Over the last number of years I must have spent a fortune watching people fit tyres to the cars after they've had punctures, or need changed etc. I've also watched the same idiots wreck tyres and say it was the machine's fault or the tyre had a problem with it, when the reality was they did it wrong cause they weren't paying attention. Nowadays, nowhere round my way will fit tyres that haven't been supplied, or will charge £15 a corner.

So, with the horse trailer needing a new set, along with wanting to setup the RR with a second set, change the wife's tyres over to winters etc, I'm sorely considering going down the manual route as getting all that down will sting me a fair wedge.

Has anyone done this?

I know and expect it to be laboursome at the time, but I dont mind that on the odd occassion. V8 or else ...

Ive done big motorbike tyres with 2 tyre levers and 2 blocks of wood. the hard part is breaking the bead , its much easier to use 2 sash clamps , the type that joiners use, BQ sell them.
It can also be troublesome getting the bead to reseal so you can reinflate, most diy tyre compressors don't have enough initial wind to reseal the bead . I have done it with an electric tyre pump using lots of hand soap and needing the tyre with my knee.

watch some youtube clips to get some experience

You'll still need to take them somewhere for balancing

It would be too much hassle for me - and I think a far higher likelihood of damage without a proper machine.

I have winter tyres for 3 cars & have wheels for all of them - I couldn't be bothered swapping tyres every time.

The Indy garage that looks after my cars is always happy to fit & balance for me

I also have a branch of a national chain who will do them for cash on a Saturday - but their balancing machine seems to struggle with anything bigger than 19"

I used to fit Mini tyres regularly when I was younger, they were easy enough but I think you will find it almost impossible on bigger tyres. Even if you fit them yourself you will still need to get them balanced.

I've done it a few times using a length of timber and a brick to break the seal but only on steel rims. You really need to use a machine to fit tubeless tyres otherwise you risk damaging the seals when fitting. Not worth the hassle IMO

When I am having tyres fitted I go to great lengths to inform the fitter that my wheels are unmarked and wish them to stay that way and any damage they do will be charged to them. I also stand over them whilst they do the work just to make sure they don't make a hash of it.

I was having tyres fitted to brand new wheels recently, I went through my usual spiel about the wheels and was assured he had never damaged a wheel yet as he's been doing this job for years (they all say that) The fitter then placed the wheel onto the machine and went round the rim with the soap brush, he then picked up the new tyre and plonked it on top of the new wheel to enable him to run some soap round the seal edge. That was the point when I gave him a and pointed out the tyre was covered in grit which was now scratching my new rim, he was quick enough to remove it before any damage was done. Had I not been there at the time I know I would have had some nasty scratches on the new wheels...

A tyre changer and wheel balancer are two of the best things we ever bought for the workshop

Ours are both Dunlop machines, the tyre machine has the low profile arm on it and the balancer has the adapter for centralise wheels.

You can get them on eBay for sensible money as well if you've got quite a few to change.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

In terms of doing it myself, I was planning on one of those manual tyre changers and not bodge it drive over the wheel to break the bead stuff.

then also getting a bubble balancer.

I mean, what could go wrong ?  V8 or else ...

I've got one of the manual tyre changer / bead breakers that are advertised on ebay (mine was about £50) . Its bolted to a pallet and its used for changing tyres / fixing punctures on the quad bikes, Polaris Ranger and various trailers on the farm. I wouldn't consider using it on a car tyre with alloys though, but have done a tyre on our Ifor Williams horse trailer.

It is quite hard work though (quad tyres are easier than trailer tyres because they are fatter and more flexible). You'll also need a bag of new valves and tin of tyre sealant (which you can get of eBay as well). Also a pretty good compressor ( I have a Draper V Twin) to reseat the beads and that still gives me a shock each time they seat. Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

What makes you not want to try an alloy ? Is it the type of bar that you use or something else ? I've read about using the bar with the nylon rollers for alloys. V8 or else ...

Well the effort I have to put into getting the trailer wheels off and then back on again I'm fairly sure I would end up damaging the alloy with just the basic set up I have. I could get better kit but it works fine on the steel wheels the trailers have. With the cost of the alloys and new Pirelli tyres I don't see the point in economising on the car wheels.

On the yard its just more convenient to be able to do a trailer puncture myself as it will often be on a Sunday morning just when its needed to do some work. Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

If you shop around you can sometimes get them fitted and balance for £10 a wheel for a set. But yes, £15 a wheel is normal. What annoyed me, is that the backstreet guys tend to sort of rush the job. Especially when they forget you have alloys, as the spotty corsa driver kid, take the nuts off, and let them drop on the rim edge. And then try to break the bead, with it still half full of air, and it then whooshes and buckles the tread portion. 'Slow down, this isn't a Grand Prix!' And the place is so dirty you have to really be careful what you lean against! I got into my car, drove home and was walking down the drive and a neighbour pointed out I had a new tyre info sticker up my back!
I think in reality, it's best to have it done, and go to a branded place, as they wont really argue the damage, should it happen. I used Merityre recently at £15. But I have heard that some places won't fit part worn tyres, only new looking ones.
Once you find a guy you watch-and subsequently trust, it's just one of those things you have to pay for.

Second hand tyre machines aren't that expensive if you have somewhere to put one, i'd have one if i had the space. The manual ones probably aren't bad, there are special bars for alloys, potentially it's hard work. The bigger the tyre the easier they are to fit normally.

Balancers aren't that expensive either, but you risk having a worn out one with tired bearings that's no longer calibrated, so for me i'd just get someone to balance wheels for you (usually about £4)