Tires. There has to be an easier way

[Drunkskunk]

I'm changing out my Hookworms for some Arrow racing Ramped Bites.

Taking hookworms off can be a nightmare. they seat tight and it's taken me a full afternoon to work one off a rim before. But these Arrow Racing tires are even worse. I've broken 8 tire leavers so far. Just as I managed to almost get the tire on, I managed to cut the tube with a sharp corner of the plastic Schwalbe tire leaver. It had taken me 3 hours of work to get it that far onto the rim. Its so tight that it's actualy rubbing the powder coating off the rim as it slides over.

There are days when I hate working on my bike.

 

[snowranger]

Been there done that. I got a flat one time near a bike store. I ended up buying three tubes as I kept puncturing them with my tire levers. I'm sure they were getting a good laugh, but man was I getting mad.

It would be nice to know which tires are easier to change out. The Schwalbe Marathons I'm running now seem to be pretty pretty good in that regard.

You'll get better with practice. Those shop guys can usually do it without any tools.

 

[johnrobholmes]

talc powder or dish soap really helps.

 

[FMB42]

I've been thinking about picking up this (or, a similar) tool:

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001005.php

 

[johnrobholmes]

those work OK on a dry tire, but I have seen them shred the bead when the tire was tight and didn't want to budge. Add some soap to the speed lever and they do work pretty good.

 

[rebelpilot]

Rims make a large difference. I could change a tire on my old araya rm20 rims barehanded, the very same tires on a different rim were very difficult to remove or install even with the aid of levers.

 

[gogo]

Would the rounded rim lip of a steel moped/motorcycle rim make tire install/removal easier?

 

[Drunkskunk]

KY makes everything fit.

But even using KY it was a tight fit.

Now that it's on, the problem is more clear. its too small. There's a double bead on this tire, one meant to go outside the rim and protect it from impacts. But now that it's mounted, that 2nd bead won't sit up on the outside of the rim.

Seriously, I've put jeep tires back on the rim by hand easier than this bicycle tire is going on. But at least it's halfway there now.

 

[John in CR]

Try changing a thicker rubber motorcycle street tire with a 13" or 14" rim by hand if you think your bike tires are tough.

 

[johnrobholmes]

Some of the 17's I have been working with lately are a huge pain too. I have a dual sport 17x3.0 shinko that is giving me fits. I want it on another rim, and it won't budge! I need some 2 feet levers.

 

[John in CR]

... I need some 2 feet levers...

3 arms would be nice too, just like with soldering. DIY ebikers need to evolve an extra limb.

 

[TMaster]

KY makes everything fit.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[vanilla ice]

For stubborn motorcycle beads, I drive over them with a car to de-bead them.. don't run over the rim! I just got some new moto levers to try out. Maybe they will work on bicycles too.

 

[gestalt]

we use hookworms on our cabs and I've had to change quite a few of them over the past two years. we have this thing called the "stubborn tire lever" and it's steel and about ten inches long. you start with that one and assist with your regular plastic levers and it's actually not that bad. had a tire skinned, tube replaced and pumped up in less than five minutes once on the road.

 

[Drunkskunk]

I've been fighting this thing a week now. I gave up and took the tire to 2 shops. The first gave me every excuse why it wouldn't fit, but then confessed they had never heard of a DH bike or ever worked on a tire this big. The second took one look at it and said.. "HAHA NO." That being an exact quote. They wouldn't even try. They said they had tried before for someone else, failed, and don't have a clue how to make it work.

We don't get many Down hill bikes or hard core offroad bikes in Dallas. there just isn't a need for them.

The tire is on the rim. that isn't the problem. But the bead won't seat. Its a double bead that fits on 3 sides of the rim's bead. Here's some pics of it properly seated, and what most of the rim looks like.


Anyone got any ideas?

 

[johnrobholmes]

cram some dishsoap where the bead is sitting low. Try to work it around a bit past the offending area. What is the casing rated for, 45 or 60psi? Try pumping it to 15 lbs over and see if the bead will pop. Then try 20lb, then as far as you dare if it doesn't pop on.


When the wheel is aired up low you can also try using your weight to flex the tire and peel it into place. Otherwise just ride it a bit and break it in, then try again.

