Tire spoon protector

[NealW]

Installing tires on a Model T or a Model A is no one's favorite task to do. Having installed three sets of tires on Model T's in the past, I have found that tire spoons work well for me. However, there's still the risk of scratching up the rims.

This past week I decided to have the rims from our 1929 Model A Tudor rims powder coated. The rims had been painted when it was restored in the mid 90s, but they had a few runs and had a few spots where the paint had chipped off. Fortunately there is a nearby powder coater that I have used in the past to coat the frames and running boards on the two Ts that I restored. They did a great job for a very low price and now have a durable, run free appearance.

Anyway, I still needed to reinstall the wheels and didn't want to nick the rims when I installed the tires. I decided to try using some leather work gloves to protect the rim from the spoons. The gloves worked great for doing that. I put the spoons in either the thumb or index finger while using them. They not only protected the rims, but are also a little slippery which always helps.

Here are some pictures of the process and the result. Having now installed both T and A tires, I found that it is much easier installing A tires.

Neal

[Pat Branigan Wisc]

I've used the plastic rim protector for motorcycles and has worked well when changing clincher tires.

[John kuehn]

Where did you get the tire spoons. Looks like they would work well.

[Allan]

For 21" tyres on painted rims I take them to my local tyre shop that does all our farm tyre work. Their machine will take up to 22" wheels. He puts a small piece of plastic insulation tape on the three fingers on the machine to protect the paint on the inner side of the rim. The machine head is set to run around the rim some 1/8" above the edge, so there is no chance of anything but the tyre ever touching the rim. Four tyres done in 20 minutes. He charges me for his time rather than the standard fitting charge for modern stuff. $30 total for the last lot.

Clinchers are a way different kettle of fish. If you want ease of fitting with those, new Blockleys are a breeze compared with all others I have ever mounted.

Allan from down under.

[Steve Jelf]

If I'm mounting tires on demountable rims, I don't worry about protecting the zinc coating. I haven't tried it, but I bet the gloves (or electrical tape) would also work on my HF irons, for demountable rims or otherwise.

[Norman Kling]

On the wire spoke wheels, I take them off the car and install the tire from the back side. Then if I scratch the coating, it does not show from the front of the rim. And even if I have to touch it up, not as noticeable.
Norm

[NealW]

Where did you get the tire spoons. Looks like they would work well.

They came from Amazon. Do a search for "tire spoons" on Amazon and it will show numerous sources. I would suggest getting three of the 14.5" long ones.

[KimDobbins]

I really try to stay away from harbor freight, but there 24" tire tools work well. Scrap pieces of model T top material work well for rim protection.

[Art Ebeling]

Model A tires can be mounted without tools, I just did six using plastic trash bags to make the tire slide over the wheel. Model T tires would need the tire irons and would be much more difficult to mount without scratching the paint or powdercoat. I have used duct tape on the irons and still left marks. The leather gloves are a good idea. Art

[NealW]

Model A tires can be mounted without tools, I just did six using plastic trash bags to make the tire slide over the wheel.

You are correct. However in my case, the tires are maybe 30 years old and the I couldn't get the tires warmed up, so they were a bit stiff. I did use the garbage bag method which works great, but I was just not strong enough to get these tires pushed over the rim. That's when I came up with the idea about using the leather gloves over the spoons. I also have those big HF tire irons and those ends easily fit into a leather glove.

The gloves worked so well that I don't ever plan on removing or installing tires again on an A or T without using them to protect the rims.

[Art Ebeling]

Model A tires can be mounted without tools, I just did six using plastic trash bags to make the tire slide over the wheel.

You are correct. However in my case, the tires are maybe 30 years old and the I couldn't get the tires warmed up, so they were a bit stiff. I did use the garbage bag method which works great, but I was just not strong enough to get these tires pushed over the rim. That's when I came up with the idea about using the leather gloves over the spoons. I also have those big HF tire irons and those ends easily fit into a leather glove.

The gloves worked so well that I don't ever plan on removing or installing tires again on an A or T without using them to protect the rims.

You are right, I did mount them when they were hot.

[Donsolcars]

Where in central illinois is the powder coater you used. I'm in Springfield and always looking, have a set of wire rims to get done. Thanks Don

[NealW]

Where in central illinois is the powder coater you used. I'm in Springfield and always looking, have a set of wire rims to get done. Thanks Don

If you are asking the original poster, I live in Kansas not Illinois and had them powder coated in Wichita.