250SX Bead Breaking

[Frankencelery]

I just got a new set of rear rims for my 250SX. The tires are relatively new and are on the stock rims, and i need to get them off. I used my handy dandy Harbor Freight tire changer, and I can't break those beads to save my life. There's a crazy bump about an inch down and I can't get past it. Anyone have any tricks to get 250SX tires off the stock rims?

[brapp]

drive over the edge fo the tire with a car or preferably heavy truck and drive closer and closer to the rim and it usualy works. fyi let the air out first and pullthe valve core.

[Frankencelery]

I let out as much air as I could, but my valve core tool is elsewhere at the moment. Maybe that would make all the difference?

[sgp56]

Push the tire down as far as you can until you can see into the darkness. Then get some C4 and put some into the darkness. Then put a fuse into the darkness and light the other end and RUN

[devilman]

you may be able to use a pair of needle nose to get the valve out.

[Rex Karz]

You could run over the tire with your car. I've done that. Or jack your car up, put the tire under the car tire and let the car down.

[Frankencelery]

Sgp56, youre soooo helpful. I should have taken your suggestion. I would have had the same result.

I ended up making the valve tool and got the core removed. Still no luck with the tire changer. Then I ran my Explorer over it a few times and got it the bead broken! Then I used the changer to get the tire off the rim, but I forgot one major important thing. You're supposed to use some sort of lube to help the lever slide around the rim when getting the tire out, and I didn't do that. So the bead is ruined. I could still use a tube of course, but the main reason I bought new rims was because I didn't want to use tubes anymore. Sigh. Lesson learned, I guess.

By the way, what do you guys use for lube to mount and unmount tires? Those of you crazy or stubborn enough to keep doing it yourselves, that is?

[Frankencelery]

I decided to try the second one, and I wasn't able to budge it. Not with the tire changer and not with the car. They must've used some kind of sealer on it, because it's really on there. Anyway, I know when I'm beat. I'll take it to the tire shop on Monday, but it looks like I'm going to have to get at least one tire.

The tires I had on there are plain ol' Cheng Shin knobbies. I've had them for a year, and they've done well for me, but I was wondering if anyone had any better recommendations. We do a lot of turf, and a lot of gravel, very little mud and no sand. I don't want to spend too much....

[Dirtcrasher]

Friggin tires, they are so frustrating!! Then you have the ones that come off easy but they either slip on the rim or leak at the bead!

Too bad the Harbor Freight tool wouldn't work. I have one of them too but haven't used it yet. I did bolt it down to the cement though :grin:

I've cut tires off before with a razor knife and then used dikes on the bead and wire reinforcing......

[endless]

I use a hi lift jack under my jeep bumper. Those beads are a major pain in the arse, took me about 40 min to change two tires.

[brapp]

wow i usualy us ethe excavator track and the bucket and break the bead sbut once in a whiel they slip and puncute sidewalls

[Name Brand]

If I know I'm not saving the tire; I use a sawzall to cut the tire off and then a hammer and cold chisel to cut the wires in the bead.

Now that I think about it; I've never removed a tire from an SX rim without cutting the tire up.

[ScottZJ]

THe high lift jack is the best way to go! Since you can get the base right on the lip of the rim and start jacking up a truck/car and give it a few pumps and its off. Flip it to the other side and pop it off. I have yet to find another tool to do it other than shop machines.

[Frankencelery]

I've used the Harbor Freight tool a couple of other times, and it's worked fine. These were just really bad ones. Now I've learned my lesson. If I've got rims that rusty, get new rims!

By the way, mine's bolted to the floor too. I guess some people have bolted them to boards but right into the concrete is the way to go!

[flatlandsninja]

tire shops are real handy ,thats what i do when i put new tires on a customers quad / trike tires ,,and i have a machine.

[tanks350x]

I took mine to a local shop, I helped the guy doing it also. we actually had to keep about 2 pounds of air in the tires to break the beads. The machine kept slipping on the tires otherwise. In the end it cost me $10,, well worth it for the aggravation

[Cert88]

Buy one of these... $40 bucks, its quick and easy. http://hyperracing.com/product.asp?prodid=80-003

Than I made different size arms so I can do 8, 9, 10, and 11 inch rims. Just by changing one bolt and putting a different arm on.

I took many tires off with this. Takes like 5min a tire.

[Frankencelery]

I finally got the tire removed, and the shop did just as much damage to the second tire as I had done to the first one! So much for the pros. I should have just bought new tires and said forget it. Anyway, they're on the trike now, with tubes in the tires. Those new Douglas rims look far too shiny for my SX! Need to get 'em muddy and leave it that way. Is that too ghetto? Or would polishing the crap out of them and leaving the rest of the machine dirty be ghetto?:lol:

[Itrike]

I use a K&L BEAD BUSTER. It works better than any thing else I'v ever tried. It is pricy but remove 30 tires at $10 a pop and its paid for. The part that pushes the bead down screws as close to the rim as you want it and it pushes straight down. I use a set of moose spoons for the rest and dish soap for lub.

