Tire Changing

[Crossrodes]

I have a Harbor Freight tire changer with the motorcycle attachment.  I have a question for those of you that change your own tires.  First let me explain the problem:

Today I attempted to change the front tire of a friends '82 R65.  I've changed both tires on my '79 and I can't figure out what was wrong today.  I've also changed many Goldwing tires and these are supposed to be the toughest.

First I removed the Schraeder valve and let the air out.  Next I broke the beads on both sides of the tire.  Then I attempted to get one side of the tire off the rim...couldn't do it.  I could not get the tire to move far enough to give me enough room for me to get the tire off on one side.  I was using rim protectors and 14" tire irons.  After several tries I lubed the tire bead and rim with silicone.  I used wooden blocks to force the tire down into the "valley" of the rim.  That didn't work so I used a couple of C clamps to move the bead into the valley. It appeared to be in the valley but the valley is so narrow on this wheel I'm not sure I had it far enough into the valley.

There's a couple of possibilities here.  First, the tire was cold when I started the job.  It had been sitting in my friends unheated garage for months (I usually do my tire changes in the summer when I can leave the tire and wheel sitting out in the sun for awhile to heat it up)  Second I'm wondering if I should not have broken both beads and just broken the bead of the side I was working on, thereby ensuring that the opposite bead would not go into the valley and leave room for the bead I was working on.

Any thoughts anyone?

[montmil]

The cold soaked tire was most likely the issue. You did everything else correctly.

Did you remember to apply the proper ratio of profanity to tire resistance? [smiley=furious3.gif]

Monte

[Justin B.]

I hate agreeing with Monte...

[Semper Gumby]

Doesn't the opposite side of the bead have to fit in the center to get the other side off the rim?

The 1.85 rim is a tough get.  I know have a 2.50 X18 rim on the front of my R65...   8-)

[Ed Miller]

This time of year I let the new tire sit in by the wood stove to warm up whilst I remove the old one, but I've never had any trouble getting the old one off.   I wouldn't use silicone for a lube, too hard to wash off and it won't really dry out.  I have a gallon jug of some tire change lube I bought at Napa.  I do use it for both removing and installing tires.  I don't have the HF machine (though I kind of want one), I just use 3 tire irons and an Aerostich bead breaker.

[Barry]

Sounds like you have all the angles covered but as a last resort you could try cutting it off. I'm not saying it's easy but it can be done. An ordinary hacksaw with a new blade will get through everything except the wire in the bead but you can't get to that with the saw anyway. Heavy duty wire cutters will get you through the bead area eventually. I did this on a very stiff 28 year old tire rather than risk damaging the rim. If nothing else it's an education on tire construction and how tough they are.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Let me guess, the old tire is a Dunlop?  For some reason Dunlops are always the hardest for me to mount and remove.  OK, it doesn't really matter but I'm with Monte.  And, like Ed I would use liquid soap or a specialty lube rather than silicone.  Bring the tire inside for a night of movies and popcorn while it thaws out.

This would also be a good subject for a poll...

Rather than change a tire I would prefer to:
a.  go one on one with a WWF champion
b.  go through a divorce
c.  vote for a Democrat
d.  have nothing but training beer to drink

[montmil]

d.  have nothing but training beer to drink

I heard that!

Monte Miller Lite

[Crossrodes]

Barry...Good idea to cut it off.

Bengt....I don't have the tire here now (friend went home with it) but I don't think it was a Dunlop although I have to agree that the Dunlops are the toughest to remove and install.
....have nothing but training beer to drink

[Crossrodes]

Well my friend brought his wheel over again today and I took another run at it.  This time I heated it up by placing a 60 watt trouble light under it and a piece of plywood on top.  I left it like that for a few hours and voila the tire came off the rim a lot easier and the new tire did the same.

[montmil]

 [smiley=clap.gif] Way to go, Mike!