Need special tools to derim and rerim tires?

Getting tired of paying $60 to switch winter to sumer tires and
vice-versa twice a year. Want to change the tires myself on our
Suzuki Grand Vitara 4X4. What tools do I need and is there anything
I should be aware of to make sure I don't wreck the tires/rims?

Andre

Melandre wrote:
>
> Getting tired of paying $60 to switch winter to sumer tires and
> vice-versa twice a year. Want to change the tires myself on our
> Suzuki Grand Vitara 4X4. What tools do I need and is there anything
> I should be aware of to make sure I don't wreck the tires/rims?

A second set of wheels would be a good investment. Mounting and demounting tires is pretty hard on them, lots of pressure and
tension is applied to do that. But here are some ideas:

Portable Tire Changer:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=34542
Portable Wheel Balanacer:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39741

You'll also need some tire weights and a jug of lube for mounting and demounting the tires.

--
Roger

Melandre wrote:
> Getting tired of paying $60 to switch winter to sumer tires and
> vice-versa twice a year. Want to change the tires myself on our
> Suzuki Grand Vitara 4X4. What tools do I need and is there anything
> I should be aware of to make sure I don't wreck the tires/rims?

Most folks buy a set of winter tires mounted on inexpensive steel
rims. Works especially well if your standard rims are fairly wide.
Then all you need is a lug wrench and an inexpensive torque wrench
to set the lugs to the right tightness. And a jack.

If you want to actually change the tires, you'll need some sort
of mounting/demounting rig, a bit of lube, possibly a quickstart
collar, and a source of air and a bit of rubber lube. Plus some
marking tactic so you can put the tire back EXACTLY on the same
rim in the same position it was when it was balanced. Otherwise
you are just asking for unbalanced tire/wheels. Much more convenient
to use spare rims if you have some place to store the extras.
[a local tire dealer might be nice enough to rent space]

Thank you everybody. I think you have convinced me to buy some
inexpensive steel rims. Much less trouble and stress on the tires.
I'll call the Suzuki dealer tomorrow and a few other places.

Andre

"Roger Brown" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Portable Wheel Balanacer:
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39741
>
> You'll also need some tire weights and a jug of lube for mounting and
demounting the tires.
>
> --
> Roger
Hey Roger
I have never seen a portable wheel balancer here in aussie and I am sure
that my wheels are not truly balance properly at the shop. Could you please
explain how this contraption works.
I have a slight shimmer while driving and I believe that it is the wheel
unbalanced. I also read that Toyota balance from the studs and not the
centre.
Thanks
Ron

"Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Roger Brown" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Portable Wheel Balanacer:
> > http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39741
> >
> > You'll also need some tire weights and a jug of lube for mounting and
> demounting the tires.
> >
> > --
> > Roger
> Hey Roger
> I have never seen a portable wheel balancer here in aussie and I am sure
> that my wheels are not truly balance properly at the shop. Could you
please
> explain how this contraption works.
> I have a slight shimmer while driving and I believe that it is the wheel
> unbalanced. I also read that Toyota balance from the studs and not the
> centre.
> Thanks
> Ron
>
Sorry Roger , I didn't see the .pdf manual available from the site. I don't
believe that this Portable Wheel Balancer is very accurate in comparison to
the autoshop electronic balancers
Ron

Ron wrote:
> > I have never seen a portable wheel balancer here in aussie and I am sure
> > that my wheels are not truly balance properly at the shop. Could you
> please
> > explain how this contraption works.
> > I have a slight shimmer while driving and I believe that it is the wheel
> > unbalanced. I also read that Toyota balance from the studs and not the
> > centre.
> > Thanks
> > Ron
> >
> Sorry Roger , I didn't see the .pdf manual available from the site. I don't
> believe that this Portable Wheel Balancer is very accurate in comparison to
> the autoshop electronic balancers

Its a static balance, not dynamic. Mine seems to be fairly accurate, I'll be using it to balance my bead lock wheels/tires,
then using a continuous wheel balancer to take out any imbalance:
http://4crawler.cruiserpages.com/4x4/CheapTricks/WheelBalance/index.shtml


--
Roger

Melandre wrote:
> Thank you everybody. I think you have convinced me to buy some
> inexpensive steel rims. Much less trouble and stress on the tires.
> I'll call the Suzuki dealer tomorrow and a few other places.

Check an online seller, the dealer will be the highest priced
source. For comparison, check Tire Rack online for winter
tires.

On Thu, 26 Jun 2003 09:21:32 UTC "Ron"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
> "Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Roger Brown" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Portable Wheel Balanacer:
> > > http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39741
> > >
> > > You'll also need some tire weights and a jug of lube for mounting and
> > demounting the tires.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Roger
> > Hey Roger
> > I have never seen a portable wheel balancer here in aussie and I am sure
> > that my wheels are not truly balance properly at the shop. Could you
> please
> > explain how this contraption works.
> > I have a slight shimmer while driving and I believe that it is the wheel
> > unbalanced. I also read that Toyota balance from the studs and not the
> > centre.
> > Thanks
> > Ron
> >
> Sorry Roger , I didn't see the .pdf manual available from the site. I don't
> believe that this Portable Wheel Balancer is very accurate in comparison to
> the autoshop electronic balancers

Ron, I'm old enough to remember when those static balances were all we
had <g>. Basically a pivot with a bubble level, the trick to getting
a decent balance is knowing how to distribute the weights when you use
one of those. When I worked in a service station we got pretty good
results if we used 4 weights per wheel. Basically, you set the wheel
on the balance, move the weights in pairs until it balances then put
one of each pair on the outside of the rim and the other on the inside
at the position that balances the wheel. Worked well enough for even
short track stock cars with speeds of under 120 mph and bias ply tires
of the day.


--
Will Honea <[email protected]>

Lon Stowell wrote:
>
> Melandre wrote:
> > Thank you everybody. I think you have convinced me to buy some
> > inexpensive steel rims. Much less trouble and stress on the tires.
> > I'll call the Suzuki dealer tomorrow and a few other places.
>
> Check an online seller, the dealer will be the highest priced
> source. For comparison, check Tire Rack online for winter
> tires.

Or see if you have a used wheel/tire shop nearby, they often have stock wheels taken off vehicles when owners upgraded wheels.

--
Roger

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected]am says...
>
> "Ron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Roger Brown" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Portable Wheel Balanacer:
> > > http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=39741
> > >
> > > You'll also need some tire weights and a jug of lube for mounting and
> > demounting the tires.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Roger
> > Hey Roger
> > I have never seen a portable wheel balancer here in aussie and I am sure
> > that my wheels are not truly balance properly at the shop. Could you
> please
> > explain how this contraption works.
> > I have a slight shimmer while driving and I believe that it is the wheel
> > unbalanced. I also read that Toyota balance from the studs and not the
> > centre.
> > Thanks
> > Ron
> >
> Sorry Roger , I didn't see the .pdf manual available from the site. I don't
> believe that this Portable Wheel Balancer is very accurate in comparison to
> the autoshop electronic balancers
> Ron
>
>
>
>

We have one for motorcycle tires, it works reasonably well but
motorcycle tires and wheel are made to more exacting standards and
rarely need weights added. I guess it's best not to make a tire out of
round that is going to be going 180mph
--
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