Tire changing advice

7/18/2025 11:07am

I made a stand like Jay uses on Dirtbike TV. Lube paste - what used to be near divorce and for sure holes in garage drywall.........is now almost fun. ALMOST. 

2
7/18/2025 12:01pm
need2ride wrote:

If you can change them in an air conditioned room makes life a lot better. I always sweat my ass off when changing tires

Yeah you do but you need the tires hot.  I even  used a heat gun the last time 

1
Zacatack27
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Anza, CA, USA
7/18/2025 12:19pm

Maybe it was mentioned, but I didn’t see it. Put a little bit of air in the tube, once you get it inside the tire and before you start on the final bead to help prevent pinching. 

2
NicNak
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Palm Desert, CA, USA
7/18/2025 12:21pm
NicNak wrote:
yeah it gets easier. The tools above are about all you need. a valve core remover but i'd think that's a given. Watch a few videos, there...

yeah it gets easier. The tools above are about all you need. a valve core remover but i'd think that's a given. 

Watch a few videos, there are a few tips. Also when I make concoction with a little dish soap & water in a mini water bottle & I poke a hole in the lid to squirt it. I squirt the tube before i put it in so it slides down easy. Then I squirt the tire so it slides on super easy. Little bits at a time. Do the rimlock first then one more tire spoon & insert bead buddy then go to the other side of the rim lock & work your way around. SMALL BITES. SMALLER. 

I started doing my own tires a few years ago & it is insane how much progress i've made. I no longer dread them. not a struggle or anything. 

AMetts wrote:
Be careful with Dish soap it will pit up the metal, my wife tore her ACL so her bike sat not long after a tire change...

Be careful with Dish soap it will pit up the metal, my wife tore her ACL so her bike sat not long after a tire change and it actually put tons of deep pitting on the rim bed. 

Oh man. Thanks for that. I will not use anymore & just get some tire lube. Lately I’ve been doing mousses so just been using nitro lube , no dish soap! 

The Shop

Zerofear66
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Anaheim, CA, USA
7/18/2025 1:58pm

Definitely put the tire in the sun for awhile. A warm tires so much easier to change.

 

1
FWYT
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San Diego, CA, USA
7/18/2025 2:19pm
I made a stand like Jay uses on Dirtbike TV. Lube paste - what used to be near divorce and for sure holes in garage drywall.........is...

I made a stand like Jay uses on Dirtbike TV. Lube paste - what used to be near divorce and for sure holes in garage drywall.........is now almost fun. ALMOST. 

Agreed. Made a couple of those and it makes the job so much easier.

Gator 4
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Southern California, CA, USA
7/18/2025 2:28pm
bvm111 wrote:

https://youtu.be/NJSih8KTD3g?si=oYPfjx0r_m0Tj3Hl

jay is the man … i’ve tried his methods multiple times and although i’ve gotten better it still a challenge! 

As stated before, it is all technique.  Watch Jay's video, several times.  I watch it every time before I change a tire to remind myself. When mounting, keeping the bead of the tire, into the center of the rim is the key.  And some kind of lube.  I lube the tire and the rim.  

1
FreshTopEnd
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Sacramento, CA, USA
7/18/2025 8:24pm Edited Date/Time 7/18/2025 8:24pm

Lots of good advice here.  A couple more.

Gloves, a pair of mechanics wear gloves help save the fingers and hands.

And swearing.

1
7/18/2025 8:45pm
X3 motion pro spoons Motion pro bead buddy Ultrasonic gel as lube as it evaporates.
KurtJ99
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USA
7/18/2025 8:50pm

After years of scraped knuckles a friend of mine showed me a new method taking both beads outside the rim and leaving the tube in the tire. First used it on tubliss brand tubless tires, but soon used it on everything because it was way easier. 

Here it is from Cameron (RIP)

That and I use purpose made tire lube. 

YAMAHA Original OEM Yamalube Acc-TIREM ...

kage173
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USA
7/19/2025 8:17am

Buying all the Tusk tools listed above and watching this video step by step made it 10x easier. 

7/19/2025 8:53am
Zacatack27 wrote:
Maybe it was mentioned, but I didn’t see it. Put a little bit of air in the tube, once you get it inside the tire and...

Maybe it was mentioned, but I didn’t see it. Put a little bit of air in the tube, once you get it inside the tire and before you start on the final bead to help prevent pinching. 

Yep, I always air up tube about halfway before installing the other side of the tire. Helps to reduce tube pinching.

Saz
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E, FL, USA
7/19/2025 8:53am

I would like to add that MX-14s are absolutely miserable to mount and remove, especially if you're running a thicker tube. I had to remove one with a 4mm tube and I was contemplating my life choices.

shuggs
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Dunfermline, GB
7/19/2025 10:36am
FLmxer wrote:
I used to change tires between motos at places like Reddick that was soft in the morning and bluegroove in the afternoons and I am pretty...

I used to change tires between motos at places like Reddick that was soft in the morning and bluegroove in the afternoons and I am pretty good at it. One year my wife bought the Baja no pinch tool with out even knowing what it was, I didn't either and it was one of the best gifts ever. Made changing tires effortless. One of the greatest tools ever created imo. 

1000013680

I have always been useless at tires, from pwee up to adult sized.  It was not uncommon to pinch tubes and taking forever.  Bought this type and it’s a piece of p!ss now, the money saved on tubes has more than paid for itself, no need for anyone just a bead buddy, decent tyre levers and jobs a goodun

7/19/2025 10:40am

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I’m actually a very proficient tire changer already, but those MX14s are a struggle.  On the advice of some of you here, I invested in a tub of bead lube yesterday.  That should certainly help.

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