Changing a tire on an automobile requires bulky and expensive machinery only a tire technician will possess. On the other hand, bicycles need a couple of essential tools and no prior experience to perform a tire swap.
Dirt bikes are somewhere in the middle, where the use of technician’s services would be convenient, but the relatively inexpensive investment in tools and labor makes it worth your time to start changing the tires on your own.
The first few tire changes will pose quite a challenge, so having a friend with experience to assist and guide you would undoubtedly make the process easier. This article aims to prepare you for the job by listing all of the necessary equipment and guiding you through the various steps.
Required Tools
To successfully change the tire and keep frustrations to a minimum, you will need some specialized tools. Depending on the cost of labor, they can pay for themselves after just a few tire changes.
The necessary tools:
- At least two spoon-type tire irons
- Two Bead Buddy tools
- Talc-based baby powder
- Tire lubricant
- Valve core remover
- GearWrench set
- Tire Stand
You will need the appropriate wrenches to take the wheel off the bike and to unscrew the rim lock nut. Two spoon-type tire irons can get the job done, but a third one will make it more manageable. The tire stand isn’t necessary, as you can use a bucket or a crate. Consider how often you will swap wheels and if it is worth the added cost and space required to store.
Removing The Old Tire
Place the wheel on the tire stand with the sprocket facing up. Deflate the tire and use the valve core remover to ensure no air remains in the inner tube. Take off the valve stem nut, and then loosen the rim lock until it can move freely.
Separate the tire bead from the edge of the rim by using the spoon-type tire iron by leveraging it towards the center of the wheel. Flip the wheel and do the same on the other side, and push on the tire to see if the bead has fully separated. To break the bead at the rim lock, push the nut inwards.
Leveraging the tire off the rim is the most challenging part. It is best to use the tire lube freely to make the process easier. Push down on the tire, and insert the convex side of the spoon iron towards the tire, starting at the rim lock. Space out the second and third iron by a few inches, then pull the tire over the rim by flipping the wrench towards the center of the wheel.
Spoon tire irons might fall out, reverting some of your processes. Leveraging takes some strength, so it’s best to have another person hold down the idle irons while working on the third. Once you have finished one side, do the same on the other side.
Push the wheel down or tap the tire against the ground to let the wheel fall into the tire. If you own a tire stand, you can push the tire down, and it will fall towards the stand’s base. Otherwise, set the wheel on the ground vertically, and push the tire while holding the rim until it is removed.
Preparing The Wheel
With the old tire out of the way, you can prepare the wheel for replacement. Inspect the rim tape and brush out any debris that can cause wear and deteriorate the tire more quickly.
Standard tubes are relatively inexpensive compared to the tire, so it is recommended to replace them with every tire change. You may keep yours if they are relatively new and have no signs of wear or bubbling. Heavy-duty variants can last through a few changes before wearing out.
Mounting The New Tire
Pour some baby powder onto the new tire and distribute it throughout to help the inner tube set correctly. Pull the valve stem through the hole in the wheel using the valve stem puller, tighten the nut slightly to hold it in place, and reattach the valve stem core.
Place the rim inside the tire at the rim lock, where it can drop and make it easier to pull the tire onto the rim. Use the spoon iron if you need it, although the first side should be easy to mount. The Bead Buddy will push the tire towards the center, making it easier to leverage the tire over the rim and into the wheel.
Tighten the valve stem and inflate the inner tube. Initially, you will have to overinflate the tube to make the bead pop into place. Check if the tire is seated correctly, then deflate the inner tube to the appropriate pressure between 12 to 15 psi. Add the valve cap and tighten the rim lock nut without using extreme force.
Summary
Changing the tire on your dirt bike will be frustrating at first, but you will soon learn to appreciate the work and complete the job in less time than it would take you to get to a tire technician.
We hope this article has helped you learn how to change dirt bike tires and save you both time and money! The more tools you get, the easier the task will be, so it is worth considering investing in the gear. Let us know how your first tire change went and if you faced any unexpected challenges.
