Tyre changing and puncture repair

**Pete Sinclair** · #1 14 May 2002

We're nearly ready to head off to AFrica so . . . .
Can anyone recommend some good gear (tyre pliers / levers / puncture repair stuff etc. etc.) preferably from a UK supplier.

I'm more interested in quality and ease of use than cost. I have Wolf wheels on a Defender with BFG 235.85.16 AT tyres.

Thanks,

Pete.

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Pete Sinclair.
Alnwick to Botswana
http://www.a2b.uk.net

**Terry Davies** · #2 14 May 2002

Two good UK suppliers for these items are:

FOOTLOOSE4X4 tel: 01780-784781 http://www.footloose4x4.com/

Brownchurch tel: 020-8556-0011 http://www.brownchurch.co.uk/

**Pete Sinclair** · #3 14 May 2002

Thanks Terry, I'll give them a call. Have you or anyone else used any of their tyre stuff, and am I better off with Tyre Pliers, or levers etc?

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Pete Sinclair.
Alnwick to Botswana
http://www.a2b.uk.net

**Roman** · #4 14 May 2002

Pete, the pliers and levers usually come as a set (plus some small bits for making repairs). Unless you have a proper compressor, you may also need a jumbo ratchet strap for reseating the tyre to on the bead.

The third supplier is http://www.terrainmaster.com/

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Roman (UK)
www.polandrover.com

**Chris Scott** · #5 15 May 2002

Actually I tried the rachet trick (on tubelees of course) and it didnt work - as you'd expect it is virtually impossible to compress the circumference of a tyre.
Assuming Pete has tubes, they will get on the rim eventually, if not then plug it - or go for the 16" bike tube trick...
http://www.sahara-overland.com/updates/tubeless.htm

Chris S

**Roman** · #6 15 May 2002

Chris, I have never a need to try this as until now I've used tubed tyres. I know an experienced off-roader who swears by the ratchet strap technique. I guess it depends on the ratchet. You can't reasonably expect to achieve a great deal with a baggage strap, but a two tonne strap should do (also useful for holding axles in place if the lower link goes).

This year I'm going to experiment with tubeless tyres as I now have a proper compressor and air tank. With tubed XS's I noticed that the valves get gradually angled until it's safer to remove the tyre and reseat the tube.

Has any one tried in the Sahara a tubeless Cooper Discoverer S/T?

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Roman (UK)
www.polandrover.com

**Toby** · #7 15 May 2002

Pete, Matt has the tyre levers < sales@mattsavage.co.uk> and they are very cheap. I have a set of three longish ones. Your best bet is to have a practise run on a nice sunny day at home first. To break the bead on the puntured tyre either drive over it keeping your mobile tyre edge on the tyre, but as close as posible to the rim or use your much feared gadget, the high lift jack. Try to jack the Land Rover up on the tyre keeping the base of the jack close to the rim, but firmly on the tyre, and virtiacl. Then push one side of the tyre into the dish of the rim and lever off the other side. I'm sure you have seen it in a book. Plenty of soap helps getthings moving. I have actually done this!! Though with tubed XS's which are pretty flexible. like fitting snow chains these things are a hell of a lot easier when practised in ideal conditions. Sods law dictates that it will be raining, the kids will be fractous and you will have a audience of 100 locals when the day dawns. Good luck. Toby

**roamingyak.org** · #8 15 May 2002

Pete,

Get what you can off Matt Savage as his prices are far better, and then grab anything else you need from the Nene Valley Off Road 4x4 tyre place that advertises in various landy mags.

They make up the kits that Footloose sell - they won't sell you the kits, but will sell you various bits if you ask for them etc

Thats not Nene Valley Overland by the way - two different companies etc

Hope thats helps

**rclafton** · #9 20 May 2002

The way we saw the locals get tyres off rims in morocco was with a large wide chisel and a large hammer

3 blows and the bead was broken - even with my 20" unimog 10 ply mil tyre. Impressed or what, we tried to find out if we could get one of these chisels anywhere but no luck

The highlift does work as a beadbreaker - we had to do it in Libya, can send you a photo of Andy from Allisport working hard on it if you want.

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Rich