Tips and Advice motorcycle
This tutorial shows you how to change a motocross tire or an off-road motorcycle tire for any other activity (Enduro, Trial, Rally raid, Cross Country).
Please note that it is not recommended to change a motorcycle tire for road use by yourself as it is a more complex procedure that requires wheel balancing. If you want to change a road tire, please contact a professional. You can find a professional near you here.
Contents of the article:
Accessories for changing your motorcycle tire
- 2 tire spoons (3 is better)
- 1 tire mounting lubricant (air-drying like soapy water; do not use grease as it may cause the rim to spin and the valve to tear off)
- 1 tire pressure gauge, if you have an inner tube
- 1 valve core remover, if you have an inner tube (optional)
- 1 damp cloth (optional)
- 1 lever arm (optional)
- 1 pair of gloves (optional)
Unless you are equipped with a wheel change stand, you can perform these steps on the floor on a cardboard box so as not to damage the side of the wheel that will face the ground. Caution: As the crown is fragile, start with the wheel placed on the opposite side. When you need to turn the wheel over, place the disc on a layer of rags to protect it. We will first look at how to change a motorcycle tire when it has an inner tube. We will then see how to proceed when it contains the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM.
1 - How to change a motorcycle tire if you have an inner tube:
1. Remove the valve cap
2. Press down on the valve core to deflate the inner tube (or use the valve core remover to get all the air out of the tire)
3. Unscrew the valve completely
4. Unscrew the gripster screw a bit to release the tire
5. Remove the sidewall from both sides of the tire with a lever arm (or press hard on to loosen it)
6. Use a tire spoon to remove the tire from the rim around the entire circumference
7. Pull out the inner tube completely
8. Now use the tire spoon to pull the tire out of the rim and clamp it under the disc
9. Use a second tire spoon to do the same operation about 15 cm further on. Clamp it under the disc and remove the first one.
10. Continue in this way, alternating between the two tire spoons, until you have pulled the edge of the tire out of the rim all the way round
11. Turn the wheel over
12. Apply lubricant to the edge of the tire on the remaining side
13. Repeat step 6 and from 8 to 10
14. Pass a tire spoon between the tire and the lower part of the rim and lever the tire out all the way around (make sure that the tire on one side is at the bottom of the rim to better extract the other side with the tire spoon)
15. Clean the inside of the rim with a damp cloth
16. Check the rim base; change it if it is damaged, otherwise there is a risk of damage to the inner tube
17. Put the new tire on the rim (make sure the direction of rotation is correct)
18. Place the inner tube inside, so that the valve is facing the hole
19. If you have removed the valve core with the valve core remover, put it back into the valve
20. Inject some air into the tube so that it is not completely empty, but still has some flexibility
21. Apply lubricant to the edges of the tire on both sides
22. Use a tire spoon to put the tire back on around the whole circumference by inserting it between the tire and the lower edge of the rim and levering it out
23. Insert the valve into the rim hole and tighten the nut to 3/4
24. Use a tire spoon to pull in part of the tire and wedge it under the crown
25. Use another tire spoon to pull the tire in, little by little. Towards the end, if necessary, use the third tire spoon, also wedging it under the disc to help hold the edge of the retracted tire. Make sure that the opposite part is at the bottom of the rim.
26. Turn the wheel over and inspect the other side to see if the rim fits all the way around
27. Remove the shell and inflate to properly seat the tire beads on the rim
28. Put the shell back
29. Make sure the tire is centred on the rim
30. Fully tighten the gripster screw and the valve screw
31. Using the compressor, inflate the tire to the recommended pressure
32. Replace the valve cap to protect it from dirt and to ensure a better seal.
YOUTUBE VIDEO EXPECTED IN DECEMBER 2022
2 - How to change a motorcycle tire if you have the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM
If you want to change a motorcycle tire equipped with the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM, the steps from 4 to 14 are the same as for an inner tube except that with a MICHELIN Bib MousseTM there are 2 gripsters to unscrew (or even 3 for a MICHELIN Bib MousseTM M18 in a MICHELIN Enduro Xtrem tire in (140/80 - 18))
Then
1. Remove the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM with the tire spoon
2. Inspect it to make sure it is in good condition
3. Clean it with a clean cloth
4. Clean the inside of the rim with a damp cloth
5. Check the rim base; change it if damaged, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM
6. Apply the MICHELIN lubricant gel supplied with the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM (1 tube for a rear tire, ½ for a front tire) and use a brush to apply it to the inside of the new tire (don’t apply it on edges)
7. Insert the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM (in order to spread the lower area of the tire, you can sit on the tire to facilitate insertion)
8. Apply lubricant to the edges of the tire on both sides
9. Before mounting the tire on the rim, make sure the direction of rotation is correct
10. Use a tire spoon to put the tire back on the whole circumference by inserting it between the tire and the lower edge of the rim and by levering
11. Use a tire spoon to pull in part of the tire and wedge it under the crown
12. Use another tire spoon to pull the tire in little by little. Towards the end, if necessary, use the third tire spoon, also wedging it under the disc to help hold the edge of the retracted tire
13. Turn the wheel over and inspect the other side to see if the edge fits tightly all around
14. Make sure the tire is correctly centered. If it is not, use a tire spoon and tire mounting lubricant to help centre the tire
15. Fully tighten the gripsters' screws
Why choose the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM instead of an inner tube?
MICHELIN Bib MousseTM is the Michelin's off road solution to tire punctures. It is lighter than a reinforced inner tube and eliminates the inconvenience of a puncture when riding off-road.
