Changing my Front Tire

[North]

Well, I got the Axle tool and changed my Front Tire. http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/396513-Removing-the-Front-Tire

The difficult part was breaking the bead. I had to break out a vise to help with it. I know there is letting out the air and riding on the flat tire. But, there must be a better way. Maybe one of those bead breaking tools. I had to break the bead on both sides of the tire. The tire was really stuck on both sides.

Putting the new tire on went well until getting the last 50 or more degrees of the last side. I was using soapy water, but it took WD-40 to get it on.

 

[North]

Some more pictures.

 

[Bendy toy]

Nice report reminds me why I spend £15 to get a tyre fitted.

 

[jags]

tyre change

sack the mechanic! he has left the caliper dangling on it's hose and using wd40 on rubber would give some folk a fit or am i being an old fart.

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Where is Giles when you need him

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Where is Giles when you need him

Either
A) still in bed pissed
B) waiting at a bus stop because its raining
C) Somewhere out on a trail on a KTM that he has never mentioned

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Either
A) still in bed pissed
B) waiting at a bus stop because its raining
C) Somewhere out on a trail on a KTM that he has never mentioned

D) Taking out of focus photos

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Either
A) still in bed pissed
B) waiting at a bus stop because its raining
C) Somewhere out on a trail on a KTM that he has never mentioned

Has Giles bought himself a KTM? :O

Andrés

 

[North]

sack the mechanic! he has left the caliper dangling on it's hose and using wd40 on rubber would give some folk a fit or am i being an old fart.

I agree, you are right. It did seem very wrong to dangle the calipers. And the Tire was not going to go all the way on with just the soapy water. Maybe I should have put in more soap in. But the WD40 made a huge difference.

Nice report reminds me why I spend £15 to get a tyre fitted.

When I had to break out the Vise to break the bead I was thinking the same thing.



All in all it went smoothly except for breaking the bead. I am going to research one of those bead breaking gismos.

D) Taking out of focus photos

I thought is was just my bad eye-sight.

 

[Doofus]

I am going to research one of those bead breaking gismos.

I have an abba bead breaker - works great and I would recommend it.

If you want to save the money, I have also used the side stand of another bike to press down on it which was also easy
- never tried using the stand of the same bike withouth the wheel, but seen it done on youtube. I have also used a pair of fence posts - lay one down, put wheel flat on it near one end, lay other fence post on top, then use a belt to hold the ends of the posts close together, put a block of wood between the upper post an the bead and lever down on the far end - basically use the posts like nutcrackers - worked fine. I once used g-clamps, which was a right pain.

For me it is not so much the £15 I save but it takes less time than gong to a tyre place - simply order the tyre online and fit.

I also bought a tub of proper fitting soap which makes life easier. I would also recommend getting some beadsealer if you have corroded rims. Despite much cleaning and smoothing I couldn't get my nasty cheap vespa wheel to seal without it.

 

[Bendy toy]

+ one for lot liking the hassle of taking wheels to fitters. But I would really draw the line at TKC-80 or Scouts.

I found that a pair of strong G clamps (not the folded steel trigger type) can press the beads together to keep them in the rim centre is a big help while getting the last bit of the bead over the rim.

 

[North]

I just watched a Video for the abba bead breaker and it certainly makes it easy.

 

[kennyboy]

tyre change

abba bead breaker works well,make sure tyre is pushed right into centre of wheel opposite tyre levers and with soapy water it will go on much easier.Cant see that you've rebalanced the wheel ,chances are it will be miles out with the old balance weight still in position

 

[Bendy toy]

DONT use washing up liquid it's corrosive.
Tyre soap does a better job anyway and any car tyre fitter will fill a jar for you.
Rear wheel can be balanced on a car wheel dynamic balancer. Front needs a static balance rig.

 

[haditlowered]

i watched a video on line and then changed my rear tyre on my GS myself two weeks ago, i used the GS's own built in bead breaker shown on the video, worked a treat, but you MUST use the strap from the stand secured to the front wheel, otherwise it will roll off the stand - it was a piece of cake.. and this guy uses silicone to lube the beads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0nrZadIQxA

 

[WindyChuffer]

Get some proper tyre lube. A gallon is about a tenner and will last years.

Good portable bead breaker is from Best Rest Products.

Letting caliper dangle gently is fine. Best to tie it but I never bother. Have never had a problem.

Buzetti tyre levers.

Valve core remover to help inrush of air for seating bead.

Sorted.

 

[haditlowered]

This kit does the lot - levers and breaker. https://www.bestrestproducts.com/c-98-beadbrakr-tcm.aspx

UK stockist £114.00 http://metalmule.com/by-product/maintenance-repairkit/bead-brak-r.html

Get some proper tyre lube. A gallon is about a tenner and will last years.

Good portable bead breaker is from Best Rest Products.

Letting caliper dangle gently is fine. Best to tie it but I never bother. Have never had a problem.

Buzetti tyre levers.

Valve core remover to help inrush of air for seating bead.

Sorted.

 

[North]

I didn't know that there was Tire Soap.

I did remove the valve from the stem.

I never balanced tire but it's fine

 

[Beemerman59]

I just put new boots on my GSA and put both wheels on a static balancer. I have TPM's fitted and the original balance weights are still on the wheels. Neither wheel needed any additional weights. I think once you have the wheel itself in balance the addition of the tyre makes little difference - maybe the manufacturing process is so accurate these days they come off the line in a pretty uniform state anyway.

 

[haditlowered]

i was at the dealers and noticed that most of the bikes had weights on, and i think all that were spoked wheels had weights, there were a few that didn't have any on but not many, i was looking at them because mine had no weights on either wheel from new, the dealer said that not all bikes need them, but given the amount that had weights, some double rows maybe the manufacturer process is not as good as it once was.