Can't get tire off the rim! Argh

Longy515

Longy515

New Member
Being a newb to motorcycles, and attempting my first tire change on my own, I cannot get the tire off of the rim. It's a spoked rim and I'm seriously afraid I'm going to bend the rim with this tire iron. Anybody have any suggestions for creative and cheap ways to remove a tire? I couldn't care less if the tire is destroyed in the process.
 
Make sure the opposite side of the tire from where you are prying is in the drop center (the lowest part of the rim) and use soapy water to lube the tire lip as it comes off. Use more than one spoon (tire iron/screwdriver)
 
I just stepped on mine and it broke the bead. But mine was also tubeless but you shouldn't be d the spokes as long as you stay on the tire. Good luck
 
o1marc said:
Make sure the opposite side of the tire from where you are prying is in the drop center (the lowest part of the rim) and use soapy water to lube the tire lip as it comes off. Use more than one spoon (tire iron/screwdriver)
Click to expand...

+1

Try to warm it up first, too. Leave it inside for a few hours, or by a furnace, before you get started. Lots of soapy water, and three tire irons if you can pull it off.
 
Plenty of lube and seriously i used the wifes hairdryer to heat up not just warm the tyre try different sides like a clock 12 / 3 / 6 / 9 of rim so as not to try the same spot over and over again must admit first time i tried worked up a real sweat some might have been panic plus i nipped the inner tube but was always gonna replace good luck mate let us know how ya do or if ya still got troubles .
 
I had exactly the same problem last week - ended up cutting it off but still wasn't easy and needed to grind through the metal beading being careful not to damage the rims...it was risky but got there in the end - heating the tyre and plenty of lube sound more sensible
 
It's easier to just learn the correct method than to cut tyres off.
If your living in the 'frozen north' getting things up to 70f or more) will make things a lot easier
You must have opposite side of tyre bead in 'drop center' (the bump where the spoke heads live)
It's also easier to start removing at the valve (push it inside tyre)
When your fitting new tyre, finish at valve (that way you can have bead in drop center again)
Put valve nut on a few threads only so you can push it most of the way inside to fit last few inches of bead
 
If it's hard work, your doing it wrong. Especially with road tyres which are much easier to do than dirt tyres (add mousses into a dirt tyre and its 10x harder).

Check this video for how to guide:

http://youtu.be/qw0B2gIwbBg
 
You can tell he's a 'proper' mechanic, starts off everything laid out neat, ends up in his back pocket ;D
I tuck levers under brake rotor so they don't flip up
Tyre is really flexible as well, very rare I've never done one like that, even when they are 'warm'
 
Me either PJ, I think it must have been a little over sized as its a bit too easy in that vid.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light

    • Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom