Can regular car tire stores change ATV tires?

 

Some are willing some aren't. It's a lot more difficult than regular tires that you can put a lot of pressure in to seat the bead. Ask around. It beats trying to do it yourself.

 

Even if they say they will or can, be sure that they have a newer style tire machine, one that clamps to the rim not a center post (called a turn table type machine) and that they have the adaptors to clamp rims smaller than 14". If they do not, then they are going to attempt to do it by hand and can damage tire or rim.

When I had my tire shop, I had a Coats 5160 machine and had special adaptors so you can clamp onto smaller rims, and the bead breaker worked great for smaller ATV or mower tires without any damage.

Most name brand tire stores will have the equipment to do it and will be glad too.

 

Discount Tires will do it for you, and will charge a minimal fee for it. About $25 total to take off the old and mount the new (if you don't buy the tires from them) and trust me it is worth it to have them do all the work including busting and seating the beads.

 

For what it's worth - we always seat the tires at 20 lbs/inch - then leave them seated for a day like that. Seems to lessen problems.
I find that a lot of tires straight from the wholesalers are often mis-shaped from travel, so 20lbs straightens out the whole job.

 

Texasroadlawyer, you were right ! Thanks for the tip. I called DT and they charge $5 a tire to dismount the old and mount the new. Why do ATV places charge over $20 a tire for the exact same job?

 

I read somewhere where Walmart will do it for $5.00ea!

 

I have one of those harbor freight bead breakers. I had to weld a piece of steel onto the downpiece, but it works pretty well.

Most aftermarket tires come on and off pretty easy.

Stock ones are often pretty light and floppy, especially the sidewalls. I've found breaking those with like 10psi in the tire helps a lot. It keeps the sidewall from folding under the foot of the bead breaker, and I think it takes some of the bead's grip off the rim.

For me, the thing has paid off.

 

The local Gateway Tire center here will do it but then they sell atv tires also.

I have watched my neighbor change his out in his yard, using a 16ft flat trailer tongue jack to break the bead loose.

 

JeffinTD, which breaker did you buy at Harbor Freight? Thanks