Loader tire inflation fail - GIF

[hemmjo]

This practice is not all that uncommon. One of the most dangerous parts of changing tires like that is the flying steel retaining ring. It you watch the video closely, you can see they were actually being relatively safe. They had a large wheel loader parked to absorb the energy from the flying retaining ring and tire. The guy on the right was using a long bar to bump the tire, staying well back of the "blast zone". The guy on the left had a flaming rag on the end of a long stick also out of the path of the flying parts. I have to guess they worked some diesel fuel fixed with a bit of gasoline, to help with ignition, into the tire. They were both out of the "blast zone". You can see an initial "puff" around the rim of the tire as the guy on the right backs away and the retaining ring pops off. The secondary event and ensuing flames removed the tire.

While it is certainly better to have the proper equipment to do work. When that is not possible, other solutions are used. There are places where that specialize service equipment it just not available. The trick in doing things like this is to KNOW the possible dangers and do your best to mitigate them. I think these guys did that.

Perhaps more dangerous than this, are the guys to have all of the proper equipment but use it incorrectly.