Is a 21" tire easier or harder to change than a rear?

[steve86]

Your opinions?

I wasn't able to get the rear tire off, even with good tools and plenty of mechanical experience. Couldn't even get it started.

Might I have any better luck with the front?

[yz440e]

I generally find that fronts are easier than rears.

Make sure the bead is pushed down into the drop center of the rim before starting to pry up with the tire irons. It makes all the difference.

[steve86]

Yeah, I was aware of the importance of pushing the bead down but obviously didn't get it done.

[yz440e]

Make sure it is pushed down on the opposite side of where you are prying too.

[MNMike]

It depends on the tire also. The Metzeler Enduro 3 Sahara's I mounted a few kmiles ago were impossible. I think it had to do with being a tube or tubeless tire. I started with the harder, rear tire. With 4 hands, a lot of sweat, and progress in the mm for an hour or so, we managed to pinch the tube in the last 3 inches of the bead. It took me less time to drive it to the shop and pay the $20 to get it mounted.

[steve86]

Do the shops use a machine of some type like an automotive tire shop or do they do it by hand? If it's always by hand, I'm impressed.

[TeamPrecisionIT]

There are inserts you put on a auto tires mounter that make it compatible to MC tires. So to answer your question, yes they most use the machine, few do it by hand.

[YZDOC]

I just put a new tire on my sons 100. 16 inch rear. The stock tire came off easy, The new maxxis went on fairly easy. I put about 5 drops of dish soap in a cup of water and used my hand to rub it on the bead (not alot because of rust) I pushed it on 30 MM at a time with one iron as my son held the bead in one place with the other. It went on like a charm and by the time it beaded on the rime the soap and water was dry. I was very pleased with this method, I remember my dad used to use it when he ran a gas station in the 60s. Try it you'll like it.

[Agitator]

They're about equal in difficulty, imo.

Once you push the tire down so the bead is not up against the rim, use the tire levers to push it down a little more (towards the dish (center) of the rim).

Now that I've changed quite a few tires, it's really easy and only takes ~5 minutes per wheel.

If you stick with it, it'll be a piece 'a' cake after a while

[125shifter]

Fronts are easier than rears.

[steve86]

Thanks for the tips.

Seems that motorcycle tires are quite a bit different, to say the least, from bicycle tires you can get off with plastic levers or sometimes your bare hands!

The old IRC knobby I'm worried about has dry rot cracks right down the center of the tread and I can actually start to spread the knobs with my hands! Definitely can't ride on it.

[harjp1959]

Rear is definitely harder. I use my foot (wearing hiking boots) to break the bead opposite the rim lock.

You did loosen the rim lock, right?

[El Marko]

Some tires are just tougher to get on. Either thicker or built to slightly different tolerance. Others pop on so easily you hardly break a sweat.

Michliens are often tough in my experience.

Let any tire warm up in the sun before installing. A cold tire is like iron.

[steve86]

Actually, on one tire the rim lock was frozen in place. After loosening the nut, I couldn't get it to move even with moderate taps of a hammer. Took it to the shop and they had trouble, too, but did get it dislodged.

[scottp111]

A solid work table or tire changing stand is very helpful.

[kenr74]

A solid work table or tire changing stand is very helpful.

I just did my first one last night. 21" front and it sure was a lot easier than I expected. Just used a milk crate so the disk would drop into the opening and then it came right off. Probably took 10 minutes.

[bajaburro]

some,i can put back without irons!

[2stroketim]

I spend the 15 bucks per wheel...I hate doing tires...I can do them usually in about 15 minutes per wheel..but to me it's worth the 30$$

[dyrtmon]

I too have struggled with tire changing, and the rimlock sometimes would drive me crazy. Check out this article http://www.transworldmotocross.com/mx/how_to/article/0,13190,656321,00.html it helped me lots, I changed my last tire in about 20 minutes. This was after letting the tire sit in the sun. Winter nights that are fast approaching?? I dunno.......