Patent ID: 7775249

Claim:
A tool for centering a tire on a wheel in preparation for seating a bottom bead of the tire on the wheel, the tool comprising: a pair of substantially parallel extending fork elements configured to facilitate cradling a tire in an upright vertical rolling position; a pair of substantially parallel elongated members each defining a proximal end and a distal end and being attached substantially perpendicular to a respective one of the extending fork elements at said distal end; a pair of substantially parallel cross members running substantially perpendicular to the elongated members being attached to the two elongated members at said proximal and distal ends respectively; at least two shallowly arched radius members running parallel to each other being attached at either end to a respective one of the cross members; a handle being attached substantially perpendicular to a mid point of the cross member at said proximal end, the handle defining a cross portion, a first stage portion substantially perpendicular to the cross portion and a second stage portion substantially perpendicular to the first stage portion; and two fulcrum skids each having two elevation members running at substantially ninety degrees from the elongated members and at a right angle to the cross members, each of said skids having a lengthwise member attached to a respective one of the elevation members providing a footing for the tool and each further having an angled return portion attached to a respective one of the extending fork elements near the cross member at said distal end; wherein said at least two shallowly arched radius members are configured to substantially center the tire and wheel by cradling an outer ring of the wheel on the at least two shallowly arched radius members when disposed horizontally on the at least two shallowly arched radius members whereby the gravitational pull on the tire and wheel onto the at least two shallowly arched radius members provides for concentric positioning of the bottom bead of the tire on the wheel.