Mounting & balancing tires yourself: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:mount balance 11.JPG|150px]]

At this point, I like to clean up the rim, inside and out. Mine happened to have what seemed like some sort of glue on the inside. It took some strong solvents to get this stuff off. You want to make sure the seat area (which is the Flat landing just off the edge of the rim, on the inside) is clean and fairly nick/ding free. Bends, dings, nicks or junk in there can contribute to a slow leak... and who wants to deal with that? You should also check the wheel bearings by just putting a finger in them and spinning... they should rotate smoothly and easily, without any gritty feeling. If they feel gritty, it's time to replace them before riding again.

At this point, I like to clean up the rim, inside and out. Mine happened to have what seemed like some sort of glue on the inside. It took some strong solvents to get this stuff off. You want to make sure the seat area (which is the Flat landing just off the edge of the rim, on the inside) is clean and fairly nick/ding free. Bends, dings, nicks or junk in there can contribute to a slow leak... and who wants to deal with that? You should also check the wheel bearings by just putting a finger in them and spinning... they should rotate smoothly and easily, without any gritty feeling. If they feel gritty, it's time to [[Replacing the wheel bearings|replace them]] before riding again.

The valve stem itself is also something you should inspect. Bend it and look for cracks anywhere in the surface, but mostly right where it gets narrow to go back through the rim. It's easy to change right now, and more work if it fails when you don't need to change the tire. Replacing it is simple: just cut off the old, use the same tool for removing the core to screw onto the stem, and pull it through from the inside of the rim until it seats. Shorter are better, angled are a bad idea (need to be replaced more often) and I'm not a fan of the screw-together metal stems mostly because they can be a PITA to get to fit correctly, and to remove later when they eventually fail. I tend to just change mine every 3 or 4 sets of tires. The stem is the same standard size as those used by cars. You should be able to get one at any tire retailer. ''If you run anything but plastic caps, you'll likely be doing replacements a lot sooner.''

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[[Image:mount balance 14.JPG|150px]]

Then push the top bead into the center of the rim, and slowly work the tire on with your irons... no pictures of this process as it's impossible to stop without having the tire work its way off the rim.

Then push the top bead into the center of the rim, and slowly work the tire on with your irons... There are no pictures of this process, as it's impossible to stop without having the tire work its way off the rim. Here's Leon to give you a good idea of how it works. Keep your knees on the part that's already on the rim, work your way around with your tire irons, and it should only be difficult the last little bit.

[[Image:p8181947.jpg|150px]]

With the tire on the rim, it's time to seat the bead with an air compressor. Those cheaper units that just provide an on-demand supply (often in blue boxes at gas stations), do NOT have enough umph to do the job. You need a good source of air, but that's usually easy to get ahold of at any sort of shop doing any sort of work, or (my favorite), the old time gas station/garage. They always have good air. Fill the tire up '''without''' the valve stem core in the valve stem and listen for 2 "pops". Front tires are usually Very quick and easy with this; rears can be more difficult. But just lay the tire on the ground, as it was when you were changing it, and use your spare hand and knees to bump and lift the tire where air seems to be escaping from. It Will seat with some patience and work. You'll then want to look for an even ring all the way around the rim, on the tire (there's usually some rings moulded into the tire to make this task simple). If it's not even all the way around, the bead is not fully seated. Now, put the core back in the valve stem and fill the tire up. I usually go over what I normally run until I get it back on the bike. Always easier to let some out than to add some back.

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 [[Image:mount balance 11.JPG|150px]]
-At this point, I like to clean up the rim, inside and out. Mine happened to have what seemed like some sort of glue on the inside. It took some strong solvents to get this stuff off. You want to make sure the seat area (which is the Flat landing just off the edge of the rim, on the inside) is clean and fairly nick/ding free. Bends, dings, nicks or junk in there can contribute to a slow leak... and who wants to deal with that? You should also check the wheel bearings by just putting a finger in them and spinning... they should rotate smoothly and easily, without any gritty feeling. If they feel gritty, it's time to replace them before riding again.
+At this point, I like to clean up the rim, inside and out. Mine happened to have what seemed like some sort of glue on the inside. It took some strong solvents to get this stuff off. You want to make sure the seat area (which is the Flat landing just off the edge of the rim, on the inside) is clean and fairly nick/ding free. Bends, dings, nicks or junk in there can contribute to a slow leak... and who wants to deal with that? You should also check the wheel bearings by just putting a finger in them and spinning... they should rotate smoothly and easily, without any gritty feeling. If they feel gritty, it's time to [[Replacing the wheel bearings|replace them]] before riding again.
 The valve stem itself is also something you should inspect. Bend it and look for cracks anywhere in the surface, but mostly right where it gets narrow to go back through the rim. It's easy to change right now, and more work if it fails when you don't need to change the tire. Replacing it is simple: just cut off the old, use the same tool for removing the core to screw onto the stem, and pull it through from the inside of the rim until it seats. Shorter are better, angled are a bad idea (need to be replaced more often) and I'm not a fan of the screw-together metal stems mostly because they can be a PITA to get to fit correctly, and to remove later when they eventually fail. I tend to just change mine every 3 or 4 sets of tires. The stem is the same standard size as those used by cars. You should be able to get one at any tire retailer. ''If you run anything but plastic caps, you'll likely be doing replacements a lot sooner.''
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 [[Image:mount balance 14.JPG|150px]]
-Then push the top bead into the center of the rim, and slowly work the tire on with your irons... no pictures of this process as it's impossible to stop without having the tire work its way off the rim.
+Then push the top bead into the center of the rim, and slowly work the tire on with your irons... There are no pictures of this process, as it's impossible to stop without having the tire work its way off the rim. Here's Leon to give you a good idea of how it works. Keep your knees on the part that's already on the rim, work your way around with your tire irons, and it should only be difficult the last little bit.
+[[Image:p8181947.jpg|150px]]
 With the tire on the rim, it's time to seat the bead with an air compressor. Those cheaper units that just provide an on-demand supply (often in blue boxes at gas stations), do NOT have enough umph to do the job. You need a good source of air, but that's usually easy to get ahold of at any sort of shop doing any sort of work, or (my favorite), the old time gas station/garage. They always have good air.  Fill the tire up '''without''' the valve stem core in the valve stem and listen for 2 "pops". Front tires are usually Very quick and easy with this; rears can be more difficult. But just lay the tire on the ground, as it was when you were changing it, and use your spare hand and knees to bump and lift the tire where air seems to be escaping from. It Will seat with some patience and work. You'll then want to look for an even ring all the way around the rim, on the tire (there's usually some rings moulded into the tire to make this task simple). If it's not even all the way around, the bead is not fully seated. Now, put the core back in the valve stem and fill the tire up. I usually go over what I normally run until I get it back on the bike. Always easier to let some out than to add some back.