4Strokes.com Tech: Tire Removal & Installation

1. Lay the rear wheel sprocket side down and the front wheel brake side up.

2. Remove the valve core and loosen the rim locks.

3. Stand the wheel up and use the flat side of a tire iron to push the rim locks down, breaking them loose from the tire bead.

4. Lay the wheel down again and stand on the tire sidewalls with your feet pushing to break the beads loose from the rim.  Sometimes a little soapy water at the tire/rim junction helps loosen the beads.

5. With the brake side of the wheel up, use the spooned end of your tire irons and insert them between the bead and rim.  Insert them on one side of the valve stem or the other.  Lever one at a time, working your way around the tire in small increments.

6. After the first side is removed, push the valve stem into the rim and pull the tube all the way out.

7. If your wheel has rim locks, remove them before beginning removal of the second bead.

8. Remove the second bead by inserting a tire iron under the bead of the brake side of the wheel, then lever the tire bead over the rim and push it off.

9. Clean the bead area of the rim. Check the rim locks, rubber rim strip or tape covering the spoke nipples for damage.

   Tire Installation

1. Install one rim lock, lube one bead of the tire.  Push down on the top of the tire and insert one side of the wheel and the rim lock into the bottom part of the tire.  Begin levering the first bead on.

2. Insert the second rim lock if your wheel uses two.  Before installing the tube, inflate it to make sure there was no damage done during removal.  Check the nut at stem area for tightness and look for cracks in the stem.  Leave just enough air in the tube for installing so the tube holds its shape.

3. Apply baby powder to the outside of the tube and inside the tire.  This prevents the tube from chafing while in use.

4. Install the tube in the tire carefully.  Starting at the valve stem holes, evenly place the tube inside.  Be sure the tube is not bunched up in any area or caught under the rim locks.

5. Lube the bead with a mild soap and water solution and push a small section of it under the rim near the stem area.  Insert one tire iron and start levering the tire bead on, taking very small bites with each iron.  Stick the iron in just far enough past the rim edge being careful not to catch the tube.

6. With each bite, check that the bead of both sides of the tire is as far down in the well of the rim as possible.

7. After the final bead area is installed, be sure the rim locks and valve stem move freely.

8. Inflate the tire and seat both beads.  Should the beads not seat properly, do not over-inflate.  Re-lube the bead areas with soapy solution and re-inflate until seated properly.

9. After the tire is fully inflated, let the air out again then re-inflate.  This allows the tube to settle inside the tire.

10. Tighten the rim locks and adjust the tire pressure.

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