Changing RFT at home?

alexwhittemore · 04-18-2013, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

Take a look at the HF tire changer. It's $799 on sale, but I'm sure I can devise a tool to make runflats work.

I'll be ordering it later this week and will let you know if I can change runflats successfully at home.

BTW, I got about 8 cars at home so it's well worth it for me to invest in a tire changing machine. With four cars, you definite should get one.

Gary

You say that, but I'd venture a guess that if you can and have reason to afford 4+ cars, you're only DIYing the tire changes because you REALLY want to DIY. Or you're really cheap.

Although I suppose if you have >4 cars, you're probably also a gear head. So there's that.

garyhgaryh · 04-18-2013, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexwhittemore

You say that, but I'd venture a guess that if you can and have reason to afford 4+ cars, you're only DIYing the tire changes because you REALLY want to DIY. Or you're really cheap.

Although I suppose if you have >4 cars, you're probably also a gear head. So there's that.

I'm a gear head, a DYI'er (so is my wife), cheap, have too many hobbies, ...
Yeah I can say I'm cheap ... gotta be cheap to pay for my other hobbies and maintenance of homes, wife, child, etc. I'm old enough not to be affected by what other people think of me being cheap. Typical BMW owners,we all know, are not CHEAP and must show off to friends as such

(note the smiley).

Gary

N8N · 04-18-2013, 06:36 AM

If you're anything like me, you won't like most tire changers, either manual or powered.

First of all you have to make sure that the machine has the capacity to do 19" wheels...

Secondly many tire machines actually have little spikes that dig into the inner barrel of the rim to hold the wheel steady while the tire is being changed. If you have nice looking open pattern alloys you definitely do NOT want to be using this type of tire machine, you want one with soft pads instead.

Finally it takes some practice to be able to mount/dismount a super low profile tire without damaging the rim; a RFT probably (I have no experience, I haven't even tried to work on mine) makes it even harder.

Then, after you're all done, the wheel/tire needs to be balanced. Making this proposition difficult for a hobbyist, unless you find a good shop that's going out of business and selling off equipment for cheap and also have enough garage space to keep a tire machine and balancer without losing a parking space.

BoogeyMan'sBMW · 04-18-2013, 01:59 PM

Save yourself the trouble, go to a shop and have it done right the first time. Its a lot quicker and god knows why you are paying 200. Normally, its maximum 25 or 35 (at absolute most) to mount and balance tires.

Maybe you've just been going to the wrong places and they take advantage of you and the roundel they see. Best of luck

garyhgaryh · 04-28-2013, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoogeyMan'sBMW

Save yourself the trouble, go to a shop and have it done right the first time. Its a lot quicker and god knows why you are paying 200. Normally, its maximum 25 or 35 (at absolute most) to mount and balance tires.

Maybe you've just been going to the wrong places and they take advantage of you and the roundel they see. Best of luck

Who said I was ever taken advantage of?

BoogeyMan'sBMW · 04-30-2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

Who said I was ever taken advantage of?

Well judging from the fact that you are paying 200 dollars for mounting and balance, that's what I would call it.

It's pretty common here in NYC where they see what you drive and hike up prices.

garyhgaryh · 05-05-2013, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoogeyMan'sBMW

Well judging from the fact that you are paying 200 dollars for mounting and balance, that's what I would call it.

It's pretty common here in NYC where they see what you drive and hike up prices.

Where did you get the info I'm paying 200 for mounting and balancing?

alexwhittemore · 05-05-2013, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

Where did you get the info I'm paying 200 for mounting and balancing?

Misappropriated quote:

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayoflight82

10 bucks?! Where?
I've been paying 200 bucks these past few years

BoogeyMan'sBMW · 05-05-2013, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

Where did you get the info I'm paying 200 for mounting and balancing?

Well, I thought you were the OP. I didn't think some random guy in the thread would reply to what I said when I was clearly responding to the original post.

Sorry for the confusion

garyhgaryh · 05-10-2013, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoogeyMan'sBMW

Well, I thought you were the OP. I didn't think some random guy in the thread would reply to what I said when I was clearly responding to the original post.

