Topic: removing/dismounting tires

[daytonaboogie]

I have been changing my own bicycle tires and tubes since i was a kid, and a friend of mine told me that the tires and tubes on my 500 work in a similar fashion. so if i want to remove the tire on my Honda can i just use a gnarly pair of tire irons (or similar tool) or does it take a special machine/tool/magic?

Hanx!

[BobbyR]

Old tires are really hard to remove since they are hard. I cut them off. I will not lie to you, it is a #$%* of a job. The tires today are tube and tubeless so the bead is really much stronger that the old Tube tires. There will be sweat and maybe some blood.

[Duke McDukiedook]

A lot tougher than bicycle tires and a lot easier to mar your rims.

This is one task I leave to a tire pro, he statically and dynamically balances them on top of mounting them.

[daytonaboogie]

thanks guys, im gonna give it a gentlemans try and be careful of the rims.

[Nikkisixx]

There will be sweat and maybe some blood.

As Upton Sinclair and BR said, there will be blood! No seriously, the 3.5 IRC tube tires changed quite easily on my little 350-4.   This of course made me cocky about changing tires.     Then the 750 with a 130/90 tubeless rear stomped the sh1t out of me.  

[BobbyR]

If you have some C Clamps it really helps prevent bead creep as you work your way around the rim. I saw a guy on youtube that used Windex as a mounting lube. It worked pretty good and not messy. 

[cappy]

Line up the heavy marking spot on the tire with the valve stem.

I have helped with changing tires on the 750's at my buddies place.  Tire irons are manadatory and usually two guys to muscle them on.

Not too hard, but no where as easy as a bicycle.  Soaky dish water in a spray bottle helps.  We put tubes in ours.

Hope this helps.

[lynchj]

Some tires are harder to replace than others, stiff sidewalls are harder. If you can put your wheels out in the sun to warm up that helps a little. Being a dirt bike rider, I have changed lots of tires sometimes out in the woods, it's not my favorite job in the world. 

This link is a basic description, step by step guide on how to use tire irons and how to change a tire. The biggest thing I can tell you is to go slow, take small bites with the irons (don't try to force a lot of tire with one pry). Baby powder on the tube helps prevent pinching and don't use screw drivers as tire irons, they will puncture your tube.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/704/2863/Motorcycle-Article/Dirt-Bike-Tire-Change-Guide.aspx

[Kevin D]

I have three tire irons: two eight inchers and a new 16 incher. The eights were ok for older tube type tires but totally inadequate when working with the stiff sidewall tubeless type. I got my butt kicked when I put the Bridgestone Spitfires on in 2001. I had the 16 incher ready when I took the Spitfires off and put the Battalaxes on. The 16 incher handled them easily. No blood, toil, tears, or sweat. Well... maybe a little toil.

[lone*X]

Unless you're just replacing the tube, I agree, cut them off.  If you are, make sure the bead is pushed way down in the center valley of the rim...that'll give you maximum clearance as you work your tire irons (screwdrivers) around.  Same holds true when remounting.  Putting tape on the rims helps a little witht the marring.

I know a lot of people think of screwdrivers when they really need tire irons.  Poor choice.  Screwdrivers have sharp ends and square edges which will poke holes in tubes (and skin) and mar the rims.  Get a set of motorcycle tire irons.  Their cheap, made for the task so work better and will not be nearly as destructive.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Good tip with most of the chinese-made irons, get them on a grinder when you buy them and ground down the sharp, flat edges.

Most of the edges on those EMGO-type irons will punture your tires as fast as a screwdriver will.

[754]

I usually run a file or my tire irons before each use, or  at least feel  for burrs..

 .. much like chef , touching up his knives...

 then I go to work.. use tire lube.. have had a few tough ones, but done correct it usually goes OK..I am talking steel and mag wheels, nit the midern 17 inchers..

 but keep in mind when I had a parts shop, I would change a few 16 inchers a month, mostly cuz they said they were too hard to do and had to use a truck to break the bead. I would do it  (by hand) for excercise & beer money.. just to show it can be done..

 Its all in the technique.. most new tires going on, I can get on without tire irons...

[tlbranth]

Tires aren't too hard to change. Takes practice. You need to have a good way of breaking the bead. The best I've found is a 2x4 pivoted with a bolt in the garage frame and another 2x4 that is pushed down by the prying action. Set the wheel on 2x4's to keep it off the concrete. You'll need 2 or 3 good tire irons and some heavy plastic cut from liquid soap bottles or such to protect the rim. Always remember to have the tire rim at drop-center opposite to where you're prying. Just practice. You'll get it. Oh, I use armorall as a lube but I've heard windex is good. Don't use soap. It'll pull in moisture and rust your rim. Good luck mate.

[Toxic]

for the 20 bucks a tire I spent to have new tires mounted and balanced it was a bargin.

Yes there will be blood.

[BobbyR]

I will have to take my front tire off and install a new tire and rim, in fact that are sitting in the basement. I had such a good time with the rear last fall, I have been putting it off. I have watched youtube and I have come to a conclusion, some people have the knack and are experienced so they make it look easy. In this area they want $100 per tire and I will be damned if I will pay $100 to put a $100 tire on. SO I will struggle, sweat, swear, take a swig of sourmash before, during and after. There will be blood.   

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Like lacing and truing a wheel, mounting and balancing a tire is a right of passage for any motorcycle wrencher.  As mentioned above, there will be blood, sweat and tears.  You will also utter words not normally heard outside of a golf course.

I say borrow the tools and do it, at least once, so you understand the principals behind it.

[sangyo soichiro]

I have been reading this with rapt interest.  I have a set of Sun rims I will have to lace and true.  And, of course, new tires. 

I hate having other people do things that I can do myself.  For some reason, if I ding up the rims myself in my amateur attempts, it bothers me much less than if I get the rims back from the tire shop and notice the dings they did.  I expect professional results from professionals, but I rarely see professional results.  So I am very tempted to mount the tires myself.

To prepare for this, I have been learning to swear in several different languages.  I have also been stocking up on sourmash. 

There will be blood.

[wildcatmahone]

Old tires are a pain in the ass cut through the majority with a sawzall finish with a blade or such. I recently learned to do tires (mostly tubeless) just takes the right technique and some good tires irons. No blood just a little sweat! Cant believe some people even think of using screwdrivers. I'm able to break the bead simply putting my weight down on the tire with the heel of my foot. Take little bites with your irons start at 12 and 1 o' clock once your about 180 degrees around you can usually just pull the rest of the bead over the wheel. Visually check that you have your irons hooked UNDER the tire bead before you start applying any force. Lube the tire up with soapy water. Use some rim protection heavy gauge plastic from a coffee container oil bottle etc cut into strips will do nicely. To get other bead over the wheel feed a tire iron between the wheel and tire dont forget the rim protector and lever the tire off. I found it helps to stand the wheel up for this sit on it while you lever the tire off to get the necessary leverage and it's off. Here a great vid tutorial hope this helps and good luck.

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