Changing Tire

[jcmd13]

So I'm trying change my rear tire and I've been struggling with it for hours now. I get one end on and the pressure required to pull the other end, even small bites at a time, is ripping the tire apart. There are small tears on the edges now and I can't get either side of the tire fully on. I'm so frustrated. Tire was $70 and my local shop wants $120 to mount it. Next shop over wants $70. I am hating life right now. I just wanted to start riding my bike. uhhhhhhh

[cbinker]

there are great videos on youtube that can help. extra thick zip ties are required.

[JohnnyBravo]

Them folks expensive... Then again I know the guy that owns the shop that does everyone I knows tires

[rgx107]

Hating life? Feels like ripping the tire apart? Both sounds right, I have the same feelings as well when changing tires. Just continue, the force and work to get the sidewall over the rim are immense. But the worst was actually getting the OEM tires off, the new tires were less tight.

Make sure you have good tire levers. Watching a few youtube videos helped me a lot too.

The quotes you got sounds like the price for the complete work of removing chain, brakes and wheel from the bike, replacing tire, then refitting. If you bring the wheel to them it should cost less.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by jcmd13

.........There are small tears on the edges now and I can't get either side of the tire fully on.........

The edges are what seal against the rim to prevent leaks.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Mountin...tires_yourself

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Tire_Mo...Hints_%26_Tips

Napa Autoparts:

[Triple Jim]

Good lube is important. Undiluted dish soap works if you don't have anything special. The key is to get the bead down in the "drop-center" of the rim, where the diameter is a little smaller. That's the only way you can get enough slack to get the part you're working on to go over the edge.

Sometimes motorcycle tires wants to spring open and the bead doesn't want to stay in the depression. When that's happened to me, I get someone to help keep the tire squeezed together by standing on it in a couple places. If it's very difficult to pry the next little section over the rim, stop... the bead has come out of the drop-center.

I've never had a tire that is particularly difficult to mount, as long as I kept the bead in the middle drop-center section. My daughter and I just mounted four new tires on her Ford Escort wheels yesterday, and other than being a bit tedious, it was not difficult.

[Zaph42]

+1 on the lube. Keep that bitch moist until you're done.

I used X-tra Seal brand "X-tra Slik" tire lube. And if a damaged bead might leak, I use X-tra Seal bead sealer.

[cbreater]

Haha. Sounds like mounting tires to me. There are some things that make it easier though.
First make sure you are using purpose tire irons. I've tried long screw drivers and pry bars and they suck. It can be done but it's not nearly as easy. As mentioned, lube that bitch up good. Put your knees on the side closest to you after you've got that side started and work your way around away from you. Keep your knees on it to keep the tire pushed down into the center on your side and it should go on pretty easy after that. Basically use your knees to climb around on it and keep it pushed deep onto the rim as you work your way around it. When you've mastered this technique add rim savers for another level of irritation. Lol.

[jcmd13]

Thank you guys for all the suggestions. I got it on today but I think the tire might be hosed. Trying to do it last night we messed up some parts of the bead and I am kind of worried it isn't safe to ride. I got the tire on so much easier this morning but there is a very small rim leak. I'm going to let it sit a few days and see if it stops leaking. I guess then I'll decide if I should risk my life on it or just pony up the money to get a another one.

[adouglas]

If you got to the point where you could see the bead wire, then yah... it's done.

Given the evident frustration, it's a safe bet that at some point you stopped thinking about protecting the rim... you may have chewed it up. Could that be the source of the leak?

For future reference, don't give up. You can do this without huge drama if you:

Use good tire irons. My go-to is a pair of the 16" Motion Pros that have a curve in them. That curve makes a huge difference in getting around/under the bead and hooking the rim.



Secure the bead. Figure out a way to hold the starting point in the bead in place. You may have noticed that it wanted to run away from you. There are a few different tools for this... I got a No-Mar Thing as part of a transaction awhile back. Works well.



Keep the opposite side of the bead pressed down!!!! Cannot emphasize this strongly enough. If you don't have the opposite side of the bead down in the low spot of the rim, it WILL NOT GO ON PERIOD. Because it's lubed, it wants to walk up out of there. You MUST keep it down inside. There's no magic here. Position yourself so you can do it any way you can.

Start with a warm tire. Leave it sitting in the sun until it's nice and soft.

And as others have said....

Listen to the Heineman.

[verboten1]

Tires are easy, it's all technique.

As they have said, make sure that the bead is sitting in the drop center of the wheel, that's why it's there, to give you the room needed to mount the tire.

Tire lube is useful, but it's rare that I need it to mount a sport bike or touring tire.

I just mounted this HD 19" front on my virago wheel, 4ply sidewalls were a bit firm, but still easy enough.

I did ninja tires in probably 20 minutes dismount-inflate.