How to Change a Motorcycle Tire 101
Learning to change a motorcycle tire isn’t easy. To help you learn this important skill we’ve written up a handy guide below! However, if your bike is in need of more serious repairs or maintenance, feel free to visit one of our service shops at our locations in San Marcos and Corona, California.
When to Replace Your Tire
If your tire is completely flat, or you’ve had a blowout, it’s pretty obvious that you’ll need to change it. However, these aren’t the only scenarios requiring you to replace your tire. If you’ve been driving on your wheels for more than 5 to 6 years, your tires are balding, or you can hear air leaking out of the rubber, it’s time for you to change your tires.
Tools
Before you place your motorcycle on jacks or stands to get started, check to be sure you have all the appropriate tools. You’ll need lubricant (or Windex), 1 or 2 tire irons, 1 or 2 rim protectors, a valve core remover (or a pair of needle nose pliers), and finally, a bead breaker. You’ll also want to have a source of compressed air to fill your new tires, and a tool to remove your wheel’s lug nuts.
Remove the Old Tire
Remove the lug nuts as well as the valve core before placing your wheel down on the ground to lube the outer edges of the rim. Take your bead breaker tool and use it to break the air-tight seal between your rim and tire. Continue to do this around the tire till it falls off the shoulder and into the center channel of the rim. Flip the tire to the other side and lube it once again before placing down your rim protectors. Using your tire irons push both sides of the tire over the rim to remove it.
Placing the New Tire
Take your lube once again and lightly coat the rim’s inner channel. Place your new wheel on top of the rim and push it down using your hands and knees over the rim’s edge. Before starting this process be sure to take note of the arrow and dot engraved into the rubber. This should tell you where to reinsert your valve core and which way the wheel needs to turn. With the first edge of the tire now in the channel, grab your tire irons and rim protectors and push the other side of the tire in as well. This may take a couple of tries, but you’ll know it’s been done successfully when you hear the tire loudly pop into place. Afterward, reinsert your valve core, inflate your tire, and reattach the wheel and lug nuts before taking your motorcycle off its stands.
While changing a motorcycle tire isn’t an easy task, it’s an important skill to have. We hope our guide above will prove to be helpful as you learn to get the hang of this process. If you’re nearby in San Diego or Oceanside, California we hope you’ll visit North County Indian Motorcycle® for all of your motorcycle needs!