can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

[thebrain]

I have small 4.80-12 tires on my boat trailer that need replacing I think they are tubeless?

I have changed motorcycle tires w/ tire irons so maybe I could give it a try.then travel w/ just a spare tire w/out wheel just incase of a blowout.

edit the wheels don't have any balanceing weights is it recommened to have the wheels balanced?

Thanks STB

 

[oldjeep]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

Yes you can. You can break the bead by placing a jack on the tire and then using your vehicle to jack against. I mount all my own trailer tires.

That being said, I would not just carry a tire and plan to remount it in the event of a problem. Trailer rims are cheap, your blowout could destroy a rim, and do you really want to be trying to debead a tire in the middle of the interstate?

 

[thebrain]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

good point on damageing the rim.(probably unlikly w/ my 600Lb tow weight) I'll plan on 3 new tires one allready w/ galvinzied wheel for spare.

?1.can I mount the spare wheel to the trailer w/ a large galvizied U bolt?

if I remember correctly when breaking the bead on the motorcycle tire I basically stood on it and jumped.

?2.I have read a little about folks buying tires only and regreted not buying the tire and wheel together I'm confussed on this.

?3.do you have you'r wheels balanced?

Thanks STB

 

[H20Rat]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

good point on damageing the rim.(probably unlikly w/ my 600Lb tow weight) I'll plan on 3 new tires one allready w/ galvinzied wheel for spare.

If you are at the side of the road with a flat trailer tire, I'd say its probably 50/50 that there is rim damage (at least for my luck). Lots of times the trailer will hit some road debris or a big pothole, enough to dent up a rim.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

You can change them or get a bigger set at Habor fright. I have a manual changer for doing golf cart tires that could be mounted in a hitch mount that would not take much room when traveling but would still have a mounted tire so could get off hyway to mount a tire.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

"?3.do you have you'r wheels balanced?"

Really good Idea. You can wait and keep a very close eye on them for wear pattern, but by the time you catch it, balancing is too late.
Guess I should have said close hand, not eye. You can feel the wear pattern much sooner than you can see it.
huts

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

soo To save $20 and 5 lbs by not carrying a spare rim inside the spare tire you need tire tools, an air compressor, a spare rim anyhow in case the rim on the trailer gets damaged and an extra 30 minutes from your guardian angel to keep you from getting killed on the side of the road...... eh seriously not worth it......

Yeah you can ubolt it to the trailer.... another really cool way to mount it is to get an extra axle spindle and a hub.... get the spindle welded to a plate that you ubolt to the trailer and then put the hub with bearings and seals on the spindle. Bolt the spare tire and wheel to the hub..... now if you smoke a set of wheel bearings, you can be back on the road in just a few minutes.

 

[thebrain]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

You can change them or get a bigger set at Habor fright. I have a manual changer for doing golf cart tires that could be mounted in a hitch mount that would not take much room when traveling but would still have a mounted tire so could get off hyway to mount a tire.

?1.I believe the 4.80-12 is a common size?
?2. what bennefit would I get from a larger tire?
I ussalley buy good quaility tools however for tire irons these will do.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=tire+irons

"?3.do you have you'r wheels balanced?"

Really good Idea. You can wait and keep a very close eye on them for wear pattern, but by the time you catch it, balancing is too late.
Guess I should have said close hand, not eye. You can feel the wear pattern much sooner than you can see it.
huts

I'm planning on changing tire every couple of years so wear isn't a concern, my longest trip will be 200 miles one way.

soo To save $20 and 5 lbs by not carrying a spare rim inside the spare tire you need tire tools, an air compressor, a spare rim anyhow in case the rim on the trailer gets damaged and an extra 30 minutes from your guardian angel to keep you from getting killed on the side of the road...... eh seriously not worth it......actualley I plan on a spare wheel and tire thanks for advicing about safety

Yeah you can ubolt it to the trailer.... another really cool way to mount it is to get an extra axle spindle and a hub.... get the spindle welded to a plate that you ubolt to the trailer and then put the hub with bearings and seals on the spindle. Bolt the spare tire and wheel to the hub..... now if you smoke a set of wheel bearings, you can be back on the road in just a few minutes.

when I travel (even a 30mile trip) I allways have a spare set of wheel bearings grease & tool box.
are you saying it would be a good idea to carry a spare hub also?

edit my galvinzied trailer is allmost new just been sitting for about 5 years.

what are the chances of the axels having pit marks from just sitting?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

My current boat trailer tires are balanced and was part of the tire sale, didn't specify it. First trailer in my life I ran balanced trailer tires.....never felt I had to and never felt that I should. If I were riding in the trailer then I might have a different opinion.

