Changing your tires with Nothing at all.

[Empty Set]

So you've decided to own a supersport. You have also decided to track it. Moreover, nature has provided you with a frugal disposition, and an affinity for tinkering. As such, you have found it necessary to change your own tires.

Who this is for: like minded individuals, owning the tools mentioned as necessary, who are unconcerned with the look of their rims.


The process begins by removing the wheel off the bike. This is motorcycle specific, naturally, so I won't get into it. I shall only mention, that you need a jack, for the front wheel, and two blocks of wood for the rear (you don't need a jack for the rear). Here I shall make account of the rear wheel.







You don't need a jack for the rear wheel. Simply slide a block of wood under the sidestand, so that the bike stands in a more vertical position. Then you wedge a long block of wood under the right side swingarm spool as seen, while lifting the tail section of the bike. It will come up.

Once you have removed the rear wheel, bring out your trusty Pit Posse Bead Crusher. Thirty dollars, which is not much cheaper than the standard harbor freight tire changer everyone gets, but on the other hand is highly portable. It is about as long as a good sized torque wrench, and very light.





To break the one bead, pinch the tire as you think you should, using the Pit Posse tool. To break the second bead, on the other side, place one of the tool's hooks on the rim. This is what the second picture above shows. I found it wise to use this tool by laying the wheel down on its side and using the floor for leverage, instead of keeping the wheel straight as one would first think to do.

You have been of course very careful in breaking the bead. Now, you must remove the tire, again very carefully. How to remove the tire from the rim? I use this process:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0Pfp2Z9k0n0

How long does this take? The nth time you do it will take half as long as the n-1th time. I can remove a tire by the time you finish telling the guy at Cycle Gear what kind of bike you ride and how many years you've been riding.

The secret is to take small bites.



This is the second bite that I took.

However, you are only going to lift only one bead from the rim (removing half of the tire). Why? For the same reason that I instructed you to be careful about breaking the bead, because you must remove your Dynabeads internal dynamic balancing media. These are small white ceramic beads which roll around the inside of your tire, balancing it. (You may now start a debate)



A small amount of tire has rubbed off from the inside (not much though, you can still feel the "ridges" inside these pilot powers). I didn't bother to seperate them from the Dynabeads, I poured them in the next tire.



I scooped the beads using a spoon, and poured them into the provided applicator container using a funnel. After this, I finished removing the tire.

Installing the tire is easier than removing it:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AerHAYs435s&feature=related

Again, only do half of the job.



Or maybe 80% of it. Pour in the Dynabeads directly into the tire before you lift the second bead into the rim. The manufacturer of the beads recommends installing them through the valve stem using their applicator kit, which consists of the small container and a plastic tube. It is much easier to pour them into the tire, bike tires are curved enough that the beads won't fall out when you lift the second bead.

After you have lifted the second bead into the rim, set the bead using your foot pump.



This was actually the toughest and most time consuming part of the job. I found that these Pilot Powers 2CT have a lot of sidewall flex, and they leaked a good amount of air as I tried to set the bead. Perhaps a trip to the gas station would have been quicker, but first I would need a trip to the car dealer. Nonetheless, on a set of tires like the Pilot Powers, regular, with stiffer sidewall, the bead is practically set when you lift the beads into the rim, and using the foot pump is no sweat.

EDIT: Out of boredom, I went back and replaced my valve stems. I did this without dismounting the wheels. I simply raised the bike, deflated the tire, and then broke the bead using the Pit Posse tool without the wheel leaving the bike. This is probably the easier way to use this tool, so that then one would remove the wheel after the bead has been broken. Interesting.

Great post. Now tell us how to do it with inner tube tires when one gets a flat between Phoenix and Tuscon.

[FirstMan]

Originally Posted by Mike in Clear Lake

Great post. Now tell us how to do it with inner tube tires when one gets a flat between Phoenix and Tuscon.

I have said it before, Call me up and I will help you out.

[Empty Set]

Originally Posted by Mike in Clear Lake

Great post. Now tell us how to do it with inner tube tires when one gets a flat between Phoenix and Tuscon.

I am, unfortunately, under legal advise not predisposed to speak concerning any situations one might find themselves between Phoenix and Tucson.

[TexasShadow]

Dynabeads!!!!......for balancing tires? Fascinating!
Whaoh! We use them in the lab for pulling down proteins ('attach' antibodies to the beads, which then 'grab' proteins in a cocktail and hold them bondage).

Awesome. Great thread and good to see you post again.

[Graubart]

Originally Posted by TexasShadow

Dynabeads!!!!......for balancing tires? Fascinating!

Jeff! John! Come look at this!

[Maverick]

Some guys were talking about Dynabeads Sunday morning at breakfast. Do they really work?

I understand the concept, but not sure I understand the concept.

[Empty Set]

Originally Posted by TexasShadow

Dynabeads!!!!......for balancing tires? Fascinating!
Whaoh! We use them in the lab for pulling down proteins ('attach' antibodies to the beads, which then 'grab' proteins in a cocktail and hold them bondage).

Awesome. Great thread and good to see you post again.

Hey! Good to hear from you actually. That was such a nice welcome.

Yeah, when I was researching Dynabeads I did a search in youtube, and got a bunch of hits from you biology type people. Blah!

Originally Posted by Maverick

Some guys were talking about Dynabeads Sunday morning at breakfast. Do they really work?

I understand the concept, but not sure I understand the concept.

Lol! I am certain that Dynabeads don't not work. Wait what? On the other hand, I am much more convinced that wheel weights definitely don't work. Did you get mud on your rims? Some rocks in your threads? After 1000 miles, moreover after you've developed a flat spot, it is a different tire altogether, which would necessitate one to balance it again.

[Sleepy Weasel]

Originally Posted by TexasShadow

Dynabeads!!!!......for balancing tires? Fascinating!
Whaoh! We use them in the lab for pulling down proteins ('attach' antibodies to the beads, which then 'grab' proteins in a cocktail and hold them bondage).

Seems to me that it would be easier to just go get a steak, but you do what makes you happy, Sciencegirl.