Changing tires with tubes?

[dirtiegirtie]

Hi, all! I've changed enough tubeless tires in my garage using tire bars/spoons to be dangerous. But this is the first time I've had to change a tire with a tube. My first attempt did not go well... I thought I was finished and went to fill her with air... psssssss... no pressure. I thought I had been careful with the spoons but I must have caught the tube and squashed the damn thing.

Is there a trick to 'hiding' the tube inside the tires when you are putting the second side of the tire onto the wheel? Something to make sure you don't catch the tube with the spoon or under the tire itself?

[Motormike]

I'm no expert, but I've (read) always put a little air in the tube first, to give it some shape so it fills up the tire just enough to stay out of the way.

[Ncdan]

I'm no expert, but I've (read) always put a little air in the tube first, to give it some shape so it fills up the tire just enough to stay out of the way.

^^^^^
Definitely what mike said👍

Dan

[nc43bsa]

What I do is slightly inflate the tube and give it a light dusting of powder (corn starch or talcum.)  Then insert it into the tire and put the first tire bead onto the rim by hand.  Then I pull the stem through the hole and loosely retain it, either with a nut, cap, or my tire deflator. Lastly, carefully spoon the second bead onto the rim.  With some tires, I can do this without any lube.

[Scout63]

A little air is good and watch where you place the iron.  Also, you may hear a rush of air coming out the stem hole when you first fill the tire as the tube displaces air inside the tire.  It’s not hard to replace a tube if it is pinched.  I always buy multiples.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I am I right, you start spooning the tire on the side opposite the valve stem and finish at the stem area?
I know a lot of you guys have tire machines but its doing them with spoons i need practice in.

[Fontain25]

I am I right, you start spooning the tire on the side opposite the valve stem and finish at the stem area?
I know a lot of you guys have tire machines but its doing them with spoons i need practice in.

  Yes, Start 180' from valve. Spoon at valve last.

[dirtiegirtie]

Thanks, guys! It never occurred to me to put a little air in the tube before attempting to put the second side of the tire on... duh!!!

A little air is good and watch where you place the iron.  Also, you may hear a rush of air coming out the stem hole when you first fill the tire as the tube displaces air inside the tire.  It’s not hard to replace a tube if it is pinched.  I always buy multiples.

Scout63 - When you say "It's not hard to replace a tube if it is pinched.", do you mean you do NOT have to take one side of the tire off the wheel to replace the tube? I already have one side off the wheel, but I didn't even try to take the tube out without pulling half the tire off. Now you have me wondering if I could have squeezed the tire (both sidewalls) towards the far side of the wheel and replaced the tube that way.

[Scout63]

Thanks, guys! It never occurred to me to put a little air in the tube before attempting to put the second side of the tire on... duh!!!

Scout63 - When you say "It's not hard to replace a tube if it is pinched.", do you mean you do NOT have to take one side of the tire off the wheel to replace the tube? I already have one side off the wheel, but I didn't even try to take the tube out without pulling half the tire off. Now you have me wondering if I could have squeezed the tire (both sidewalls) towards the far side of the wheel and replaced the tube that way.

No you do have to take one side off.  Also, lube the bead well and when spooning on the last part try to push the part already on into the middle of the rim. I work on the floor on a thick blanket and kneel on the tire.  If the tire is set on the outside of the rim there isn’t enough give to get the last part on.

[dirtiegirtie]

Thanks, Scout!

[Moparnut72]

Also make sure the thick rubber around the valve stem isn't caught until the bead. Make sure the valve stem is free before you air up the tire.
kk

[chuck peterson]

Quality tire lube is slippery, then dries to nothing..gently inflating a few times along the way helps avoid pinches before doing the second bead

[Ncdan]

One more thing is good to do.
After the mounting process is complete and the bead is seated, pump the tire up to spec and let all of the air back out. Put the valve stem back in and bring back to the specified pressure.
This process keeps wrinkles from forming in the tube which will eventually cause a split to form in the wrinkles.

