This is part 1 of a do-it-yourself tire
series.
This article shows how to remove your tire from the rim in your
own backyard. An ingenious tire tool, the "Tyreplier", is used and
demonstrated here.
I don't need to say how useful this (the tool and the ability
to use it) can be on a trail run with a couple of
flats! |
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The Tools:
A:
Tyrepliers
B: Rubber Mallet
C: Tire levers
Links:
Tyrepliers, Australia:
[http://www.tyrepliers.com.au ]
USA Distributor:
Extreme Outback Products
P.O. Box 3075
Vacaville, CA
95696-3075
Phone: 707-447-7711
Fax: 707-447-7722
Email: extremeoutback@prodigy.net
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Popping the bead made
easy: After checking the correct lever
setting (adjustable for rims up to 16.5" diameter), place the Tyreplliers
across the rim. |
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| Make sure you carefully work the
Tyreplier tip between rim and bead. This is at the beginning. |
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Now it is all the way between the rim
and the bead.
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With the two upper levers still
together, make sure everything is seated correctly, otherwise damage to
the tire's sidewall could occur. All critical points are shown by the red
arrows. |
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Now slowly push the outer lever down.
This will push the tire bead down and off the rim.
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Push the lever all the way down, repeat
if necessary at different rotations on the tire. Most tires pop
off right away. Some stubborn ones may require the above procedure up to three
times. |
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Removing the rim, ain't that hard either!
Push down the bead. Wear boots!
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Now it's time to "grease" the rim and
tire. Regular liquid soap does a wonderful job! Apply liberally. It will
make the following steps considerably easier! |
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Spread the soap all the way around the
rim and tire bead.
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With one of the tire levers, slowly
and carefully start to force the bead over the rim. Have a second lever
ready. |
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With the second lever, work your way
outwards, exactly like with a bicycle tire.
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Eventually, the second lever will
no longer be needed and moving the tire bead over the rim will become
increasingly easy. |
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Once the tire is all the way over the
rim, turn the tire around.
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Repeat the lever action for the back
side (if necessary). Follow the steps as outlined above.
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With the back side bead off, it is now
time to apply soap here as well. |
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With the tire standing up, let the rim
hang out as shown (left pic). With one tire lever (center pic) start to
push the rim through. A second lever will come in handy (right pic).
Sometimes this will be enough to get the rim out. |
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However, sometimes it is easier to simply use a rubber
mallet and pound the bead over the rim. The soapy rim and tire will make
this easy. |
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Keep going along the rim, until the rim falls
through. |
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Plop! Rim fell out.
Done!
(Start over
for the next tire).
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| In summary, this was easy! The
Tyrepliers make this procedure so easy in fact, that it may
border on boring, considering the creativity that is often produced when
a tire has to come off the rim. Seen people driving onto the tire? Seen
the hi-lift clamped between a vehicle's bumper and the tire? No need to
say any more! ;-) |
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© Copyright 2001 Andreas Ritterbusch
All
Rights reserved.
Photos: Andreas
Ritterbusch |