Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

[Bill O.]

I have located an original Firestone Deluxe Champion 670 X 15, 4 ply gum dipped tire with a 1 inch (approx) white wall. Tread depth reads 6 on a gauge with even wear. Some cracking on the sidewall, but minimal, with none at the rim. Tire is mounted on what we think is a ’63 “replacement” wheel, stored inside 30+ years....not sure prior.

What measures can be taken during removal and remounting on a ’62 spare wheel to reduce the chances that the tire will be destroyed? Or is it just too risky?

Thanks much for your thoughts/experience with such.

Bill

[Bill I.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

A very timely question Bill. On Monday of last week, I watched almost the same thing with a 39 yo tire. When the machine went to break the bead, it did, BIG TIME. Pieces of the bead stayed on the rim, others did not.

They ended cutting it off. Bill.

[Chris L.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Bill...make sure you save the air !! WHo knows, in a few years the judging manual may add 5-10 pointd for "original" air and that stuff is hard to find!!

[Philip C.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Thanks much for your thoughts/experience with such.

Bill

Hi Bill I would lube the hell out of the tire with a good tire lube. Use extra care braking the bead. If you can find a shop with both the old style tire machine and the new rim clamp type. I would brake the bead with the old type machine and remove the tire from the rim with the rim clamp type. The old type machine you can control the bead braking better than on the new machine. The new type machine doesnt stretch the tire as much, when taking the tire off the rim. I would mount it with it also. my .02 Phil 8063

[Stuart F.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Wow! old air! never thought about that. I have my original "never on the ground" spare still in the tub on my 63. Now I know for sure I won't ever change it. That air could be more valuable than the tire and wheel some day. Maybe I'll save it for when/if the day comes that I need to be resuscitated. I'll specify in my living will that my last breath should be the air from my spare, circa July 1963. Heck! That's better than vintage wine!

Stu Fox

[Harmon C.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

You need to find an old gas station that now is into repairs. The person removing the tire needs to have gray hair and know all the tricks to save the bead. Lots of lube and takes his time. I have had many 30 year plus tires removed by the same person with no bead damage.

[Don L.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Not sure about what you intend to do with the tire, once removed, so here's a friendly warning for you and others that may find themselves in a similar situation.

Do your homework in advance of removing the tire if you are planning to re-mount it. This may be a state/regional-specific issue, but I know that here in Michigan, tire stores (not sure about the little, privately owned garages) are prohibited by law to mount a tire that is >10 years old to a rim, regardless of the circumstances. Don't ask me how I know!

I was told that it is because of the Firestone problem a few years back, and that the intent is to keep old "unsafe" tires from being used. A sales approach? I don't think so, at least at the store I used. They really wanted to help, but their hands were tied. (I went underground to get it done, so I lived happily ever after)

[Steven B.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Bill, a few years ago I removed an original 1956 tire with good results. I used at least a quart of tire lube and a rubber mallet. It took two days and alot of gentle pounding but I came off OK. I remounted it by hand again with alot of liquid dish soap (I used all of the tire lube getting the tire off.) and a couple of spoons I borrowed.

Good Luck!

Steve

[Bill O.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

My thanks to all.
I'm getting some lard sent from down home and will give it a try.

[Tom P.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Well, if you want to run it over to my house in Mustang, OK, I have an OLD, HAND OPERATED Coats tire machine that will permit bead removal in small increments, thus reducing the possibility of damage to the tire/bead.
I bought this old tire machine out of a gas station (back in the days of full service stations) that was going out of the service business, about 30yrs ago for $50.
This tire machine has been invaluable for doing my own tire service, switching tires for whatever reason, fixing flat tires, etc.

[Bill O.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Tom:

I just might take you up on that when the weather breaks here in Chicago.....maybe late May-early June.

I think the guy who is going to help me has an old "bead breaker" and older style tire mounting equipment.

Thanks,

Bill

[Tom M.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Tom:

I just might take you up on that when the weather breaks here in Chicago.....maybe late May-early June.

I think the guy who is going to help me has an old "bead breaker" and older style tire mounting equipment.

Thanks,

Bill

Bill, Don't let the original air (NOS) out of it

regards Tom

[Bill O.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Tom:

I bet you'd give me some extra points if I managed to get that air back into that tire on the correct rim.

Bill

[Stewart A.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Be careful Bill. A lot of old tyre rim combos get wet and sit for a long time and start to get rusty. For some reason the rust kind of glues the tyre to the rim. It's very hard to tell until you go to separate the two. I would truly take up the offer from Tom. The old manual style bead breakers you can use whatever force you like with them. Heaps and heaps of lube and you should be ok with it. The other problem you might have is when you pull the tyre over the rim with the tyre lever. It can stretch the tyre in an isolated spot and tear the poly and rubber if it's brittle. You could send it to me in Australia and I could get it off for you but it will probably cost more than 2 new tyres. Stewy

[Roy B.]

Re: Removing Original 40+ Year Old Tire From Wheel

Here is a original 1955 tire removed from a 55 car never used or on the road still having tits and the size Originally done then from a friend that bought a 55 Chevy car having 1600 miles on it. I removed it from his wheel and installed it on my 55 Corvette spare wire wheel for showing at NCRS meets.
The rubber had no cracking ,soft like new , one of my best finds ever!