C2 Tire Mounting

[Dave K.]

Completed painting my sand blasted wheels for my 66. Once enamel has cured a few days will mount the bias ply Coker 7.75X15 tires. I have access to a Coates pneumatic tire changing machine. Anyone know a way to mount the tires without scratching or chipping the paint, especially the outside rim where the tool rotates?

Thanks,
Dave Kitch

[Dennis C.]

Re: C2 Tire Mounting

Dave - Two thoughts: 1. Be sure to use the plastic insert that goes on the tip of the "thing" that put the tire onto the rim. 2. Better yet, I have been able to mount some of these tires without a machine at all, just tire lube and a little muscle. Good Luck, DC

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Tire Mounting

Dave-----

Mount the tires from the REAR side of the wheel and use the plastic "insert" that Dennis advises. This way, if any of the paint is "disturbed", it will be the paint on the REAR of the wheels. If this does occur, a little touch-up will render it indicernable. Plus, who's to say that the original installation at the factory (which I think was done from the rear of the wheel, too) didn't leave a few "nicks" in the paint on the rear? A flawless rear paint is probably "non-original".

[Chuck S.]

Re: C2 Tire Mounting

Dave, if you want to spend a few bucks for mounting and balancing, a local tire store probably has mounting machines that are "touchless"; i.e. tire mounting machines specifically designed to not mark up your wheels. In Texas, the best place for this service would be "Discount Tires". Tire stores hype these "touchless" machines because people driving high-dollar imports (or even pimped-up Cavaliers) don't like getting their alloy wheels marked up.

When I had my tires mounted on freshly painted rally wheels, I got eye contact with the guys and said "I just painted these wheels, and I don't want ANY scratches on them!" There were no scratches on the outside face that I remember, and they had a heck of a time getting those new pancaked tires to expand onto those 8" wheels.

By the way, don't be surprised if one of the Coker repro tires is "unbalanceable". I had one tire that was going to take way too much weight to balance; I called Coker, and they sent a shipping tag for return shipping and replaced the tire with no questions asked. The replacement tire balanced fine.

[Rob A.]

Re: C2 Tire Mounting

Some tire shops have a machine specifically for mounting on chrome rims so as not to cause any damage. If you ask (insist) they will show you how it works and you can decide for yourself if you feel any damage will occur.

[John H.]

Re: C2 Tire Mounting

Trivia - the production tire mounter conveyor held the wheel with the show-side up, with two pivoting shoes, the business ends of which moved around the sides of the wheel as it advanced through the mounter. The next station was the inflater, which inflated the tire by blowing air inbetween the rim and the tire bead; the valve stem was never touched (I've seen production wheels that got all the way through the system and on cars with no valve stem hole in the wheel - that blows people's minds that have never been in an assembly plant and seen how tires are mounted and inflated)

[Robert W.]

Re: C2 Tire Mounting

What are you going to do if a hub cap car. They scratch the hellout of the rims.