Front Tires - Firestone 3-Rib or Vredestein V61 5 Rib?

[dbuck]

I have the Firestones 3 v-ribs on my 149 and the work great from plowing snow, mowing and tilling. They were purchased from Miller tire.

[AyatinGL]

I went with the Firestone 3-Rib. Any tips on mounting them? I already have Harbor Freight's mini tire changer. I saw in another post that someone was stretching them width-wise (with pieces of wood inside which would be removed at mounting time) ahead of time to help mount them. Should I do that to help get a better seal so they blow up to seat them on the bead?

[olds45512]

I paid $10 at the tire shop to have them mounted, so much easier than fighting with those small tires.

[dbuck]

Originally Posted by AyatinGL

I went with the Firestone 3-Rib. Any tips on mounting them? I already have Harbor Freight's mini tire changer. I saw in another post that someone was stretching them width-wise (with pieces of wood inside which would be removed at mounting time) ahead of time to help mount them. Should I do that to help get a better seal so they blow up to seat them on the bead?

Those 4 plys can be hard to mount. Not much stretch. I am not sure about the pieces of wood, unless you block them up and get some heat on them. Like setting them out in the sun for a while. Then the HF changer may work. If it were me, instead of going to all that trouble, I would take olds45512 advice and take them to the tire shop.

[mjsoldcub]

i always mount all mine but of course ive never had the firestones... i just buy the deestone tri ribs and save 100 dollars, but they are nice though... but anyways, if you use a tire spoon and a long crappy screwdriver and straight dishsoap its a breeze... the first side is all grunt and hands, throw the rim into it hard, (make sure its the right side, as one is narrower than other) and then one final flip over with the screw driver...second side you have to work around and use your knee alot behind the most recent section of tire you flip over bead....if that makes sense???? takes 2-5 min depending on practice.... i paint my rims in the center before i mount them so they wont rust, but i let the air back out of the tires and slip vinyl tape just under the bead and bag and tape the tires off and paint them after mounting...just me but i get the best results this way....good luck...take shrader valve core out when mounting and put a straight air chuck or blow gun in their too get bead seated..be careful happens quick..then reinstall valve and place to proper psi....

[zippy1]

Originally Posted by olds45512

I paid $10 at the tire shop to have them mounted, so much easier than fighting with those small tires.

X-2, work smarter, not harder.