Changing a front tyre?

[Ted]

How difficult is it to change a front tyre (tubeless of course)? I've only ever changed pushbike tyres

I was going to take it to my local garage, but the tyre I want fitted is part worn, and he will only fit brand new ones!

[-Savage-]

Try a different garage then. Changing a tyre is a lot of work. Not too bad to take one off, but getting one on is another story. You need a very high PSI to get the beads in place, never mind the brute force to get it over the lip. I would say phone up a few places and see if they will do it for you.
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My Bikes - - - Royal Enfield 500 with sidecar, VFR800, CBR600FX,
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[b-f-c]

Breaking the bead can be a bitch - 20st of fat barsteward wasnt enough, ended up popping into mates garage and using his car tyre gear to pop the bead.

Be sure to lube the new tyre up well and should pop on without too much of a problem.

You will need a compressor with a tank to get the speed/pressure of air in to snap the new bead back into place.


Oh... and watch your fingers

[Ted]

Got a 150psi compressor at work, and I assume that'll do it. But how hard is it to get the old tyre off and the new tyre on the rim?

[b-f-c]

If you can botch up a piece of kit to apply a lot of pressure by the edge of the tyre, by the rim then that might do it.

In the past I've used a jack and an enclosed space to do it [between a workbench and a wall if I remember, it was a while since I dont that]

Rim protectors, levers and lots of lube, non oil based.

I have 2 rim protectors and 3 levers, having another rim protector would have made the last change easier. If your going to make a habit of changing tyres then buy or build a bead breaker.

[Dazbo666]

I'm sure I've seen a how-to video on YouTube in the last couple of days regarding changing a tyre.
The guy had built a hefty wooden structure pivoted to a bench to apply enough pressure to break the bead. And to be honest, it looks like a fairly difficult and frustrating job to do without the proper kit...

I'd look it up for you, but I'm at work with no access to YouTube at the moment
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Ted]

Cheers guys... I just took it to a tyre & exhaust place... and discovered it in fact had a tube in it... I'm sure it said tubeless on the tyre tho... and the tube is knackered, so they have given me the wheel back with the tyre half on it, and I've got to get a tube from somewhere... Nothing ever seems simple with me...

[BlastThemAway]

what tyre/wheel/bike is it?

[Ted]

'twas a Pirelli on there, not sure what this new (part worn) one is, can't remember! Tyre size is 100/80/17, its the front wheel, and its from an '02 Gilera Coguar 125cc...

[stinkwheel]

Aye, it'll need a tube. Spoked wheels you see, there is a row of holes all the way round the wheel where the spokes attach. You have to use a tube otherwise all the air would piss out of the holes.*

Fitting a tubed tyre to a 125 is a piece of piss, you can almost push it on by hand. Failing that you can 'walk' it on using the heels of your boots. I just use normal household soap as a lubricant on the rim of the wheel.

Just make sure you don't nip the new tube between the rim and the bead.

You can take them off easily enough with a couple of tyre levers too, the bead can be broken down by hand.

Just like changing a push-bike tyre really, except you do need proper tyre levers to get it off, not your mums best spoon handles.

*Yes, I do know BMW spoked wheels are different but this isn't a BMW.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Ted]

[stinkwheel]

Should have mentioned, you'll find fitting the new tube a lot easier if you partially inflate it first. Just a small amount of air in it gives you something to push against. You'll see what I mean when you do it.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Ted]

Cheers mate, hopefully I'll get it right!