One piece wheel tire mounting
by Jeff Bosset
of T.S. Racing, Inc.
Reprinted from Inside Karting Magazine
Can mounting and dismounting tires on piece wheels be fun? Can it be easy? Well, you will probably never have fun but you can sure make it easy. This article will explain the procedures for mounting and dismounting tires on one piece wheels with the greatest of ease. You will only need a few tools that you can easily buy and/or make.
The first task that you have to deal with is breaking the bead of the tire away from the rim bead. The air should be removed from the tire by removing the valve core needle from the valve stem. Once the air is removed, you can break the bead off of the rim by using a bead breaking ring as used in our
examples. Other tools are available, but I prefer the ring because it is so easy to use. It is fast, and small enough for those trailers that do not have room for a bulky unit. It will even fit in a tool box. To use the ring, place the tire on its side and place the ring around the rim on the side wall of the tire with the flat edge of the ring facing up (Example 1).
Now place one foot on the flat edge covering about half of the ring and stand up on the ring. Hold onto something and stabilize yourself. Stomp firmly with the other foot on the open half of the ring (Example 2). If the bead does not break loose on the first try, try again until it does. Remember to break down both sides of the tire. This procedure for breaking the bead loose will work on one and two piece wheels.
The second step is to mount the rim firmly so that you can work the tire while the rim remains stationary. The following procedure will work for Douglas, or other one piece wheels. Using a 1” or 1 1/4” steel tube at least 14” long with a flange on one end works real well. Mount the flange on the
floor of your trailer so there is enough room on all sides to work. Try to bolt the mounting device through one of the steel reinforcements under the trailer for greater strength. Now you can mount your 1” or 1 1/4” hub on the tube about half way up (Example 3). At this point, you are ready to bolt the rim on the hub with the valve stem facing up (Example 4). The Douglas Wheel assembly can also be used for the above application, as well as the T 6730 in (Example 5).
The only time you will have to work up a sweat on this project is right now. Taking the tire off is easy because the side walls are softer than when they are new. Grab the tire with both hands and squeeze the tire together, trying to get the two beads close to each other. Hold the tire at a 45° tilt and
pull one of the beads up over the edge of the rim. Continue to pull up and slowly twist the tire until the bead pops over the rim Repeat this process for the other bead (Example 6). When you are putting a new tire on the rim, be sure to remove plastic wrapping first. Grab the tire with both hands and
squeeze the beads together just like when you removed the used tire. This will be a little more difficult because the tire is new. Hold the tire at a 45 degree tilt and start to work the tire onto the rim, using a slight twisting motion. Do this for both beads of the tire and, FLASH! You’re done! Almost.
You still need to put air in the tires in order to seat the bead to the rim. Begin by replacing the valve core needle into the valve stem. Now place the tire on its side and fill it with air. Be careful not to get your fingers caught between the bead of the tire and the rim. Set your tire pressure where you prefer and put the valve stem caps on.
With this quick and simple method, mounting and dismounting tires will be something you will not mind doing. Happy mounting and remember to always practice safe workmanship in a safe area.After mounting one piece wheels you'll wonder why you ever messed with two piece wheels with rim halves, nuts, bolts, o-rings and leakage.
For more information: TSRacing@TSRacing.com
Example 3: The rim fixture can use a 1" or 1 1/4" hub, with a steel tube fastener to the floor of your trailer.
Example 4: Bolt the wheel on the fixture with the valve stem facing up, 
Part# T 6730
Example 6: Grip tire firmly with both hands and hold at a 45° tilt.