DIY Tubeless Tyre Changes

[........................]

I'm thinking about having a go at doing my own tyre changes, I'll probably do about 15,000 miles a year so it will probably make financial sense, although I'm tempted just to do a bit of overtime and save myself the hassle.

I've done a set of tubed tyres (only once though) on an off road bike and got there in the end, although that was a while back and can't remember any of the technique.

Here's my list of things I think I'll need:

Bead breaker/stand (I know it's not 100% needed but will make life easier)
Tyre levers
New valves
Rim protectors

Can I get away without balancing the tyre and buying a balancer bumps up the price a bit?

From what my (brief) look into it suggests, I can buy tyres and all the equipment to fit them (minus the balancer) for the price of having them fitted at my local place.

Is it worth the hassle?

[Moo.]

I wouldn't even bother with tubeless.

Take the wheels off the bike, take them down to a local tyre place, and get them to swap it. I've got them done for between £5 and £10...
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[SQL]

I fit my own, I use a shovel to break the bead, hosepipe for rim protectors, and tyre levers and soap to remove and fit.

To balance them I use the spindle of the bike and a couple of chairs that are dead level.

[G]

Do you have other transport?

I always used to pay £5 per loose wheel to get them fitted - would often take wheel and tyre in on a different bike.

Balancing is about the easiest thing - you can easily make something fancy to do it for not much (ie, very basic is a smaller rod through the centre on two chairs)

Similarly, can make your own bead breaker for not TOO much - but for tubeless tyres, it often is a load of faff without a tyre machine, so I wouldn't bother.

If you have some garage space spare, I would consider buying a second hand single phase or air (ideal if you already have a big compressor) machine - you shouldn't lose money when you come to sell it. Saves an awful lot of swearing.

[monkeybiker]

Have you got an air compressor to seat the bead?

I've done it before with the tyre inflator at the fuel station but had to use a ratchet tie down strap to squash the tyre to keep the air in.

Sometimes it works sometimes it don't and I had to take it to the garage to inflate so I don't bother anymore.

If I had an air compressor I probably would do it myself. It's worth the effort to save £20.

Watch some you tube videos to get the method right.

[........................]

I've got a compressor so have that bit covered. No garage though so no chance of a tyre machine.

All the local tyre places near me seem to be the big chain type. There used to be a local-isn place where I could give the bloke a tenner to fit a tyre to a loose wheel but that's no longer there.

I'll ring around a few places to get some prices tomorrow but I seem to remember £25 per wheel (ride in, ride out) when I last asked, unknown for loose wheels.

With Oponeo selling tyres at decent prices I though it might be worth giving it a go myself.

[Taught2BCauti...]

Redneck Tyre Bead Seating/Inflating
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[FlightRisk]

[blurredman]

I've yet to try the cable tie method... I will be using that soon.
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

[Fizzer Thou]

These levers are recommended

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Workshop/0014614_michelin-type-tyre-levers-15-inch_300_zps0485af63.jpeg

When I got a puncture the day before last years Mayday Run I luckily had a spare to hand and it only took about 35 mins to change them over

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Workshop/2013-05-05180802_zps1d7bcb5d.jpg
https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Workshop/2013-05-05192034_zps1a1c1a4f.jpg

I did not bother to balance the rear afterwards,but if it had been a front tyre I use a rig that I bought from Hein Gericke for £40,which does the job

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Workshop/2014-11-15163656_zps7a23eee7.jpg

You can buy tyre soap from most on-line places and I would find it quite difficult to change a tyre without using this stuff.It is possible to use a footpump,but as I bought a good value for money compressor a few years ago,then I use that to seat the tyre correctly.

