How to change a dirt bike tyre

Dirt bike ownership and tyre changes go hand in hand, but if you’re one of those people who cringe at the thought of changing tyres, then this 'How to' guide is for you. Armed with the right techniques and tips, tyre changes should morph from an endless afternoon of heartache into a simple, five-minute chore.

Firstly you need to remove the tyre from the bike. Prop the bike up on a sturdy centrestand and undo and remove the rear axle. If the axle cannot be removed by hand use a rubber or nylon mallet to knock the axle loose.

If it still cannot be removed knock it loose with a brass drift. Warning: never hit the thread – doing so could damage it, making it difficult or impossible to get the nut back on.
Place your wheel spaces and axle on a clean rag ready to be regreased and refitted later on.

Once the wheel has been removed, remove your valve cap, valve lock nut and valve using a valve remover tool and loosen the rim lock nut but still leave it attached by a few threads so the rim lock cannot fall inside the tyre. Make sure your rim lock is loose and pushed back inside the tyre so it is no longer holding the tyre.

Sometimes they can become quite tight, so it may take a few quick taps with a hammer.

Lay the tyre down on the sprocket side, not the disc side, as this can bend your disc. If the bead isn't tight, it can be pushed off by hand by pushing down on the tyre. If it is too tight to get off by hand, stand on the tyre and try and push it off with your feet or by hitting it with a rubber mallet.

Now get yourself a good pair of tyre levers. Using cheap ones or screwdrivers is a false economy -- you'll constantly slip, skin your knuckles and pinch the tube -- so invest in some quality levers.

Start at 90 degrees to the side of the rim lock and pull the bead over the rim with one tyre lever.

To help hold the lever in place you can lock the tyre lever underneath the sprocket so you don’t have to constantly hang onto it.

Take your second tyre lever and insert it under the bead and pull the bead over the rim. Slowly work your way around the rim taking smaller bites to start with then slowly getting bigger the further around the tyre you get.

Be sure to keep the bead on the tyre broken and pushed down on the rim at all times, or the tyre will become tighter to remove.

Once you have the first side of the tyre off, remove the tube while being careful not to tear it on the sprocket.

If your rim has two rim locks then you will need to completely undo one of them and remove it from the inside of the tyre before you try to remove the second side of the tyre.
When the tube is out, get your tyre lever and start in the same position 90 degrees to the side of your rim lock.

Insert your tyre lever and lock it under the sprocket again to keep it in place and slowly work your way around the tyre pulling the bead over the rim with your second tyre lever.

For a really tight tyre, try turning the tyre over and using your tyre levers and a rubber hammer to hold the tyre half off the rim, slowly work the rest off with the hammer.

Pump your tube up and feel around the tube with your hand until you locate the hole. Using a rough piece of sandpaper or scouring pad that comes with your tube repair kit, rough up the area around the hole so the glue will stick. If the tube has any grease or oil on it be sure to clean it off with any non-oil-based white spirit.

Apply the glue thinly and evenly. Too much glue won't dry properly and will cause the patch to leak. Once the glue feels tacky to touch apply the patch directly over the puncture. Rub the patch with your fingers and make sure all edges have stuck flat to the tube and allow to dry for several minutes.

Pump the tube up and hold the patch in a bucket of water to check for any leaks. If the patch is leaking you'll see bubbles coming from the patch while it's underwater.

Remember, repairing tubes is for emergencies only. A patch should not be looked on as a permanent fix, so replace the tube with a new one when you can.

Apply lube to the bead of the tyre. Dishwashing detergent mixed with water in a spray bottle makes for a great lube. The lube helps the tyre go back on easily. If you have a really stiff tyre you can also leave it in the sun for an hour or so to help soften it up.

Start by placing the bead of the tyre under the rim lock and push as much of the tyre on by hand as you possible. Then, using the tyre levers, slowly push the rest over by working your way around the tyre little by little.

If you had to remove a second rim lock then you must now refit it, before replacing the tube and fitting the nut onto the rim lock loosely.

Insert the tube into the tyre and push the valve through the hole in the rim and place the lock nut on loosely. Make sure the tube is sitting out of harm's way when you start using your tyre levels -- partially inflating the tube can help in this respect.

Start at the rim lock again and push as much of the tyre on by hand as you can before finishing off with the tyre levers. Remember, your tube is in there so try not to dig your tyre levers in too deep.

Once you have the tyre fitted back onto the rim, replace all the lock nuts and valves and pump it back up with air until the tyre seats evenly back on the bead of the rim. Do up your rim lock firmly then let the tyre back down to the correct pressure.

Regrease your axle and wheel spacers and refit them. Check your chain tension while you're there and don’t forget to pump your brakes when you’re done, just in case the pads have been pushed back from the disc while you were fitting the tyre.

That's it, you're done – simple!

• Remove the wheel and loosen the rim lock nut;
• Break the bead, which may occasionally require some force;
• Repair the tube and immerse in water to check for any leaks;
• Once you’re satisfied the repair is holding up, refit the tyre and tube;
• Replace all the lock nuts and valves and pump the tyre back up;
• Regrease your axle and wheel spacers and fit the wheel; and
• Pump your brakes to make sure they are working.

This article was originally published on August 20, 2019.