Sorry for the confusion

Ah! No problem. :-) .

techwhiz · 05-10-2013, 06:18 PM

Second set of wheels?

Eagle1oh7 · 05-10-2013, 10:06 PM

I got my new tires wrapped and mounted back on the car with air for $60.

garyhgaryh · 05-28-2013, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

I got my new tires wrapped and mounted back on the car with air for $60.

That's definitely a good price!

I finally got the tire changer.

Not production quality, but who cares right?

Gary

Eagle1oh7 · 05-28-2013, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyhgaryh

That's definitely a good price!

I finally got the tire changer.

Not production quality, but who cares right?

Gary

The machine or the vid?

Seriously, you put it in your house and not the garage?! LOL! How much to mount my PSSes to my 18s when they get here?!

garyhgaryh · 05-28-2013, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

The machine or the vid?

Seriously, you put it in your house and not the garage?! LOL! How much to mount my PSSes to my 18s when they get here?!

The video

. Machine works great! I'll put up a video of it dismounting a tire in a few weeks.

I put it in the basement. We are working on build a garage so that will come later

.

Yes, I should mount tires for member and make it a business

.

ken1137 · 05-28-2013, 11:24 PM

Tire removal ...

Tire mounting...

N8N · 05-30-2013, 06:50 AM

so if your other car is a Cherokee you're a redneck? Dammit.

OP, does the changer you bought have soft pads for the wheel clamps?

garyhgaryh · 06-01-2013, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N8N

so if your other car is a Cherokee you're a redneck? Dammit.

OP, does the changer you bought have soft pads for the wheel clamps?

I'm not the OP, but people confuse me with him.
It does come with soft pads for the wheel clamps.

I haven't dismounted a wheel yet (getting ready for an interview next week). U know how that goes

...

racermp · 06-01-2013, 06:12 AM

Somebody gonna get a hurt real bad....

mandopickr · 06-01-2013, 12:26 PM

It can be done, with a good set of tire irons designed for truck or tractor tires and a small sledge hammer. depending on sidewall height (I'm not sure if there would be enough sidewall for 20"). Years ago, it was not unusual at all to have to change tires by hand. Regular tires were no big deal, but stiff industrial and truck tires on one piece rims took some effort. I would the stiff sidewalls on rft would be similar.

My question is why would you want to spend an afternoon working your a** off, when you could get all four done for $40 or less?

garyhgaryh · 09-20-2013, 01:21 AM

Here's a video I promised ya:

Mounting and dismounting a lo-pro tire. This was the first try so I was struggling, but after that, it was quick and easy.

Why would I want to do it? Why not?

I'll be doing runflats next. Anyone know where I can buy "magic bead blocks"? They are basically a series of plastic blocks (tied together with steel cables) that pushes the sidewalls towards the drop center of the rim. I'll need those with the runflats since I don't have the assist arms on this changer.

You don't need a $28k machine to change runflats (at least I'm gonna try to prove that)!

Gary

driverman · 09-25-2013, 10:33 AM

Changing low profile tires can be challenging, but changing low profile RFTs is even more challenging because the sidewalls are very stiff.

There are lots of threads on this forum about wheels being damaged by the bar they use to separate the tire bead from the wheel. It happened to me - 3 out of 4 wheels damaged by a seasoned veteran with good equipment. He wasn't careful enough.

Recommend you look for a good shop with good equipment and reasonable prices and have them do it.

