Help please with tire change
 

Hello, as you can see from the photo, below, this is my first time changing my own tires. I've made a mess of my rims, but live and learn.

My question: Is the fraying of tire bead acceptable damage from my tire spoons, or am I doing something wrong. Much thanks in advance for any advice.

http://i.imgur.com/QbeerIUh.jpg

Help please with tire change
 

Hi mate

I'm certainly no expert, but I recently found myself in the same situation with my Tenere. I had a mate (who changes HEAPs of flats on their trail bikes) show me what to do. Even with his full on workshop & decent levers, we really struggled with the hard compound tyre. After shredding two new tubes, I took the wheel to a workshop & had them throw another tube/tyre on with their machine.
After that it was running rough & I took it to my regular bloke. He said the tyre was rooted, probably on the other bloke's machine (he used to work there too & said it was a worn out heap of crap). I ordered a new tyre (Pirelli Scorpion Trail - I love it)., & all's good now.

Don't know if this helps, but hope it does a bit.




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You have to put some liquid soap on the tire and/or the rim an the tire will slip onto the rim without destruction.

Messy but not terminal, I would say. The tyre bead is immensely strong and the damage in the pic looks fairly superficial. As others have said, plenty of lube and a bit of muscle, and it should slip on without drama. Fairy liquid is good but a bit messy. I use spray glass cleaner, which evaporates quickly. You have to keep reapplying it, but the upside is it evaporates without any residue.

When you get it mounted, if there is no damage visible I would say you are good to go. Take it steady for a while, let the tyre settle down on the rim, and then forget about it. When the tyre is mounted, if you can see any splits or cracks, then my own feeling would be to scrap the tyre and start with a new one. Apart from brakes, there isn't much that affects safety more than your tyres. But even then I reckon you would be 99% OK. I just wouldn't trust the 1% I wasn't sure of.

Before you fit the tyre, perhaps have a good look inside, as its the only chance you will get. Any damage to the inside of the cover is pretty much a death warrant, I would say.

Did you have the bead sitting in the well ? Even without soap/lube I wouldn't expect it to have ripped up like that.

I don't think it will cause you any real problems though. Just make sure you have no ragged bits stopping it seat properly

Thanks!
 

Thank you all for the quick replies. I still have not managed to get the ****** on, and I guess it is off to the shop tomorrow, about 2 hours each way for me. (That's why I tried to do it myself).

Do a search on youtube for fitting a motocross tyre, have a good look and give it ago it really isnt that bad if your in a clean warm area, take your time and lube well
This guy is a good one to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw0B2gIwbBg
Although he does make it look remarkablly easy, its more about technique than beating the crap out of it

I tend to put very stiff tyres near a radiator or basking in the sun for a couple of hours before fitting them. Makes them a whole lot more manageable.

Just what I was going to say "warm it up" once you've done it a time or two you'll get a technique !!!
That said, I had to use a 3ft bar to get my last Mitas off !!!!

Good life advice, really.