 

[torker]

Yea I would let most the air out,try the oven at maybe 120-130 deg. and then take it out and hit it with dish detergent and water in a sprayer and hit it with about 70 psi. while it is nice and warm. If that doesn't work then you just have a tire/rim combo that don't play well.

 

[FMB42]

Hey DS,

You may want to consider this old tire mounting/beading trick:

First, make sure that your rim(s) fall within the tire manufacturers recommendations. Some of the latest extra wide DH tires may be designed for newer "double wide" rims (I'm guessing).

Then try working both tire beads over both sides of the outer rim beads (be sure that you don't damage the beads tho...).

Let it sit like this for a day or two before you attempt to properly remount it.

Doing this can sometimes help with tires that resist "beading up".

Another idea might be to tightly cinch a "tie down" around the circumference of the tire while you try airing it up. Otherwise, consider having an motorcycle shop do this for you (most MC shops have an inflatable "tie down" like bead seating device that they use for this purpose).

 

[Drunkskunk]

Thank you all. yeah, these are extra wide DH rims.

I called Arrow racing, and asked for some tech support. They put me on the line with Gus, who suggested the same thing.
He said the MTX rim is a high side wall older design and his tires have a hard time seating on it, but newer rims it seats much easier on. He said it's always eventually worked.
He's apparently the owner of arrow racing, so I figure he should know.


Ultimately, I need new rims. Time to build a new bike. Anyone got a Kona Stinky Size large laying around?

 

[oldpiper]

Vaseline.

And aluminum tire irons (3 of them) instead of plastic.

Cameron

 

[Hillhater]

You should check if those tyres are designed to suit specific rims.
difficult tyre changing is all down to the rim design ....and a good technique !
You should try changing race tyres on 5" (10"wide) go kart rims !..they are a real bitch. most people use tools and machines, but there are videos of guys who can change 4 complete tyres in under 30sec using only bare hands !!
One tip used on difficult tyres, is to make sure the tyre is warm..hot sun for a half hour or 10 mins in a low oven...it makes a LOT of difference !

 

[Drunkskunk]

Unhappy results.

I aired the tire up to 65 LBS, and brought it inside because the house is 80 degrees today. It had a well lubed bead. and 30 minutes later, the tube exploded, tearing the bead off the tire.

I have never had this much trouble with a tire before. Not on cars, trucks, motorcycles, Or bikes.

So in a fit of rage I flung that tire off across the garage, and put a Maxxis hookworm back on the rim, with tube, and no tools in under a 3 minutes.

 

[Thud]

Here are all the tips I have.

#1 forget plastic tire levers....get real tire irons if your changing real tires.
(they will not do any damage if handeled properly)
I use 1 tire spoon 10 1/2" & 1 auto tire iron 20+" for motorcycle tires.
#2 spray lubricant (I like simple green)
#3 baby powder
#4 positive attitude
#5 band-aids for the busted knuckles
assuming you are installing:
1) dump enough baby powder(talcum) to completly coat the inside of the new tire & dust the new tube with talc also.
This will act as a lubricant & will preserve rubber from dry rot.
2) get 1 bead on the rim then incert the tube
3) work the bead onto the rim with little bites big levers make is easy
4) spray the rim & bead with simple green generously
5) remove the stem valve & use an air complesser to inflate the tire fast.
6) install the stem valve & re-inflate to your desired presure.

the warm tire tip is also a good one.....just dosn't work if you out on the frozen lake ice racing LOL.

We have tire changing competitions at least twice a year & i am alwys stupified watching my buddy Ron remove a tire, install another with a tube,inflat & get the rim locks tight in under 2 minutes. (i average 6 min. on an 18" rear 4ply knobbie)

 

[bakerb]

I have an Arrow Racing tire sitting in the garage, unused. I could never get the d@mn tire onto several different rims. Broke a few tire levers, bent my thumb backwards, etc. I doubt I'll ever have the patience to get the bead seated...

 

[Hillhater]

the warm tire tip is also a good one.....just dosn't work if you out on the frozen lake ice racing LOL.

Its surprising how many uses a portable gas barbecue can be put to ! :wink: