Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Our Prado spends most of its life being the daily driver for my girlfriend (I am guessing that many people are in this boat). Now while she has the knowledge and will to change a tyre if she needs to, she is slight of build (and kinda on the short side) and unable to lift the wheel. So I am concerned that if she gets a flat she will be stuck.

She can probably undo the nuts holding the spare on, but she wouldn't be able to control the wheel while getting if off the back of the car and might hurt herself while trying to do so. And once the wheel is changed (we have a 5t bottle jack and cheater bar which she uses admirably) there is no way that she can get the tyre back on to the rear door, and with the rear shelf in I dont think that she could get the wheel in the back without hurting herself, the fridge or the car.

Does anyone have any hints, tips, gadgets or gizmo's that overcomes this problem. I can't be the only person in this situation.

Cheers,

Will

[Black 120 GX Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black 120 GX]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

Hi Will,
Sorry I don't have an answer for you. I just tell my wife to smile at the passing cars, or to ring NRMA. Not the best option but there is no way she could change the tyre. I have a mate who said the best thing to help is a short skirt.
Steve

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

You can get aerosol packs of sealant that inflate tyre as well, from any parts outlet. Tyre fitters hate the stuff but better that than getting her to flag down a passing stranger.


Mick

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

I would never have thought it possible, but after having witnessed it, I believe almost anyone can manage the tyre change if they have adequate practice and training. The only implement required other than the jack and wheelbrace was a sand shovel. The issue is understanding leverage and safe lifting methods as well as basic nuts and bolts mechanics. When I saw it done, the lady chosen to be the guinea pig had absolutely no chance of lifting the wheel, yet she changed the tyre successfully.

The biggest issue would be reloading the flat tyre back into the vehicle.

Basically, the process demonstrated was this:

*) Remove the retaining nuts from the spare, stand to one side and control it by rolling it down your body holding both sides of the rim (inner and outer)

*) Chock opposite wheel, apply handbrake and gear/park

*) Place jack in position (on plate if ground uneven)

*) Loosen wheel nuts (stand on wheel brace, holding onto vehicle)

*) Jack vehicle until wheel is clear of ground, remove nuts and wheel

*) Roll spare into position, jack vehicle so that wheel studs are a little higher than wheel.

*) Using sand shovel as lever, lift wheel into position using hands to guide wheel and foot on handle of shovel

*) Apply nuts, tighten by hand with the wrench then lower jack and tension nuts using the stand on brace method.

Under the circumstances, we cannot always rely on the supply or goodwill of passing strangers, so it's probably a good idea to practice changing the wheel. Be useful to have some handcleaner or gloves and overalls stowed in the car to make it easier to complete without wrecking good clothes etc.

Hope this helps.

Michael

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

are any of those aerosol products better then others?

I have seen first hand what can happen when an aersol is left in a hot car. My brother in law had a can of spray paint explode in his car due to heat and so i am weary of leaving such things in the car, expecially seeing as how hot the car gets in the pilbara sun. Maybe if its in a small toolbox it will contain any mess in the case of an explosion.

I like the idea though, if it gets the misses home stress and injury free that will definitly be a good thing.

Is there any damage to the rim? or do the tyre fitters just hit you up for a cleaning fee?

Will

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

How about an exhaust jack to lift the wheel back up to the spare wheel carrier?

Or some sort of a ramp attached to the towbar hitch to roll the spare tyre down and to the left of the car. The ramp rotates to a flat position so you can open the rear door for normal usage. Or if you don't want any of this rotating bizzo, you can just strap the ramp to the spare wheel if you don't use spare wheel covers.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

are any of those aerosol products better then others?

I have seen first hand what can happen when an aersol is left in a hot car. My brother in law had a can of spray paint explode in his car due to heat and so i am weary of leaving such things in the car, expecially seeing as how hot the car gets in the pilbara sun. Maybe if its in a small toolbox it will contain any mess in the case of an explosion.

I like the idea though, if it gets the misses home stress and injury free that will definitly be a good thing.

Is there any damage to the rim? or do the tyre fitters just hit you up for a cleaning fee?

No idea about what brands are better than others. I did see them at Supercheap Auto today $15 each. I think tyre fitters hate it because their the poor bastards that have to clean it out before patching a flat.
There is no damage to rims.
Some small cars come with can of this stuff from the factory in lue of a spare tyre (SMART car for instance).

As for exploding you shoud be safe if it's stowed out of the direct sun. Wrap it in a rag, then put the lot in a plastic bag and stow it in the rear side compartment if you're worried.

Mick

[01Rod Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 01Rod]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

The main reason tyre fitters hate the stuff is that some are Cacogenic
and will acually eat the wheel rim away (rust). (Finileak)
Most tyre shops will now turn you away if the tyre has been filled with liquid tyre sealant or charge a cleaning fee.

No tyre manufactures actually endorse the use of liquid tyre sealants.. so would also void any tyre warranty.

If you are going to use it make sure you use a water based one like "slime'
http://slime.com.au/

after trying several of these liquid tyre sealants for work,
I reakon they work about 50% of the time. and no longer than a few hours.

I think the best bet is a membership with your local Auto club..
like
http://www.racq.com.au
for $62 bucks a year its not bad insurance..

Rod

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

I think the best bet is a membership with your local Auto club..
like
http://www.racq.com.au
for $62 bucks a year its not bad insurance..

This is what we have done. My wife has called them about 5 times in 15 years so to me well worth it. As for the goo the new E2 series of HSV's come with a pump and sealant and even a temporary spare is a cost option. I reckon we will see more of this in the future.

With regards to getting the tyre back on the carrier I ran into an OKA many years ago near Broome. The OKA was a rental camper hired by an elderly couple. One of the tyres had deflated and ultimately punctured. I came across them trying to recover the spare from the bush where it had rolled. The guy had undone the nuts and just dropped the wheel on the ground and off it went. Ended up about 200m away! The wheel nuts were ridiculously tight and God knows how he would have coped putting the damaged tyre back up. Those wheels felt like they were 50kg and the carrier was every bit of a metre plus off the ground. Makes you wonder what the hire place thought this couple would do in the event of a puncture in the middle of nowhere...

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

I think that I will look into the spare tyre in a can option, it sounds like cheap insurance and hopefully we will never have to use it. If you see me do a write up in the product review section for "tyre in a can" you will know that my luck can out.

Cheers,

Will

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

Actually, another quick question.

Does anybody know if a tyre gets staked and a can of tyre goo gets used as a short term fix, can the tyre be repaired properly later or is it a complete throw away?

Will

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

Does anybody know if a tyre gets staked and a can of tyre goo gets used as a short term fix, can the tyre be repaired properly later or is it a complete throw away?

The goo has no effect on wether the tyre is throw away or not, it really comes down to the damage/where the stake is.

Another option is to get a plug kit and compressor and train your G/F how to use them. In most cases, especially "road" type punctures that are easy to find (nails, wire, screws, etc) you can do a repair without taking the wheel off the car. Problem solved and you have the bonus of a nice bit of kit for offroading.

Mick

[01Rod Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 01Rod]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

Actually, another quick question.

Does anybody know if a tyre gets staked and a can of tyre goo gets used as a short term fix, can the tyre be repaired properly later or is it a complete throw away?

Will

Yes the goo can effect if the tyre is fixable...
if its water based like "slime" www.slime.com.au
It can be just washed out, then they can repair the tyre if its repairable.

If the liquid tyre sealant is not water based. Some of them like "finileak" will actually set hard and cannot be removed.

Rod

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Re: Looking for an easier way to change flat tyres?

If the driver isn't capable or strong enough then the RAC membership is definitely the go.

I carry the can of slime that comes complete with a little 12v compressor in my Cobra because it doesn't have a spare wheel. I've never had a flat in over 11 years with this car but would be in trouble without the ability to repair out on the highway.

In lieu of the shovel, I role the new tyre (Prado) towards the hub and then, whilst sitting on my bum, I use my feet to lift the wheel up onto the studs. It doesn't take much effort and you only have to lift the wheel a couple of centimetres.

Maybe Toyota should have offered as an option, the spare wheel under the back of the car like the Jap models. This way those people who rarely venture off the blacktop would be able to raise and lower the spare with ease, just like bigger cruiser, rodeo, mitsubishi, etc.

My wife simply calls me on the phone and says "HELP!"