Can you mount street tires without a machine?

See these tires (and the AWD hatch) in action here: • AWD K20 Civic full sen...
I find out if it's practical--or even possible--to mount new performance tires on a set of Rays wheels using only hand tools.
Mounting 225/50R15 Bridgestone Potenza RE71RS on 15X8 +35 Rays Gram Lights, destined for the AWD K-swapped Civic.

[@williamdejeffrio9701]

Dude, you have what they call "true grit" (you don't give up easily). I really felt for you as I know how hard this job is, but I was impressed that you preserved. There are some tools that would have made this easier for you (like you said, longer tire irons, some different drop center clamps, some nylon rim protectors, some way to get that wheel up off the ground - like one of those Harbor Freight manual machines - even more liberal use of tire lube, and even consider putting those tires out in the sun before mounting them to get them softer and easier to stretch), but still impressive work with substantial cash savings!

[@StanleyKubick1]

yo that looked like a struggle, good job. it's worth noting that this will be easier for people with everyday tires that have softer sidewalls

[@kawdzilla]

Thank you sir. Very true. Setting the bead with the air compressor will be more difficult with a flimsy sidewall tire however.

[@JDM_FD]

As a tire shop worker. I give you props for mounting these very stiff tires 🤝

[@kawdzilla]

Appreciate it! Knocked off some rust making this one lol.

[@norevlimitr1602]

FYI the heaviest part of the wheel is not always the valve stem. I have my own tire machine and balancer. I spin the wheel without the tire and mark the heavy spot, sometimes its over 90 degrees from the stem and sometimes its right on it. I always match the heavy spot to the light spot and the wheels take very little weight and drive perfect at every speed.

[@kawdzilla]

Great point, if you have a tire machine and balancer this video isn't really relevant. I'd love to have that setup.

[@norevlimitr1602]

@@kawdzilla Took me years but I finally broke down and bought one a few year ago, totally worth it..

[@stuartarneaud218]

Thank for the info

[@driftertesh]

Was that Costco pricing accurate?

[@kawdzilla]

Sure was.

[@driftertesh]

Nice

[@nicholaspalmer5190]

Yooo what wheels do you have on there before the swap?

[@kawdzilla]

They're old Enkei wheels 15x6.5, similar to the current J10. Not made anymore I don't think.

[@gabrielkjellgren7567]

haha nice job man

[@kawdzilla]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@EdA-bz3bu]

thank you for convincing me to just go to Walmart pay the $25 a tire and have the rest of my day. and my painted rims not gouged up.

[@kawdzilla]

You’re welcome