Putting a Lawn Mower Tire Back on the Rim

It's a fine sunny day of the spring season, and you are busy with some work in your garden. You use your trusted lawnmower that has not failed you. But suddenly, you feel that the lawnmower is not running as smoothly as it should. It feels like it's being dragged on the ground forcefully. So, you turn off the lawnmower engine and get off your riding lawnmower. But what you see now is not pleasant at all. Your lawnmower has a flat tire, and you know you need to fix it with a new tire or tube.

As the lawnmower tire gets old, it is more likely that a nail can easily pinch into the tire and make it flat. A hard bump to the lawnmower can also cause this issue. This article shall be a step-by-step guide on removing a lawnmower tire, fitting a new tube or tire, and putting the tire back on the rim.

How to put a lawnmower tire back on the rim, step by step:

Step 1. Remove the tire from the lawnmower
Step 2. Remove the tire from the rim
Step 3. Check for any nails on the tire's surface
Step 4. Install the tire on the rim
Step 5. Install the tire back on the lawnmower

Contents

1 Removing and replacing a lawnmower tire, step-by-step:
- 1.1 ● Step 1. Removing the tire from a lawnmower:
  - 1.1.1 – Step 1.1. Remove the rim's plastic boot:
  - 1.1.2 – Step 1.2. Remove the C clip from the rim:
  - 1.1.3 – Step 1.3. Remove the washer:
  - 1.1.4 – Step 1.4. Draw the tire out of the axle:
- 1.2 ● Step 2. Remove the tire from the rim:
  - 1.2.1 – Step 2.1. Peel the tire off from one side of the rim:
  - 1.2.2 – Step 2.2. Remove the nozzle from the rim:
  - 1.2.3 – Step 2.3. Bring the tire up off the rim:
- 1.3 ● Step 3. Check for any nails on the tire's surface:
- 1.4 ● Step 4. Install the tire on the rim:
  - 1.4.1 – Step 4.1. Install the new tube:
  - 1.4.2 – Step 4.2. Install the tire back on the rim:
- 1.5 ● Step 5: Install the tire back on the lawnmower:
  - 1.5.1 – Step 5.1. Place the tire back on the axil:
  - 1.5.2 – Step 5.2. Re-install the washers:
  - 1.5.3 – Step 5.3. Re-install the C clip:
  - 1.5.4 – Step 5.4. Re-install the plastic boot:
2 Related Questions:
- 2.1 1. What size of lawnmower tires should I get?
- 2.2 2. How much air pressure should I maintain in lawnmower tires?
3 Final remarks:

Removing and replacing a lawnmower tire, step-by-step:

The detailed procedure of removing and replacing your lawnmower tire has been broken down into several small steps.

● Step 1. Removing the tire from a lawnmower:

The first step to fix the flat tire or replace it with a new one is to remove the old tire and the rim from the lawnmower. You shall follow the following steps to complete this procedure:

– Step 1.1. Remove the rim's plastic boot:

There is a plastic boot (or a cap) at the center of the tire's rim. Grab it using a pair of pliers and remove it from the rim. Try not to break it as it holds some grease and is a little brittle because of that.

– Step 1.2. Remove the C clip from the rim:

Behind the plastic boot lies a c-clip. Grab the tab of the c-clip using a pair of pliers and pull it out of the rim.

– Step 1.3. Remove the washer:

Once you have removed the c-clip, you shall see a washer. Draw this washer out of the rim.

– Step 1.4. Draw the tire out of the axle:

After you're done with the steps mentioned above, you can now pull out the rim along with the tire from the lawnmower.

● Step 2. Remove the tire from the rim:

As you have removed the rim and the tire from the lawnmower, it's time to remove the tire from the rim.

– Step 2.1. Peel the tire off from one side of the rim:

To remove the old tube's nozzle (if your tire has a tube), you first need to peel the tire off from at least one side of the rim.

To do that, hammer a flat head screwdriver at the junction of the tire and the tube. Once the screwdriver gets inside this junction, please give it a push and try peeling the tire off the tube. Repeat the same step on the opposite side of the tire as well.

– Step 2.2. Remove the nozzle from the rim:

Every tire and tube has a nozzle that is fitted into the tire's rim. It would be best if you pulled out this nozzle from the rim to proceed further.

Grab the small circular rubber at the back of the nozzle: There is a small circular rubber at the back of the nozzle that holds the nozzle inside the rim and keeps it jammed. Grasp this rubber using a pair of pliers and cut it off.
Remove the nozzle: Once the rubber has been cut, grasp the nozzle's head with a pair of pliers and pull it out in the upward direction.

