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Steve Jelf
- Posts: 7390
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- Board Member Since: 2007
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Contact:
Post
by Steve Jelf » Sun Dec 07, 2025 1:10 pm
For most people, the first time is tough. That gives lots of us the impression that it's inherently unpleasant. If you're new to this game, don't be intimidated. With practice it becomes more familiar, and you learn some things to do and some things to avoid. The more you do it, the less you will dread it. A few suggestions:
1 Do it on the car, and use the vehicle weight as a handy tool.
2 Use long irons. The "correct" little Ford irons, only a foot long, make changing tires the job from Hell. I carry three two-footers from HF. They are inexpensive and make prying easier.
3 Pry both sides of the tire on or off simultaneously.
There are other details, but those three things will help you turn an ordeal into no big deal.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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mortier
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:16 pm
- First Name: Philip
- Last Name: Jamison
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Roadster
- Location: PA
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by mortier » Sun Dec 07, 2025 3:52 pm
I like the HF tire irons like Steve uses. I also have a pair of spoon-style irons used on motorcycle tires. They can squeeze into a small opening and aid removal of older, hard tires.
- tire irons.jpg (36.35 KiB) Viewed 668 times
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Allan
- Posts: 7112
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
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by Allan » Sun Dec 07, 2025 5:21 pm
Steve's "both sides of the tyre simultaneously" is a great tip. it keeps the tyre irons away from the tube and avoids pinching. I would add a further tip. Buy and use proper tyre fitting lubricant to make the job that much slicker.
Allan from down under.
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Art M
- Posts: 982
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:57 pm
- First Name: Art
- Last Name: Mirtes
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
- Location: Huron, Ohio
- Board Member Since: 2016
Post
by Art M » Wed Dec 10, 2025 6:48 pm
For lubricating tubeless tire beads, I use out of date brake fluid. So far I have had no problem using it on clincher tires.
Art Mirtes
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Jerry VanOoteghem
- Posts: 4379
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:06 pm
- First Name: Jerry
- Last Name: Van
- Location: S.E. Michigan
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by Jerry VanOoteghem » Wed Dec 10, 2025 6:54 pm
Art M wrote: ↑Wed Dec 10, 2025 6:48 pm
For lubricating tubeless tire beads, I use out of date brake fluid. So far I have had no problem using it on clincher tires.
Art Mirtes
I've used dish soap.
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TXGOAT2
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- Board Member Since: 2021
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by TXGOAT2 » Wed Dec 10, 2025 6:54 pm
Brake fluid will attack most types of paint and varnish. I'd use a commercial tire lubricant. Brake fluid might attack natural rubber.
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John kuehn
- Posts: 4611
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Kuehn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
- Location: Texas
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by John kuehn » Wed Dec 10, 2025 9:24 pm
Using Go-Jo hand cleaner works wonders for lubing up the beads for tire removal or installing. Other similar brands would also work. Go-Jo also works great for removing grease stains on your shirts or light colored pants if you are working on your car.
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Allan
- Posts: 7112
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
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by Allan » Wed Dec 10, 2025 11:14 pm
Bon-ami would probably clean your teeth to but I prefer the purposely made product.
Allanfrom down under.