If anything,I now find it easier to change a tubeless instead of a tubed tyre,because the sidewall of the enduro tyres are far stiffer and it is a bit of a bugger to get the valve stem of the thick inner tube located through the hole in the rim

These seem like a good investment

https://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcycle/stand-accessories/warrior-wheel-balancer-kit
https://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/tools-workshop/wheel-tyre-equipment/sealey-tyre-bead-breaker-tc968
https://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcycle/accessories/bike-it-tyre-paste
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[DrDonnyBrago]

I use some pieces of timber as a bead breaker (lever, wedge shape fulcrum, point on the bead), rim protectors, tesco value shampoo, cheap tyre levers, a footpump, eBay wheel weights and a tyre balancer made from skateboard bearings and axle stands.

Total cost was about £15.

I've done loads like that, on several bikes. I like fitting Michelins, seem to have a more pliable sidewall than Pirelli.

[........................]

I just picked up this lot for £55, all unused.

https://i.imgur.com/MB2oPII.jpg?3

[........................]

I suppose I might as well replace the valves while I'm at it, are these the right type?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vehicle-Black-Plastic-Rubber-Valve/dp/B00E0KYFHA/

[Fizzer Thou]

Those replacement valves will be too long for a motorbike.If they flex at speed there is the danger of the rubber stem splitting,like I had on one of my wheels.
The short ones are the ones you will need.The tool for inserting the valves are not so easily bought,so I popped down to a friendly tyre place and got them to insert them for me when I needed one replacing

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Workshop/2014-08-05%2017.48.13_zpsegnn5qmf.jpg

And that Abba bead breaker is exactly what I have.Even used it to remove car tyres
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[kramdra]

A foot pump is perfectly adequate, Ive done about 15 tyres and its never took more than a minute to seat bead.

Large G clamp is ideal for breaking bead if you dont have space for the proper tool, and more useful.

Balancing, do in forks/swingarm with callipers out the way. Balancing stands are a waste of space :p Wieghts cost pennies. Always replace valve, only cost 20p each.

Soap of some kind is essential, I use car wash as its cheap, mixed 1:5 with water in a spray bottle.

Takes less time to diy than to goto a shop. The annoying part is getting the wheel off and back on.

[monkeybiker]

[Pigeon]

I just used a Stanley knife to cut the valve stem off.

[DrDonnyBrago]

[bikenut]

and an old car wheel with tyre, which the discs and sprockets will sit in, and support the wheel on the wheels rim.....fiesta mk 1 does it for me......

a place to work on the tyre, getting it on and off............rather than have the wheel scurry about the floor while your chasing the bead........

or a purpose made rig to mount the wheel on etc.........
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nuts about bikes

[........................]

So....

My new rear tyre arrived so I thought I'd have a bash at getting it on. Once the old tyre was off getting the new one on was pretty straight forward but my luck ran out.

I can't get any air into the tyre. The rim of the tyre is nowhere near the rim of the wheel, the air going in just escapes before having any chance of seating the bead of the tyre.

https://i.imgur.com/kI3UKbL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gveMUDp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/o5gAYGf.jpg

[yen_powell]

[P.]

Strap as above or just sit on it a little whilst pumping.

[kramdra]

Its easier than that. Bounce the wheel, rotate a bit, bounce. Some air will leak at first, but if you bounce the right places it will become self sealing very quickly. At ~40psi the beads will pop on. You may wish to put the valve in first to save effort.. Ive always done it after.

Soap/water helps getting the bead to seat, not just getting tyre on and off.

[........................]

Thanks gents, ratchet strap did the trick, wheel is back on the bike

[bikenut]

for future reference, if you pull the tyre whilst pressing the wheel, the bead on the side closest to you can be made to sit on the rim, so you only have to deal with the other side bead....place tyre against wall with the problem bead side outermost, gently press the wheel to make the bead make contact with the wheel and use cpmpressed air.....a good blast so air goes in quicker than leaking...it will inflate...be carefull....keep fingers away from the bead...else walk into casualty with a wheel attached to your finger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a strap works for the majority........

the most difficult ones, and sealing ring is used in tyre fitters.....seals aginst tyre wall and wheel bead.........
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nuts about bikes