If you recently became a new motorcycle owner, it is important to know how to change and balance your tires. Having tires in good condition is crucial to your safety, as well as maintaining the quality of your motorcycle.
This might seem complicated or intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. If you follow these steps, you’ll soon have your tires in just the shape you want them.
Removing the tire
Using the right technique is extremely important when changing your motorcycle tires. Installing or balancing the tire poorly could result in damages or dangerous circumstances on the road. Being methodical and taking your time is important here. Make sure to block out a day where you can focus on maintaining your motorcycle.
There are some tools you will need before taking your Shinko motorcycle tires (or whichever brand you use) off your motorcycle and replacing them with new ones. These tools are spray-on silicone lubricant, tire irons, a breezer tire tool, a valve core tool bead breaker, a compressed air pump, and a rim protector.
First, let all the air out of your tire using the valve core. Then draw an arrow on the tire so you know which way the spin goes. This is important when you put the tire back on. Remember that the wheel spins towards the direction that the bike is going.
Next, you will detach the bead from the rim using your bead breaker. You will hear a pop when it comes loose. If you can’t get it out, spray silicone spray on the tire to loosen it up. Your last resort could be using the clamps. Then use two tire levers to pry the bead up over the rim. Shove the lever under the bead and push down; this will pop the tire up and over the rim.
The next step is breaking the bead and pulling the tire to remove the rim. You then will have removed your tire from your motorcycle.
Putting a tire on the motorcycle
To put a tire back on, the first thing you want to do is spray the inside of the new tire with your silicone spray. The more spray you use, the easier the tire will be to work with. Step two is positioning the new tire so its spin direction matches the spin you drew on the rim.
You then attach one side of your tire to the rim. Do this by using the tire irons to get it in. Do this on both sides of the tire to get the tire into the rim correctly. This is when you need to use your compressed pump to put some air into your new tire. Make sure you put some air in without inflating it fully. Pump until you hear the bead make a pop noise.
The next step is putting some ceramic dust on the tire valve, which keeps it balanced. Then put the valve back on your new tire. Do this by using the valve stem tool; make sure it is on securely. Then your final step is filling the rest of the tire up with air.
You now have the tire securely changed. If this is something you don’t think you can do at home, then take it to a shop where the experts can handle it. After all, there is a peace of mind that comes with handing it over to someone who changes tires for a living.
And if the mechanic can show you a thing or two, all the better. There is an independence that comes with learning it yourself, and it is a doable task.