On a larger tire, first of all it has to fit the space provided for your tires with room for the springs to work and it not contact the fender. Otherwise, the larger tire can be run at a lower pressure and provide a softer ride for your trailer. I remember back in '71 I bought a rig and the tires were 12" rims. Pressure was high, 45 psig or more. The springs had no shackle in the rear, just a slot for the spring to slide back and forth, and bounce up and down in. Hated it. Swore I'd never buy a trailer with small high pressure tires, nor without a shackle at the rear of the spring.

My 2c,

Mark

 

[thebrain]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

Mark good points on PSI. I believe these current high PSI is 60. remember my boat wieght is under 500Lbs.

what are thoughts about the axels being pitted?

Mark I still waiting for you'r response about the engine mount brakect on my other thread?

edit: I'm finding out that my desired new boat Starcraft mr210 CC will be hard to find in the South
however the Starcraft 22' islander are more available.
I'm curious about the brakect transome conversion on a Islander.
STB

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

I like having the spare hub/wheel/tire assembly. Jack up the trailer, remove bearing cover, locking pin, retainer washer/nut, and remove the whole wheel/hub assembly. Then reverse the order to install. Lots quicker than one would think. BTDT

If you have pitting on the bearing surfaces, more than likely your inner bearing seal surface is pitted as well. Worn seal and axle stub seal surface can allow water in to cause the pitting. Also bad dust/bearing covers can let water in. Usually easy to tell as if the inner has more pitting, then it is the inner seal and vice versa for the outer. Hope this helps...........SS

 

[steelespike]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

I'm sure no trailer expert but If your buying new tires You should look into the 480 X 12
I think the 480 X 8 is about 16",the 12" is about 21" No doubt you would have to raise the fender about 2 1/2 to 3" to have the same clearance. You'll need to measure the offset compared to the 8".Should vastly improve tire wear and bearing fatigue.Harbor freight has china wheels and tires I wouldn't reccomend.Last I checked Walmart had very attractive wheel and tire sets.Only reason I haven't upgraded my little utility trailer is I only use it once or twice a year and go about 10 miles round trip.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: can I change small tires w/ motorcycle tire irons

Mark good points on PSI. I believe these current high PSI is 60. remember my boat wieght is under 500Lbs.

what are thoughts about the axels being pitted?

Mark I still waiting for you'r response about the engine mount brakect on my other thread?

edit: I'm finding out that my desired new boat Starcraft mr210 CC will be hard to find in the South
however the Starcraft 22' islander are more available.
I'm curious about the brakect transome conversion on a Islander.
STB

I thought the psi rating was 60 but wasn't sure. I knew it was above 45 so I used that number.....higher the number more they roll like concrete.....

"Mark I still waiting for you'r response about the engine mount brakect on my other thread?" Sorry for missing you sir. Would you tell me where it is and I will gladly readdress it...send me a pm on the address.

Pitted axles to me would not be a problem. Assume your axles are circular as are mostly used here. A pit in a circular piece of steel probably over rated 4:1 for general consumer safety wouldn't bother me at all. If you are running 3500 # axles on a 21' boat you probably have another 2:1 margin on safety.

Mark

 

[thebrain]

fishing dude to

I would like to see what you are using on you'r hitch to hold the wheel/tire while removing and installing it.

I used a big C-clamp to break the bead. I have been able to pry one side of the tire off having a hard time getting a grip on the inner side of tire because I can't hold the wheel and pry on tire at the same time.

I'm thinking about using some snipes to cut the rest of this tire off are the metal cords inside a bias ply trailer tire? I think installing will be easier than removing grease inside tide jump on it then pry the outside. Thanks TB

 

[thebrain]

having a extremely hard time copy and paste to this new improved version of I boats

 

[smokeonthewater]

...

 

[GA_Boater]

Take the rim to a tire shop. Those little donuts are bear.

What are you trying to copy & paste? CTRL C to copy, CTRL V to paste and CTRL X to cut. Works all the time.

 

[Redfred1]

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. I have always thought that a smaller tire would turn faster; and produce more heat. My Dad has a trailer (old one; had a coil spring action). He/We were wearing tires out a bunch. The tire would go; and the rim was ruined by the time you stopped. He hated that trailer.

 

[slowleak]

I used to work for a tow company that had the contract for two major roads, I can't count how many rigs I towed in with either mangled trailer rims after a blow out, or bad spindles after a bearing seized and spun. A few rims that come to mind were worn down so bad there was nothing to remove but the part of the rim where the lugs were.

If your thinking about changing out a tire on the highway, its doable, but how would you inflate it? It would need to enough air to seal and seat the bead, your not going to get that out of small 12V air compressor, and if your carrying an air tank, I think a good spare and even a hub would be lighter.

Buy two new rims and tires, keep your old ones for spares.

 

[bigdee]

http://www.harborfreight.com/480400-8-four-ply-rated-tire-with-4-lug-rim-61521.html At this price it is hardly worth the effort to change the tire. Just buy one or two of these and use them as spares.