Mounting new tire

1804 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by cagie, Nov 13, 2009

PurpleLizzard

Discussion Starter · Nov 12, 2009

Hi, Ive been told my new rear tire has arrived to the shop, I will take the bike tomorrow so they can install it.

But id like to inpect the rim in the inside, and see if theres a rim strip (the rubber band along the middle?), but they work with the bikes in private and doesnt allow anyone to go into the shop.

They can tell me what they found when installing, but I thought it would be better to see it by myself and eliminate rust if any, and see the state of the rim strip (if any).

But ive been told I need specialized tools to install the tire at home.. Is it true?

Cant find it in the manual, would it be safe to let them do all the work? I know they will never make it with much care.

Thanks.

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

cagie

· #2 · Nov 12, 2009

Only reason not to let you in the shop area is necause of liabiility insurance, but since you are in Mexico I'm not sure about that. Any shop that doesn't let me see MY stuff won't get my business. period.

As for changing the tire yourself, watching someone do it once is the best way to learn the basics. Not hard, but knowing techniques will help a lot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQDW_jk_zdM

Save

flitecontrol

· #3 · Nov 12, 2009

The Clymer manual has a procedure for changing tires by hand. Here's a video of a guy changing a tire by hand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anyY0UO5gqk He's using soapy water to lubricate the bead on his tubeless tire and store bought rim protectors to protect the finish. You can use old leather gloves to protect the rim. He made a handy bead breaker, but you can also use a C-clamp (or if you're really lucky, the heel of your shoe) to break the old tire free.

Tire irons help prevent damage to the tube, but if you are very careful, you can get by with large screwdrivers. Hope this helps. It's how I changed my tires.

Save

joey d

· #4 · Nov 12, 2009

I just brought a pizza to the shop door with me when i went to get mine done, gave it to the crew at the shop while they worked on mine. turned out my rim was rusting out from the inside. Any time a tire is changed a new rimstrip, and tube should be used and it should be balanced. I also wire brush any rust in the rim. Get to know the guys at your local shop I usually get the best service at the small shops, the ones you wouldn't even know were there unless you really looked. (no show room just a couple guys working on bikes). these places If you talk to the guys and get to know them a little you can usaly malk around the shop while talking to them. form some trust make some friends.

Save

PurpleLizzard

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 13, 2009

There was rust and he brushed it out and put a new strip. Did you do anything else to the rust affected area?

Yes, im getting along with the people at the shop.

Thanx.

Save

JunkyardDog

· #6 · Nov 13, 2009

Then you should be ok. I won't let a shop touch one of my bikes. There is another reason besides insurance why they won't let you see what they are doing. It's the same reason restaurants won't let you near the kitchen.

Changing a tire is one of the easiest things there is to do on a motorcycle, once you know how. There are a couple of tricks to it, and if you don't know them, you will never get it done. Aside from getting the tire bead on the other side down into the center of the rim, the main thing is to use PLENTY of mounting lubricant. I use RuGlyde. This stuff is so slippery the tire practically mounts itself. Many people think that because a tire is rubber, it can be stretched over the rim, but it don't work that way. The tire bead has a steel band in it, and it won't stretch. That's why you HAVE to have the tire bead down in the center channel on the opposite side from where you are working, to allow the tire to fit over the rim WITHOUT stretching.

I always remove any rust or corrosion, and use blue duct tape for a rim strip. The stock rim strips don't cover enough of the rim, IMO, plus they can be dislocated while mounting the tire and tube. I also like to snug up any loose spokes from inside the rim while the tire is off, to prevent chewing up the spoke nipple on the outside.

I usually spend more time balancing my tires than everything else put together. No machine balancing for me, I use a wheel balancing/truing stand, and keep at it until it is perfect. Except dirt bikes. I don't balance dirt bike tires. Seems kind of pointless to me. We used to do that back in the old days, with lead solder wrapped around the spokes. Jerry.

See less See more

Save

cagie

· #7 · Nov 13, 2009

Jerry, how many layers of tape? any reason blue other than the visual making sure it stayed in place?

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month