Has anyone changed their own tires? Do I need any special tools to break the sidewalls down or can I do it with simple hand tools?
I have never done it so I don't want to start whaling on the thing with a sledhammer or something and ruin the rim or tire that I am taking off.

Help!!!!

 

i do my own i have tire spoons you pull the pin in the valve stem and go to work on the bead. i usually have someone spot me while i drive my truck on the tire real close to the rim works every time. or a small sledge that you can control enough to not hit the rim and then i use the tire spoons to work the tire off. and putting them on is pretty self explanatory. it can be a task sometimes and it is sometimes worth having a service station do them. but i hate paying people to do what i can do i dont mind a little hard work. good luck.

 

ive seen it done similar to what rango said. except instead of driving real close to the tire to break the bead they used a 2x6 about 2-3 ft long and put the END of it on the tire. drive on the board and it pops the bead. turn the tire and do it again. that way you dont come as close to ruining your rim. now putting it on is another story.

 

You can also use a jack to break the bead. Set the jack right close to the bead, and try to jack up something heavy, like a truck. Use this trick on the farm with a handyman jack all the time, but it works with a small jack too. You just need enough space under whatever you are jacking to put the tire and jack.

 

Thanks guys... I said FI and paid $5.00 per wheel to have them changed.

I tried a few times to break the bead. Tried the jack thing and everything. I ended up getting out my dictionary of swear words, because I ran out of my own list. I gave in to defeat and brought them to the tire place. They had a hard time getting them off and the new ones on, even with their power equipment. I know eventually I would have lost it, and gotten out my skill saw and cut the *****'s off.

But I do want to thank you guys.

 

Anyway I got the "MudCat's" on the back, tomorrow the "MudGear's" go on the front.

The MudCats are awsome. Very quiet and smooth rolling (unlike the Dunlaps that were noisy and thumpity, thump, thump). And boy do they dig, at least in the snow. You spin them one or two revolutions and you got yourself a fishing hole.

If you look at the pictures the Dunlaps look alot wider but they actually are only about 1/2" wider. It is because in the picture the Dunlaps are still on the rim and the MudCat's are not. Once on the rim the Mudcat's puffed out a little. They have a nice flat profile and excellent for the rear, not so sure if the flat profile would be good on the front. But that is why I have the MudGears going on the front with a crown profile and really agressive side lugs.