[Taiser]

This is what I use....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y137/taiser/Tractor/_MAM0001.jpg

the stabilizer arms fit perfect on the tire end but even then it was a nightmare breaking the beads on my 110 original tires!!!!! Hard to believe how much grip those things have.

I use to use a 2x4 with a sledge. Enough force and it will eventually pop, just depends on how tired you want to get. Some mom and pop garages will pop the beads for free for you. Takes them about 5 seconds. Even if they charge you 5$ I think it's worth it just not to damage the tire.

[rdlsz24]

I just take them to an atv dealership now. They can have the old tires off and new tires on in 10 minutes. Takes me at least an hour with my Harbor Crap tool and it's a pain in the ass.

Rob

[HuntingFor1]

I just had the same problem yesterday with my SX tires and HF tire tool. Mine isn't bolted down so you can imagine the HE** I went through. I did get them off though. I had to make real small steps around the rim twice before I could see the tire moving. I also took some spray grease and sprayed it in the crack around the bead while I was holding pressure down on it with the tire tool. First tire took me about 45 minutes but the second one was off in about ten. Unless you destroyed the bead real bad it will probably still seal with a little help. I usually use silicone around the bead before I air the tire up that way it will lubricate and help seal. Put a generous bead around it and watch out or you'll get the mess all over you when the tire jumps on bead. You cal also go to your tire shop and they have this black silicone like stuff in a can, not sure what it's called but it dries a lot quicker than silicone and does a real good job of sealing around pitted rims or torn beads.

[blue27]

I use a bead breaker, had it for years and changed hundreds of tires, I will get a pic for you. AS for lube I normally use glass cleaner in a can, its easy and doesn't make a mess. Don't use silicone, that can cause more trouble, "Bead selaer" is designed for tires . It does not dry completely and also swells the rubber a little to help seal small imperfections. Also a small trick, apply alot of lube to half the tire, that way when airing up to seat the bead one side of the bead will work over the "hump" on the rim first and the reat will just slide over. If not then the tire will"square up" on the "hump" and can not stretch enought to get over it.

[Frankencelery]

I actually bought some bead sealer a while back. It's the black goop in a can with a brush inside. I had two main issues with that. I used it on my son's ATC70. I had just repainted the rim and the sealer ate the paint right off the rim. Yeah, I know, I'm supposed to keep the sealer on the inside, but I found it difficult to keep it there! Second, it sealed for about two weeks before it started leaking, and I ended up having to use a tube anyway. Dunno, maybe I didn't use enough, or maybe the rim was too pitted. The tires were new, so it wasn't that.

[Dirtcrasher]

I find no rhyme or reason to any of it.... I have bought brand new tires and rims and had them leak, bought great used rims, put on new tires and they leaked, crappy rims and new tires - they leaked.... Seems like sometimes they seal great and other times no so great. I finally broke down and started putting SLIME in all my tires and they no longer leak...

I wouldn't run a tube tire if you gave it to me, I hate them!! They work great and all of a sudden the whole dam stem shears off. The tire slips on the rim and thats the end of it.

But, I'm not kidding. I have probably bought 12 sets mounted from either RMATV or Ronnies mail shop and got at least 4 bum tires with leaks on the beads.

[Frankencelery]

I'm planning to take my SX to northern MN in two weeks, and I've got tubes in the back. I've personally experienced the shearing of the stem. You're right, DC. They twist inside the rim and eventually wear through the stem. I bought some with metal stems thinking that would solve the problem, and then the tube tears around the base. Now you've scared me. I'm gonna order some new tires and get those tubes out of there! Thanks for making me spend a bunch of cash! I hope you're happy with yourself!

[Dirtcrasher]

I'm planning to take my SX to northern MN in two weeks, and I've got tubes in the back. I've personally experienced the shearing of the stem. You're right, DC. They twist inside the rim and eventually wear through the stem. I bought some with metal stems thinking that would solve the problem, and then the tube tears around the base. Now you've scared me. I'm gonna order some new tires and get those tubes out of there! Thanks for making me spend a bunch of cash! I hope you're happy with yourself!

:lol: Yep, thats why I just plan on spending about 300$ a year on new tired for my daily rider.... Hell, one friggin tank of heating oil is almost 1000$ so why can't I have nice new tires and rims??!!

You already know the deal, don't ruin a vacation because of a friggin tube :beer

[Frankencelery]

Yep. Got 'em ordered. Nothing creative, just an identical set of Cheng Shin C827's from Beatrice Cycle. So you're putting Slime in all yours, DC? How much do you use in an ATV tire? Is it mess when you change a tire?