loads. P.s. a sliding bead breacker makes cracking the bead a peice of p***. The next bit tends to be a bit harder though :laugh: .

Nobby

I tried the "take the wheel off and jack up the car on top of the wheel bead using a hi-lift jack " method......followed by a hi-speed dash to hospital casualty.