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Changing tyres

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T0MMY
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Joined: 08 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: 17:06 - 13 Jan 2010    Post subject: Changing tyres Reply with quote
I've just spent the best part of 2 hours battling away with my XT350 wheels trying to swap my knobblies for my road tyres. The back is done after a LOT of ball ache, swearing and shouting but the bead on the front just seems unbelievably tight Mad I can't get the tyre iron in there let alone pull the bead over the rim Brick Wall Does anyone have any tricks to doing this or a link to a good guide? I've got a walkthrough from some american enduro forum but the guy makes it look so friggin easy that I can't help thinking his bead could not possibly be as tight as mine Confused
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yen_powell
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PostPosted: 17:45 - 13 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Take the bead off you've already fought with, the bit thats stretched so tightly it's formed a straight line across the rim.

Start again, but this time as soon as the first bit of bead is on, get your knee onto it and push it down hard into the well of the wheel. This gives you a lot more tyre to play with and makes putting the rest of the bead on much easier. Always keep the central part crushed down, between the two unseated edges. Use plenty of lube.
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yen_powell
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PostPosted: 17:47 - 13 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Or if you're talking about getting a tyre off, you need to break the bead on both sides by letting the air out and walking all round the tyre till it physically breaks away from the rim, repeat on the other side.
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G
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Joined: 02 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 18:16 - 13 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
This is what I and many others have learnt from:
https://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50717

It is something that takes some time to get used to, I'm still in the 'learning' stage, but can do it more competently/quicker now than I could, at least.
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T0MMY
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Joined: 08 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: 18:39 - 13 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
yen_powell wrote:
Take the bead off you've already fought with, the bit thats stretched so tightly it's formed a straight line across the rim.

Start again, but this time as soon as the first bit of bead is on, get your knee onto it and push it down hard into the well of the wheel. This gives you a lot more tyre to play with and makes putting the rest of the bead on much easier. Always keep the central part crushed down, between the two unseated edges. Use plenty of lube.


I'm doing all that to be honest, got the bead down into the well opposite where I'm working.

I don't think there's anything majorly wong with my technique, it's in line with all the guides (I recognise those sandles Laughing ) but it's just not happening. I think more/better tyre irons may be the key, mine is very blunt and I can't get it under the bead once the tyre's over the rim.
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yen_powell
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Joined: 22 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: 19:05 - 13 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
T0MMY wrote:

I'm doing all that to be honest, got the bead down into the well opposite where I'm working.

I don't think there's anything majorly wong with my technique, it's in line with all the guides (I recognise those sandles Laughing ) but it's just not happening. I think more/better tyre irons may be the key, mine is very blunt and I can't get it under the bead once the tyre's over the rim.

Whilst you have the bead squashed into submission in the rim well, grab the spokes and pull the whole wheel towards you, make sure to give yourself as much advantage as possible. I'm assuming you are levering the tyre on at the point closest to you.

The best tyre levers are the shortish italian ones (Buzzeti or something like that), I'll see if I can get a link. I swear they are practically tube nip proof.
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T0MMY
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PostPosted: 12:58 - 16 Jan 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Got it sussed...

As per usual it was a case of having the right tool for the job Rolling Eyes I bought 2 better tyre levers and with a combination of more levers and better bite on the bead it was an absolute piece of piss Laughing 3 levers is the way to go, makes the middle one easy to get out. Definitely need levers with a sharper end as well otherwise you just can't get under the bead on a road tyre (the knobblies have way more give in them).
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