mini tyres

At the risk of stating the obvious, local tyre depot? Now I know from experience that not all of them keep these in stock now (sign of the times), but they should all be able to get them inside two days.

Or is it that you're trying to save a few £££? Breakers yard could be worth a try for used ones, but Minis are even getting rare in breaker's yards.

Most of the stack in my garden are worn, but I'm too far from you anyway (Notts).

10" tyres seem hard to get except on special order and are more expensive than larger sizes. My tyres are perished but hardly worn .. ok so I don't want to spend too much to use the trailer 2 or 3 x per year.

Ian

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Chris Bolus ( snipped-for-privacy@FARINAb0lus.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Especially on 10" tyres - most of the 80s, and probably even later 70s ones had 12", didn't they?

IIRC, apart from the 1275GT, they were all on 10" until 1984, other than maybe the HLE/ Mayfair pre 84 cars, which might have had 12s.

Or, to put it another way, until 84, by far the majority were 10s.

I would've thought if possible, it'd be worth trying to find some 13s for a trailer, as 13" tyres seem to be available everywhere, and for very good prices.

By mail order from any of the Mini specialists or at any of the Mini shows. Take a look at

for a start. David Betts ( snipped-for-privacy@motorsport.org.uk) The Classic Car Gallery:

I built the trailer in about 1978 when i was into Minis (possibly the least reliable car mad in the UK since the war and with many desgin flaws, but still the best fun I have ever enjoyed on 4 wheels). My trailer hubs are ex Mini and the mudgaurds are for 10" wheels so i don't realy want to fit bigger wheels. Just want to make it roadworthy as cheaply as possible so I can clear out my garage.

Ian H

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I built the trailer in about 1978 when I was into Minis (possibly the least reliable car made in the UK since the war and with many design flaws, but still the best fun I have ever enjoyed on 4 wheels). My trailer hubs are ex Mini and the mudguards are for 10" wheels so I don't really want to fit bigger wheels. Just want to make it roadworthy as cheaply as possible so I can clear out my garage.

Ian H

Yep best offer so far Falken £40.85 inc delivery, might cost another £10 for fitting. Ian

Ian Haig ( snipped-for-privacy@despammed.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

145x10 max load 315kg each - £22 each inc vat plus £5 deliv.

Falkens are £19 and prices go as cheap as £17.

Odd. Though I hate certain jobs on them, I think Minis aren't at all bad when it comes to reliability, at least not compared to many other cars I've had. I agree they're bloody good fun though :)

My trailer hubs are

Fair enough, I just thought it might be better to have 13" rims, as I saw

145/13s going for 16 quid fitted recently, which seems a bit of a bargain to me!

do falkens for £17.24 or Kumho for £16.78, both inc delivery. I see they now have franchised depots scattered around who I assume could fit them, or why not d-i-y?

SNIP .. or why not d-i-y?

Never thought of doing it myself. Is it straight forward? presumably like a bicycle but need some giant tyre levers? !! Any links to how to change tyre websites?

Ian

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This is the description I posted to alt.fan.landrover a few years ago:

Lay the wheel flat on the floor. Remove the valve core Pour some very soapy water into the small "vee" between the tyre and rim. This will help lubricate things once the bead starts moving. Take a very blunt (definitely rounded end) one inch or so cold chisel and push it into the "vee". Radially inwards, and about 30 degrees from the vertical. 'it it, 'ard, with a 'ammer. Work your way round doing this till you see the bead start to move, then come free all the way round.

Turn the wheel over and repeat. (usually easier)

Splash a bit more soapy water around.

Stand on one side of the tyre so the bead can go into the well of the wheel when you lever diametrically opposite to get the first bid of bead over the rim.

*Remember - you won't get the bead over the edge unless the opposite bead is in the well - you won't stretch the bead*

Hold the first tyre lever down against the wheel centre, keeping the first bit of bead over the rim, and use a second lever to get a bit more over. Too close to the first one, you won't get the lever in, too far away, you won't get the bead over the edge.

You should then be able to work your way round, but may need to use a third tyre lever (or a big screwdriver in place of the first one).

You'll then be able to get the tube out. (If one was fitted)

Describing how to get the second bead off a rim is harder than doing it, so suffice it to say that's where I do use a hammer as well as a lever.

To get the tyre back on, wodge the wheel onto one well-soaped bead, so the bead goes into the well of the rim, then work it over in small stages. For the second bead, start at one side and walk round the tyre with feet in Chaplinesque splather until most of the bead is within the rim, then use a lever for the last few inches, again with plenty of soapy water.

I've made a slide hammer out of a weighted length of tube that fits over a 2ft crowbar, which has superseded the blunt cold chisel approach. More control, so less chance of hitting yourself when you lose your rag with it.

I know it's only a fiver, or a tenner, or whatever to get a garage to do it, but you don't pay tax on money you save yourself (yet), I don't change tyres _instead_ of earning money, and it saves having to clean off the oil that ?$*# Fit fitters have sprayed on your shock absorbers.

To which I'll add the post-script that I got so sick of the process that I splashed 60 quid on a secondhand basic garage-type pneumatic bead breaker and manual lever changer. It's already paid for itself, and I've still got the kit to sell when I get too old to be bothered even with this. I've also made a tool to pull tubeless tyre valves through rims, because none of the usual tool places seem to sell them.

How much? They rip you off down south don't they? I paid £44 for _two_ Marshalls fitted & balanced. Small local tyre fitter.

But remember smaller tyres are harder than big ones - less "give" in terms of percentage of the circumference. Remember how adult bike tyres are easier to change than kiddies' ones?

I though the same as you when I read that post. However, having looked at the

site the £40.85 is for 3 of 'em! Maybe it's us 'Up North' that are getting ripped off? Simon H

I had 3 Mini vans over about 12 years, and never paid more than 25 quid for any. The first one failed an MOT through rear subframe rot and a mate at work had one going for less than the price of changing it. So I kept all the good bits and scrapped the rest. It got written off when out on loan, and number three got all the good bits from that.

As you say, about the best fun to be had without much danger of losing your licence. ;-)

Actually, it is for two. They are 16 something each, plus vat, plus delivery....effectively 20 each on your doorstep.

David Betts ( snipped-for-privacy@motorsport.org.uk) The Classic Car Gallery: