The second half of my flat tire story

I took the tire to Berryville last week. They said it was ruined.
I had them order me a new one. I went after work to have it installed.
The lady at the desk asked me if they had the wheel? I said no that they had put it in my truck last week.
Then she asked if I wanted the stair up under the truck?
I said absolutely not.
Soon they called me up to the desk. I paid them and drove the 25 miles home.
Went to unload my water jug from the back of the truck. There was my wheel in the back with no tire on it. No spare either.

I had borrowed a spare from a co-worker for a couple days and it was gone as well.
I looked under the truck and my spare was under there where I said not to put it.
I walk around the front and there is my buddies wheel with my new tire on it.
His tire gone.
The tire shop was already closed.
Not happy

This place has been in business for years but sold to a big chain a while back.
They built a new complex. Huge building and lots of warehouse.
They have to drive your vehicle in and out of the tire shop. You can’t see what’s going on in there.
I didn’t see one person I recognized.
I think the locals have quit them.
It’s not the place I normally use but it’s close to my work.
I can’t get to my favorite place before they close.

Codger wrote: Tire shops have become sources of frustration for me. So much so I purchased a tire machine and spin balancer from a dealership I formerly sublet auto body work from when they upgraded. I do most everything myself anymore so it's done right to the best of my knowledge. I have tire irons and such for large tires but use the bead breaker shoe rather than swing a hammer for this task as once beads are broke free, removal of the tire from the rim is fairly easy. I have a buddy at a heavy truck tire shop that spin balances heavy truck tires if "Budd", or "unimount" rims for $15.00 each using glue on weights. Like your car or light truck, these usually last the duration of tire life.

I have considered the same.
I do all my own tractor tires, motorcycle tires and atv tires.
I use the backhoe or handy man Jack and chain to break tires down.
I don’t have a balancer.
I would buy a bubble balancer if one were to come available.
The regular tire shop I go to you stand in the shop while they change your tires. While they change them you exchange pics of last years deer harvest with the sales man and visit about each others family followed by a joke or two.
That’s how it should be

Have used 8# Bead Hammer, slide hammer type and reverted to the Allis 7G on my last episode on the 180 as that one just would NOT break free.  Dynamite License would be handy for some.

Sawzall is the best bead breaker that I have found for stubborn tires

I have an "ESCO" mechanical bead breaker for the large tires, (truck/tractor) that uses an impact wrench but it's not easy on paint at times. Three or four repositions around the perimeter bead sealing area and the tire is pushed free for the most stubborn. Many only take one positioning and they push free.  

i saw this guy on  You Tube 3 years ago doing lawn mower tires... I  built my own unit about 3 TIMES as big out of 3 x 3 angle for the base ( about 4 ft long) and put 3-4 adjustment holes on the HEIGHT of the cross bar..use 2 ton floor jack... I can do lawn mower up to 28 inch tractor tires.. I dont normally do car or truck that need a balance, but have done 16 inch trailer / wagon tires , etc...

Im with Hubert... Local FS Center has an old shop in a barn with concrete floor... 3 guys work there.. Cost 10% more, but you stand there and talk and watch while they work. You get EXACTLY what you want.... .... Pick out tires on the internet and they order and arrive in 48 hours to install..... Fix flats for you in a few hours or while you wait if in a hurry.

Edited by steve(ill) - 04 Jul 2023 at 9:32am

Pallet forks on a skid steer work good for breaking beads. If they don't go by just pushing down you can push the tire against something and force the tip against the rim. Helps if you have a person to flip the tire so you don't have to get off.

Thad in AR. wrote: Went to the tire shop at lunch. They swapped my tire on to my wheel and put a good tire on the spare rim.

Did you have a prayer meeting with them?   

Since the local tire shop and my hours don't always match I bought a Harbor Freight manual tire changer. Works good. For the really stubborn beads,I break them down with my 25 ton Log Splitter.

most places can't/won't follow directions anymore. they say it's their policy to do anything they do. I tell them, it's my money and they want it, they shall do it my way or I leave!