– Step 2.3. Bring the tire up off the rim:

This is where things get exciting and is the most technical step of the entire process. You may need a couple of screwdrivers for this step. Although there are special tools to take the tire off the rim, we shall use screwdrivers to save some bucks.

Insert screwdrivers at different positions: Insert a screwdriver inside the junction of the tire and the rim, and pull the screwdriver upwards so that the tire starts coming up off the rim.

Do the same step using another screwdriver, which shall be inserted at some distance from the first one. Keep working around the tire doing the same step.

Remove the tire off the rim: The tire is now completely free from the rim's grip. Remove this tire off the rim.

● Step 3. Check for any nails on the tire's surface:

Grab a torchlight and check if there are any nails or a sharp object pinched into the tire's inside or on the outside surface. If you find any, remove it from the tire's surface using pliers.

● Step 4. Install the tire on the rim:

Phew, that must have been a tiring job. You are now halfway there, and all you need to do now is install the new tire back on the rim.

– Step 4.1. Install the new tube:

Some tires might be tubeless, while some may have a tube. You need to install a new tube if the previous one had completely weathered or has had various punctures.

Please insert the new tube inside the tire and stuff it in. The tube's fill valve must be in line with the fill valve hole inside the rim, where it is to be fitted in. Insert the fill valve into the fill valve hole located on the rim.

– Step 4.2. Install the tire back on the rim:

If you are installing a new tire or putting the old tire back on the rim, this step is applicable for both of these cases. Screwdrivers and some hand force are all you need for this step.

Apply some transmission fluid on the tire's inner edges: Apply some transmission fluid on the tire's inner circular edges. This step is done to make the edges softer so that they may easily fit onto the rim. Oil can also be used to serve this purpose in case transmission fluid is not available.
Push the tire back in: Apply pressure on one side of the tire, and using a couple of screwdrivers, try to tuck the tire back on the inside of the rim, such that the tire gets stuffed in from all the sides.
Fill the tire with some air: Fill the tire with some air according to the tire's recommended air pressure.

● Step 5: Install the tire back on the lawnmower:

Once the tire has been put back on the rim, it shall now be installed back on the lawnmower.

– Step 5.1. Place the tire back on the axil:

Place the tire back on the lawnmower's axil, just like the way you pulled it out earlier.

– Step 5.2. Re-install the washers:

Insert the washers back into the tire's rim.

– Step 5.3. Re-install the C clip:

Re-install the c clip back into the rim with the aid of pliers.

– Step 5.4. Re-install the plastic boot:

Re-install the plastic boot back on the tire's rim.

1. What size of lawnmower tires should I get?

Like other tires, a lawnmower tire has a series of numbers imprinted on one of its sides. These numbers indicate certain specific details about the tire. Only two parameters are enough to indicate the tire's full size, i.e., the tire width and the rim diameter. There are two different systems for tire's sizing:

Two-number sizing:

Most of the lawnmower tires use a two-number sizing system to indicate the tire size. For example, in two number sizing, numbers are displayed as 5-9. This number indicates that the tire width is 5 inches and the rim diameter is 9 inches. These two numbers are all that you need to get a fresh piece of a lawnmower tire.

Three-number sizing:

This sizing system indicates the tire's size with the help of three digits. For example, if the number 15×6.00-6 is imprinted on your tire, the number before 'x' indicates the tire's diameter when it is fully inflated. The tire width is indicated by the number between the 'x' and '- '. The last number indicates the rim's width.

2. How much air pressure should I maintain in lawnmower tires?

Like other lawnmower parts such as the engine, fuel, and filters, they must be maintained for the lawnmower's ideal performance. Similarly, maintaining an adequate and specific amount of air pressure in the tires is equally essential.

Consult Owner's manual: There are various methods to determine the recommended air pressure for lawnmower tires. One can find that out from the user's manual. The recommended pressure is also imprinted on the tire's outside wall.
Tire Pressure units: Tire pressure is measured a pounds per square inch or psi. A lawnmower that has a 15-inch front tire along with a 20-inch rear tire should have ten psi and 14 psi, respectively.

A flat lawnmower tire can ruin a garden lover's mood. But removing and replacing a tire is not very complicated and can be done easily by most. Do not forget to take some precautionary measures before you start. Wear safety glasses and protective gloves to protect yourself from unnecessary injuries. And when you finish fixing your tire, also think about other maintenance tasks like the carburetor, air and fuel filters, and do not let gas get too old. This will prolong your lawnmower's life, and you can continue to maintain your lovely garden!

Putting a Lawn Mower Tire Back on the Rim

Source: https://www.gardentoolexpert.com/how-to-put-a-lawnmower-tire-back-on-the-rim-step-by-step/