04-18-2013, 06:36 AM	#25
N8N Lieutenant Colonel 168 Rep 1,843 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Berwyn Heights, MD iTrader: (2)	If you're anything like me, you won't like most tire changers, either manual or powered. First of all you have to make sure that the machine has the capacity to do 19" wheels... Secondly many tire machines actually have little spikes that dig into the inner barrel of the rim to hold the wheel steady while the tire is being changed. If you have nice looking open pattern alloys you definitely do NOT want to be using this type of tire machine, you want one with soft pads instead. Finally it takes some practice to be able to mount/dismount a super low profile tire without damaging the rim; a RFT probably (I have no experience, I haven't even tried to work on mine) makes it even harder. Then, after you're all done, the wheel/tire needs to be balanced. Making this proposition difficult for a hobbyist, unless you find a good shop that's going out of business and selling off equipment for cheap and also have enough garage space to keep a tire machine and balancer without losing a parking space.
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04-18-2013, 01:59 PM	#26
BoogeyMan'sBMW Lieutenant Colonel 118 Rep 1,933 Posts Drives: SLOW Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Queens NY iTrader: (4)	Save yourself the trouble, go to a shop and have it done right the first time. Its a lot quicker and god knows why you are paying 200. Normally, its maximum 25 or 35 (at absolute most) to mount and balance tires. Maybe you've just been going to the wrong places and they take advantage of you and the roundel they see. Best of luck
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-10-2013, 06:18 PM	#33
techwhiz Colonel 453 Rep 2,973 Posts Drives: e90 335i Sedan - Arctic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Bay Area, Ca iTrader: (4)	Second set of wheels?
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05-10-2013, 10:06 PM	#34
Eagle1oh7 Lieutenant Colonel 287 Rep 1,710 Posts Drives: '11 328i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Chula Vista CA iTrader: (0)	I got my new tires wrapped and mounted back on the car with air for $60. __________________ DONE: Seibon CF Hood, M3 Rep, MSport rear w/DD CF Diffuser, M3 Rep Skirts, Seibon CSL trunklid, Forgestar F14 18s w/Michelin PSS, Eisenmann catback, AA Headers, BPC Stage 2, Charcoal Delete+revMotor+AFE Drop In filter FUTURE MODS: LED headlights, CF rooftop, M3 Suspension Conversion, Dinan CAI Mod
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05-28-2013, 11:24 PM	#38
ken1137 Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,732 Posts Drives: BMW S1000XR Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 e90 335i [6.40]	Tire removal ... Tire mounting... __________________ BMWCCA member
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05-30-2013, 06:50 AM	#39
N8N Lieutenant Colonel 168 Rep 1,843 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Berwyn Heights, MD iTrader: (2)	so if your other car is a Cherokee you're a redneck? Dammit. OP, does the changer you bought have soft pads for the wheel clamps?
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06-01-2013, 06:12 AM	#41
racermp Major 190 Rep 937 Posts Drives: F30 330i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (1)	Somebody gonna get a hurt real bad....
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06-01-2013, 12:26 PM	#42
mandopickr New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	It can be done, with a good set of tire irons designed for truck or tractor tires and a small sledge hammer. depending on sidewall height (I'm not sure if there would be enough sidewall for 20"). Years ago, it was not unusual at all to have to change tires by hand. Regular tires were no big deal, but stiff industrial and truck tires on one piece rims took some effort. I would the stiff sidewalls on rft would be similar. My question is why would you want to spend an afternoon working your a** off, when you could get all four done for $40 or less?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-20-2013, 01:21 AM	#43
garyhgaryh Major 78 Rep 1,232 Posts Drives: Supercharged e30 M3 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: santa cruz iTrader: (4)	Here's a video I promised ya: Mounting and dismounting a lo-pro tire. This was the first try so I was struggling, but after that, it was quick and easy. Why would I want to do it? Why not? I'll be doing runflats next. Anyone know where I can buy "magic bead blocks"? They are basically a series of plastic blocks (tied together with steel cables) that pushes the sidewalls towards the drop center of the rim. I'll need those with the runflats since I don't have the assist arms on this changer. You don't need a $28k machine to change runflats (at least I'm gonna try to prove that)! Gary
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09-25-2013, 10:33 AM	#44
driverman Captain 38 Rep 715 Posts Drives: 2008 328i 6MT - SOLD Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: El Dorado Hills, CA iTrader: (0)	Changing low profile tires can be challenging, but changing low profile RFTs is even more challenging because the sidewalls are very stiff. There are lots of threads on this forum about wheels being damaged by the bar they use to separate the tire bead from the wheel. It happened to me - 3 out of 4 wheels damaged by a seasoned veteran with good equipment. He wasn't careful enough. Recommend you look for a good shop with good equipment and reasonable prices and have them do it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote