Tyre fitting

[D project]

I always seem to have difficulty seating tires beads on rims.
Any tips or what lube do people use. I've just been using the old standard "soapy water"!

[Nathan S]

I use WD40 on difficult tyres. It evaporates off in a couple of days, and doesn't make me worry about corroding the tyre side of the rim. Plus it works better than soapy water.

Michelin tyres on Takasago rims are always difficult.

[yamaico]

Supercheap tyre shine - works great for me and it doesn't harm rubber.
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/Export-Wet-Look-Tyre-Shine-400g.aspx?pid=1139#Recommendations

[pecrazy]

Straight truck wash or hand wash, always thought WD40 might harm the rubber.

[TT5 Matt]

wd40 is made up from fish oil, good on old joints im told as wont harm/irritate your skin

[Slakewell]

Try the zip tie method

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLpMA1a6ic0

[Gippslander]

cut a beer can in half and go to your local tire service and ask them to fill it up with the tyre soap they use, get yourself a 1 inch paintbrush and cut the bristles to half length so it's sort of stubby and use that to put the tyre soap on, you will do lots and lots of motorcycle tyres and it just makes it so easy

[bigk]

I did a 13 minute tube change the other day from a puncture, wheel out & back in ready to ride (a personal record, yey), but most of the time I drive the wheels 3 minutes to the local tyre place & pay them $10 to change tyres. It's a shit job no matter what anyone says & I'd rather not sweat, swear & skin my knuckles to save $10. I use good old dishwashing liquid with just a smidge of water.
K

[JAP 454]

Yep, Gippslander, the way to go. I bought a tub of the tyre fitting stuff from my local Tyre place, good stuff.
Foss

[FourstrokeForever]

Bastard of a job....right up there with cleaning air filters  It's even worse of a job now with a bit of arthritis getting to the fingers.

Anyway, I have to do my own as I live no where near a bike shop.

I try to let the new tyre warm up in the sun, but as the days are getting cooler a bit of heat from the heat gun or hair dryer will do the same job. And just like BigK, I use dish wash liquid with a tiny bit of water around the bead. Pump up the tyre to pop the bead, deflate tyre, rinse off soap with fresh water and re-inflate......mount the wheel then crack a coldie.

[skypig]

For most of my life I'd have rather rebuilt a top end than change a rear MX tire.
My life changed after watching Douge Shapinshky (?) demo the correct technique.
I bought a stand, 3 tiny levers, a bead buddy, and a bottle of windex.
Watched the vid 10 times, including a few times as I changed a tire.
Repeat: Life changing.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yNZzxeyfXBw

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL8D3554A795C45510&v=mTatadVNA-c

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PL8D3554A795C45510&params=EAEYATgBSAFYA2ILbVRhdGFkVk5BLWNoAQ%253D%253D&v=pjJXE73rGvk&mode=NORMAL

[HVA61]

6 minutes front
10 minutes rear
Changing tyres is only difficult if you think it is.

[Nathan S]

Changing tyres is only difficult if you think it is.

This.

I remember struggling through 45 minute tyre changes, cursing every moment. Gradually, the pieces fell into place, and now I'm consistently around 10 minutes without hurrying.

Watching Jess Gardiner do two tyres with mousse tubes and an airfilter in a 15 minute work period erases any excuses I might try to make for myself...

[80-85 husky]

with the old chengshin horse shoe tubes and an air bottle, a 3 minute puncture repair was my best effort. its all in the placement of the bead into the well and picking the little spot where the bead crosses the rim gap for your tyre lever. there is no doubt an old michi or trelleborg are total bastards to remove and I have taken the grinder to the bead wires on occasion when the tyre levers bend

[shelpi]

I put the tyre on with a rubber mallet  it works well very little chance of pinching the tube, the trick is keep banging the tyre toward the rim at the point of start and around further as it goes on
I use talcome powder, detergent/water, CRC, lanolin what ever I can get my mits on at the time but prefer talcom powder
yep and Im one of those stupid bastards that uses 2 rim locks