mounting tires for challenge car...PITA

Sundays are usually the days I can do personal work at work. Got a cheap pair of Hoosiers for the challenge car and decided to mount and balance them yesterday. All I really wanted to say was that these tires are staying on the rims and the rims will be thrown out with the tires because of how hard they were to put on. It took two of us for each tire and I think we broke Honda's tire mounting machine. Also balancing these tires sucked. I'm glad I don't have to do crap like that everyday, although Honda's runflats are just as bad, but at least those pay 1.5 to 2 hours a piece.

Keep that in mind next time you're at a track event and see the tire vendor guys "earning their salt" (as we used to call it) mounting and dismounting tires. I didn't have that job...but did my share of it, that's for sure!

Clem

I worked for Goodyear many years ago (mid 80's) doing just that. When not at the track I worked part time at a Goodyear store in the sticks. Good ol' bys with Groundhogs during the moster truck craze for the win. YEHAAA!

What made those Hoosiers so hard to mount?

Did you remember your lubrication?

The guys in the shop scatter when they see me back the Trooper up to the tire bay. Pu//ies.

I have mounted V710's on the machine here at work and they are so stiff they won't 'collapse' inward. The first bead rolls on nice and easy, the second one won't go into the 'drop center' because of the stiff carcass. Much grunting sweating and swearing is needed.

Maybe a sidewall thats stiffer than my favorite drink Jack on the rocks? Maybe the fact that my service manager is cheap and has the crappiest tire mounting machine known to man?

Yes I remembered my lube, used lard and soapy water (yes I know, not the best to do, but not really concerned here).

It didn't take long it was just a pain in the arse. Pry bars were my best friend and help out a lot, especially in not damaging the bead!

We are just waiting for one of the team members to finish installing the ebay chip and we should be good to go.

FWIW, I never have, and never would balance race tires.

Why would you never balance race tires?

1. Chances are, you're never going to see speeds more than half-way through 3rd gear. (certainly not at the challenge.)

2. Apparently, it's a pain in the ass.

3. You're adding unnecessary rotating mass.

Even on the drags, I wouldn't bother, and I don't personally know anyone who does.

With the stockcar we had the only track we ever had balenced tires for was Daytona, and only there because Good Year mounted everyones tires. No one balanced them anywhere else and it never seemed to mater.

I did my 40-series Azenis on the manual machine (ie: non-hydraulic) at my motorcycle shop. It required four hands, several irons, the leverage bar, and much swearing - while almost all bike tires, even heavy carcassed touring tires for Goldwings and K-LTs generally just require a quick spare hand to hold the bead in the groove

I'll be taking those to my B-I-L's tire shop next time, no question.

I had a friend mount the Azenis tires for my wife's MINI. When I went to pick them up he said, "That was an educational experience." I asked why and his response was, "I learned I'm never touching those motherberkeleyers again!"

So as to not strain the friendship, I now take those tires elsewhere to be mounted.

i doubt adding a few grams is really going to make a noticeable affect. Less vibration is good though! I only balanced the front two anyways. No point in balancing the rear.