Loader Tire Change: A 6-Step Expert Safety Guide
Changing a loader tire is one of the most dangerous jobs on a work site. This guide will show you the professional 6-step process for front end loader tires. We will explain the serious risks and why only trained people with the right tools should do this job. Knowing the correct way to do a loader tire change will help you understand why safety is the number one priority.
Table of Contents
- The Big Risks of a DIY Loader Tire Change
- The 6-Step Professional Loader Tire Change Process
- Step 1: Get the Site Ready and SafeStep
- 2: Let All the Air Out and Take the Tire Off
- Step 3: Separate the Tire from the Rim with a Special Machine
- Step 4: Put Air in the Tire Safely Inside a Cage
- Step 5: Put the Tire Back On and Tighten the Nuts
- Step 6: Do a Final Check
- Tools You Must Have for a Safe Loader Tire Change
- Conclusion: How to Stay Safe
1. The Big Risks of a DIY Loader Tire Change
Trying to do a loader tire change yourself without training is very dangerous. The risks are real and can cause bad injuries or worse.
It Can Explode: A front end loader tire holds very high air pressure. If the rim is broken or the tire is not on right, it can blow out (i.e. explode like a bomb). This is very powerful and can kill. Safety groups like OSHA say this is a known danger.
It Can Crush You: The loader and the heavy equipment tire are very heavy. If the jack holding the machine up fails, the loader can fall and crush a person. Good loader tire maintenance is always about being safe first.
2. The 6-Step Professional Loader Tire Change Process
This is the safe way that professional teams change a loader tire.
- Step 1: Get the Site Ready and Safe
A loader tire change starts with making the area safe. The ground must be hard and flat. Put a fence and signs around the area to keep other people out. After you lift the machine, you must put strong jack stands under it. Never trust just a jack to hold the machine up.
- Step 2: Let All the Air Out and Take the Tire Off
Before you start, you must let all the air out of the tire. There should be zero pressure inside. Then, use a hydraulic torque wrench to take off the wheel nuts. Turn the nuts in a star pattern so you don’t hurt the rim. This is a basic step for all off-the-road tire (OTR) service.
- Step 3: Separate the Tire from the Rim with a Special Machine
This is a key part of the loader tire change. You need a special machine called a hydraulic tire manipulator (or OTR tire changer). This machine safely pushes the tire off the rim. Never use fire or a big hammer to do this, as it can break the tire and hurt its tire performance.
- Step 4: Put Air in the Tire Safely Inside a Cage
This is the most dangerous part of a loader tire replacement. You must put the new tire inside a strong safety cage to add air. The person uses a long air hose to stand far away. They put air in until they hear two “pop” sounds. This means the tire is on the rim correctly. This rule is the same for all heavy equipment tires.
- Step 5: Put the Tire Back On and Tighten the Nuts
Now, put the loader tire back on the machine. Use the torque wrench again to tighten the nuts. You must follow the machine maker’s rules for how tight the nuts should be.
- Step 6: Do a Final Check
Look at the tire to make sure no air is coming out. Check that all parts are tight. Now the loader tire change is done, and the machine is ready to work.
3. Tools You Must Have for a Safe Loader Tire Change
You cannot do a safe loader tire change without these special tools:
- Safety Cage: The most important tool for OTR tire service.
- Hydraulic Tire Changer (OTR Tire Changer): The machine that takes the tire off the rim.
- Hydraulic Torque Wrench: A special wrench that measures tightness.
- Jack Stands: Strong stands that keep the machine from falling.
4. Conclusion: How to Stay Safe
A loader tire change is a serious job for experts. We make strong and reliable loader tires, and they must be put on correctly to be safe.
Please do not take the risk. Always ask our network of professional dealers to do your loader tire replacement. They have the right OTR tire changers and training. To learn more about loader tire and maintenance, you can visit https://chinakebektire.com/application/how-otr-tires-power-heavy-equipment-across-different-job-sites/
