Does anyone know of a tire service company in the Atlanta, Ga area that can remove tires from the rims without using a sledge hammer?
I cringe when someone starts beating my tire near my aluminum rims. Thanks.
Not many places have tire machines for big tires...good luck! A possible solution would be to talk about your concerns with the mgr/owner of the shop you are at and find out if they/he will stand behind (read replace) any damage done with a hammer.
You can break the bead by driving over the tire (laying flat on the ground) with another vehicle of some sort...I know, kinda okie...
Mal,
My aluminum wheels are easier to break the bead on than steel wheels. I just remove the valve core and when the air is out, Just jump on the tire. It has always popped loose first or second time. I was told the aluminum wheels do not have a ridge to hold the bead like a steel wheel does. Jack
Jack I took my bus to a local shop and they beat on my tire with a sledge hammer for at least 10 minutes.
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Quote from: mlh1936 on April 11, 2010, 11:51:20 AM
Jack I took my bus to a local shop and they beat on my tire with a sledge hammer for at least 10 minutes.
Hmmm, maybe I was just lucky? I had to replace a valve stem and did what the guy at the tire shop told me. Jack
From personal experience (20+ years of breaking down/mounting tires) the various tire mfgs mount up and break down differently. Generally one of the biggest problems with tires on steel wheels that have been mounted for long periods of time (years) is rust on the inside of the wheel and creating a bond at the bead mount area. In my personal experience, aluminum wheels are not as problematic as steel, however in my operation I take tires off every couple of years or so (on most equipment) so they don't have as much time to become corroded/rusted (wheels) or hard (rubber).
My suggestion is that if you have steel wheels, consider replacing them with new ones that are made in USA and or powdercoated...I guess what I am getting at is buying good wheel (Firestone, etc) rather than the import/how cheap can I buy this for wheel sold at some locations. Or, try one of the products (generally a liquid) that goes into the tire prior to airing up...to try and eliminate the rusting/corrosion issue.
Something to keep in mind is that some of the coaches we see here may not have had the tires off in a long time.
Speaking from a trucking background.
You might want to give Bagwell & Mathis in Cumming a call. I'm not sure they do truck tires but I think I have seen some pretty big ones in there. They have been around FOREVER and really know how to take care of people.