Changing tyres with cable (zip) ties.

cliffa

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I wanted to swap the front tyre of my 961 onto another wheel and stumbled upon this online video. - IT WORKS !! I was amazed. Removal is a bit of a faff with tubes but once the tyre and tube came off (together) I was able to tuck the tube in and get the ties tighter. I lubed the rim and tyre laid the wheel on the floor, pushed the valve stem through the rim (which I'd left sticking out) and was able to push it back on by hand. It literally took 5 minutes to put back on.


 
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I wanted to swap the front tyre of my 961 onto another wheel and stumbled upon this online video. - IT WORKS !! I was amazed. Removal is a but of a faff with tubes but once the tyre and tube came off (together) I was able to tuck the tube in and get the ties tighter. I lubed the rim and tyre laid the wheel on the floor, pushed the valve stem through the rim (which I'd left sticking out) and was able to push it back on by hand. It literally took 5 minutes to put back on.


I tried this method with a RoadRider & tube and gave up! I could simply not get the same result. I wonder if that's due to the difference between a tubeless rim & no tube, rather the my own lack of ability?
 
I tried this method with a RoadRider & tube and gave up! I could simply not get the same result. I wonder if that's due to the difference between a tubeless rim & no tube, rather the my own lack of ability?
Was the problem removing or re-fitting? For me the removal was by far the hardest.
 
By the time you put the cable ties on I would have had the tyre off and the new one fitted just using tyre irons seems to be a waste of zip ties to me lol, on any tyre replacement the slippery stuff is your best friend, but where I buy my replacement tyres free fitting so just rock up and less than 30 minutes all done all part of the service but I have done many tyre repairs in my time and having the right tyre levers 3 are better than 2 and slippery stuff.
 
Slick technique! Thanks for posting.
But I will continue to pay the fee and have my local HD dealer mount my tires.

I still d@mn the day 50 years ago when the first and only time I de-mounted my tire and the spoon pressure flaked up the chrome plating on the rim,

Slick
 
I've heard using zip ties like that can lead to hub to rotor distortion...at least on some brands of wheels.
;-)
 
I've heard using zip ties like that can lead to hub to rotor distortion...at least on some brands of wheels.
;-)
I didn't have mine mounted at the time, however I don't think there's any great risk to them doing it this way or with levers TBH.
 
By the time you put the cable ties on I would have had the tyre off and the new one fitted just using tyre irons seems to be a waste of zip ties to me lol, on any tyre replacement the slippery stuff is your best friend, but where I buy my replacement tyres free fitting so just rock up and less than 30 minutes all done all part of the service but I have done many tyre repairs in my time and having the right tyre levers 3 are better than 2 and slippery stuff.
I undid the ties so I can re-use them ;)
 
How many zip ties can you buy for the cost of a tire lever? For me by far the hardest part of the whole process is getting the valve stem through the hole in the rim, particularly in cold weather and I'd be afraid to use a heat gun on a tire like that guy did. I bought a gallon of tire lube and I'd never be without it again.
 
I'd try it. But with trial and error and YouTube videos, starting only a few restorations ago I have gotten tire mounting down with levers and a pull-through valve-stem wire thingamabob. Tires with no tubes are a laugh. Tubes makes it tough for me and I'm not sure how this would work. Main thing is get that tire warm and use lots of suds. I wear mountain bike knee pads too, hahah. BTW, zip ties are also extremely useful for adjusting valves in bikes that have shim over bucket valvetrain, if anybody is interested I'll explain.
 
I’ve fitted many hundreds of tyres from the early 60s with tyre levers and Swarfega to a tyre fitting machine costing a great deal of money. Now retired and not as strong as I was in my youth , fitting was difficult to say the least. Then I discovered the Baja No Pinch tool that makes putting a tyre on with no chance of nipping a tube or marking the rim.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/parts/baja-no-pinch-tire-tool-p
 
I’ve fitted many hundreds of tyres from the early 60s with tyre levers and Swarfega to a tyre fitting machine costing a great deal of money. Now retired and not as strong as I was in my youth , fitting was difficult to say the least. Then I discovered the Baja No Pinch tool that makes putting a tyre on with no chance of nipping a tube or marking the rim.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/parts/baja-no-pinch-tire-tool-p
Liked that!
What's your method for removal, which I have found to be a PITA more than a few times?
 
Liked that!
What's your method for removal, which I have found to be a PITA more than a few times?
Tyre levers with rim protectors. I use a Black and Decker workmate to break the bead from the rim, much easier than a vice, and use it to support the wheel again easier than kneeling on the ground with less chance of marking the rim.
 
Good idea pulling the beads together that way.

Skinny tubeless tires on modern tubeless motorcycle rims are easy with levers and rim protectors though. I'd like to see it done with a 190/50-zr17 tubeless tire. They don't fold tight so easy.

Motion Pro makes a good bead breaker bar set and rim protectors. I would not use a vice to break bead myself. I have 4 16" levers out during the process. I never look forward to doing the tires anymore, but it has to get done and as long as I am able, I'll do it the old-fashioned way.

I agree with Thomas about the tube valve stems. Skinny rims like stock Norton rims are though on the old fingers getting the valve stem in place.
 
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