Dan

[Caffeineo]

Lots of good tips here. I have found it easier to put the rim and tube inside the tire. Push it as far in as it can go and then spoon it on from each side. Like this video shows. https://youtu.be/UTcVt0BlQDM?t=297

[Seventy One]

Inspect inside the tire for tiny metallic foil decals. Some tires use these and they will chafe through a tube in a few days. I had a tube let go at 65mph on my way to a Guzzi rally a few years ago because of this.

I use talcum powder to lube the tube. Shake a little into the tire. Rotate it. Add enough air to the tube to round it out. Rotate tube inside the tire to coat the tube. Bounce tire to remove excess.

I consider RuGlyde to be essential.

When installing the tire and you've got the iron/s against the spokes, don't pull them back much past vertical. If you bring the iron all the way to the tire, you're almost guaranteed a pinch flat.

[blackcat]

"I consider RuGlyde to be essential."

This and I always use a good coating of Slime in the tube, especially the rear tire but definitely both tires.

[kballowe]

What I do is slightly inflate the tube and give it a light dusting of powder (corn starch or talcum.)  Then insert it into the tire and put the first tire bead onto the rim by hand.  Then I pull the stem through the hole and loosely retain it, either with a nut, cap, or my tire deflator. Lastly, carefully spoon the second bead onto the rim.  With some tires, I can do this without any lube.

^^^^    this    ^^^^

Although, when working with a narrow bias tire (think MT-90 or MU85 here) with the tube installed into the tire, I put the tire at about 45 degrees and fish out the valve stem and insert it and put the nut on it just a few turns and then shove that first bead onto the rim.  Otherwise, those tires are so stiff that ya can hardly fish out that stem after the first bead had been installed.

[Tom]

+1 on running Slime in the rear tire.     Put about 5-10 lbs. of air in the tube before spooning the remaining bead on.  Make sure that the opposite side bead is not semi-mounted otherwise you'll be working against yourself. 

[dirtiegirtie]

I tried again last night. I was so excited by the idea of adding a little air to the tube... surely I couldn't screw it up again if I put a bit of air in the tube!?!?! I got home and had a little time before I had to get started making dinner, so I was in a hurry. I did throw some foot powder on the tube this time. The very last bit of the bead I couldn't tell at all if the spoon was overlapping the tube so I just went for it... sure as sh!t, I friggin tore another tube... a tiny, itty-bitty pinch.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDGE!!!

I've never used ru-glyde, but I just ordered some. Hopefully it'll make the bead just slip right on the wheel with a lot less spoon force. I get another tube on Saturday. Clearly, I'll take my time next time.

Ugh. 

[blackcat]

Just out of curiosity, what brand of tube are you using? I've had good luck with Michelin tubes which are a bit more expensive than most tubes and I've never had any issues with pinching those tubes.  Depending on what size you bought, assume that is a lifetime supply of Ru-Glyde.

[moto-uno]

 Centuries ago when every 2nd street bike ( Brit ) or dirt bike came with rim locks to add a special twist to changing
tires , I learned to never let the lever go much past 90 degrees . At the last half foot or so of bead to get over the rim
I would then smack the bead ( at the lever , or close ) with a dead blow hammer . Once you get much over 90 degrees
with the lever , you enter the tube pinching zone . Good luck .
  Patch one of the tubes and practice until you succeed .   Peter
  Don't be afraid to lube the tire irons .

[John A]

One of the main things at that last part is getting the opposite side from the lever down into the well as much as possible. Getting the opposite side bead into that concave in the middle of the wheel gives room.

[egschade]

One of the main things at that last part is getting the opposite side from the lever down into the well as much as possible. Getting the opposite side bead into that concave in the middle of the wheel gives room.

I carry a couple small 1" thick wood blocks in my tire kit. Stuffing them between the sidewall and rim keeps the bead in the well.