Were Original Tires Easier to Remove?

[ericr]

Does anyone have any knowledge, speculation, assumptions, etc., that original tires of natural rubber were easier to remove from the rims than our modern tires?

One You Tube video showing how to remove a tire ends up with the owner stating he couldn't get it off and he merely changes tubes.

The thick, stubby tire irons that the car came with are of little help. Owners now seem to state that modern tire irons have to be used.

With all the flats that drivers experienced in past generations, I find it hard to believe that original owners had this problem.

[JDupuis]

I think back then they weren't concerned about scratching the rims. One can reef and work like crazy on a tire if you're not worried about the paint. JMO. Jeff

[jwilliams81]

The key seems to be to get the "bead" of the tire down into the grove in the middle of the wheel. Do that on the top and then pull it off from the bottom.

I liked this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7CL5ms21pI

[wmws]

I did notice that the old tires I took off my car when I got it were a lot softer than the new ones I put on. The old ones you could get them off with practically no tire irons where as the new ones where quite stiff but went on ok.

[Special Coupe Frank]

The old cotton cord tires may have been softer... but then often the rubber hardens with age.

I heartily agree with #2 - it goes a lot faster if you're not worrying about protecting nice paint.

I haven't tried mounting band-new tires; I've only worked on the replacement / 2nd-hand tires that came on my Coupe; 30-40 year-old Lesters / Allstates / Garfields.

They have not been difficult.

[Fullraceflathead]

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Once you have the majority of the Bead in the recessed area of the wheel they are easy to remove or install.

[A31Woody]

Having just replaced old Firestones with a new set of Good Years, I can safely say the newer tires were MUCH softer / easier to mount. I Had a heck of a time removing the old tires. Mounting the new tires using a thin plastic bag was a piece of cake once I got the technique down.

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by A31Woody

Having just replaced old Firestones with a new set of Good Years, I can safely say the newer tires were MUCH softer / easier to mount. I Had a heck of a time removing the old tires. Mounting the new tires using a thin plastic bag was a piece of cake once I got the technique down.

probably because the old tires were hard as rocks and not stretchy, i have the same issues with lawnmower tires.

[George Miller]

I do not see any difference, from years ago. I do not find them that bad. The worst tire I ever took off in my Dads garage was a old manure spreader that had a tire that was on there for a long time. It took a few bottles of coke and a long time to get it off.

[leo]

Back in the 1960's I had a 1933 Chevrolet coupe and I bought 4 wheels and tires off someone who also had the same car. I proceeded to break down the tires off the wheels and found red inner tubes. I put those tires with new tubes on my coupe and drove them around for 2+ years, never had a flat or even noticed any wear, probably because the tires were petrified after sitting who knows where since before WWII....

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by George Miller

I do not see any difference, from years ago. I do not find them not that bad. The worst tire I ever took off in my Dads garage was a old manure spreader that had a tire that was on there for a long time. It took a few bottles of coke and a long time to get it off.

Hey George,
Was it a ride-on manure spreader , and did you ever have to ? Draft horse of tractor drawn ? Ahh, those were the days when forced child labor paid off for farmers not having to ride that seat

[Jeff/Illinois]

Manure spreaders were the one thing John Deere would never stand behind

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

Manure spreaders were the one thing John Deere would never stand behind

....because 'Nothing runs like a Deere, --or smells like a John!!'

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by hardtimes

Hey George,
Was it a ride-on manure spreader , and did you ever have to ? Draft horse of tractor drawn ? Ahh, those were the days when forced child labor paid off for farmers not having to ride that seat

Luckily no. But when I had my farm I used a manure spreader be hind my tractor, and got hit with a flying pice of manure. Was not real happy about that.

Another time I was stacking hay on the wagon behind the bailer. One of the bails had a couple of snakes in it. It hated the manure, but would take that over the snakes.

[George Miller]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

Manure spreaders were the one thing John Deere would never stand behind

Thats funny

[jeep44]

Originally Posted by Fullraceflathead

Once you have the majority of the Bead in the recessed area of the wheel they are easy to remove or install.

This is the most important thing! I've changed a whole bunch of tires, on everything from motorcycles to farm tractors, and I feel that Model A tires were among the easiest ones I've done.

[ursus]

A dairy farmer I know was working his usual 80 hour week with no days off. There was a festival parade in town at a time he was trying to cross the main street with a fully loaded manure spreader. The police wouldn't let him cross and the crowd was yelling at him to take the whole stinky mess away. He didn't think he could back up the machinery in a tight space so there was a stand-off. As the police advanced toward him he smiled and reached for the lever that sends the manure flying. They let him cross the street and go on with his business.

[ericr]

back in the 1980s I bought a non-Ford assembled car that had been parked in a garage since 1936 (per the plates) and the tires had sunk down into the dirt floor into the wood spokes. when we inflated the tires, 3 of them actually still held air. the fourth tube exploded like the atom bomb.

but yes, when it came time to remove the tires from the split rims, I had to saw some of them off.

[Step-down]

I use a welders C clamp to broke the bead .The hold process
Is a work out.

[JtownJoe]

LOL, never heard that one!