Requesting clarification of wheel terminology

Hi Robert. This is obviously for your ’29 Roadster. I think you should mount at least one of these tires yourself, it’s a great way to understand the dynamics of the mounted tire and tube.

Plus, it builds ‘character’. Hmm maybe that’s why I’m such ‘a character’ ?? I’ve always changed my own tires on my antique cars. I even changed them on my Kenworth T-300 Semi. Why because I never know when that bit of knowledge and experience might be what I need to get my truck, or a friend’s truck back on the road.

Here is a photo of the tire-changing instruction page from a S.80 owners manual. Hopefully it will help explain the process.

Greg Long

Robert,

Take it from me, you do not want to try and change a tire on a rim on a Pierce-Arrow while wearing a suit, as pictured above (Chauffeur?).

I believe that Arnold Romberg / Dave White published in a recent PASB my process of how to change the tube and tire on a Series 80 split-rim.

It definitely has a learning curve and you have to be careful, because the rim can bite you if the split rim tool jumps off of the rim.

You do need a GOOD tri-legged split rim tool and a number of tire irons.

You also need Tire Lube and Tire Talc.

If you want details not found in the PASB, be in touch.

Peter

You should mount your own tires, as Greg implied, if only to understand the process and determine that you can or cannot do it yourself. It does take muscle but it is educational.

When mounting any tire I’ve found the use of a lubricant to be absolutely essential. And I’ve done many tires. Dish detergent, talc, WD-40. . . all this stuff is not good enough and some of it unwise. What I’ve found best is the dedicated tire lube paste found in most parts stores. I am not endorsing a particular product but what I’ve used is this “Europaste” stuff, shown in the photo. Used liberally it makes any mounting job much easier. I’ve tried, in my younger stupider years to not use a lubricant or only talcum powder to no avail because rubber wants to stuck to metal. You need to make the rubber slide over the metal.

The other advice is to use your tire irons to take small little “mouse bites” to work the tire on, little at a time. Never try to horse the whole thing or a large section on all at once.

Same with a split rim. Getting the tire over the slit rim may not be too hard, but closing the split rim can be nearly impossible without generous tire lube.

Again, experience is the best teacher.

— Luke

And since the software won’t allow me to post more than one photo at a time. . . .

I’ve done many lock ring tires myself. It’s not hard. Actually it’s pretty easy — much easier than split rims. You just want to make damned sure that while you inflate the tire that the lock ring is firmly seated, and you want to secure the ring with straps, rope, old leather belts. . . whatever so that it if does fly off, it will be caught. Never look down at the tire when inflating. Stay well clear. Secure a tire chuck to the valve stem, and turn on the air from a distance. I inflate in increments. Checking and double checking.

But as others have implied, if you are apprehensive at all about doing it, just have someone else. If a lock ring flies off, if can kill you really bad.

— Luke

Luke, the set up you have is NOT sage when using snap rings……….the amount of stored energy in the tire will blow past the belts like rubber bands. I don’t even use a cage……….I have a 100 foot Lon air hose with a locking air chuck on the end. I attatch it to the valve stem, and open the air valve on my compressor line slowly, until the tire comes up to pressure. I do this in the bright sunlight, to keep the tire soft and flexible. After the tire and ring hold 45 pounds for an hour or two, I bleed the air down to 25 pounds, inspect the ring at a distance, then get closer one it appears safe. I have seen two snap rings file……..and rest assured, each day as the rings get older, rechromed, and removed and installed mutiple times, they are not getting safer. Here is a NEW rim, new snap ring, and new tire all made by one of the best companies……and with 100 miles……..failure.

Ed,

Actually, your fingers are likely too big and your eyesight is in the over 40-years-old mode.

Get some reading glasses and keep them everywhere around the house and in the cars.

HA!

Peter