How to change a motorcycle tyre in your garage

What you need

• Paddock stand, centre stand or bike lift
• Tyre levers and rim protectors
• Bead breaker or strong clamps
• Socket or spanner set for the axle nut
• Torque wrench
• New tyre and inner tube if tubed
• Talcum powder, soapy water and a pump

Steps

1. Park on a flat, solid surface and let the bike cool. Check your owner's manual for the axle nut torque figure and the correct tyre size before you start.

2. Loosen the axle nut a turn or two while the wheel is still on the ground. It is much harder once the bike is up in the air.

3. Lift the bike on a paddock stand or centre stand so the wheel spins freely. If you remove a front wheel, strap the stand or prop the bike so it cannot tip.

4. Take off the brake caliper if it blocks the wheel, and tie it up out of the way rather than letting it hang by the hose. Slide the axle out and drop the wheel free.

5. Let all the air out, then break the bead by pressing or clamping the tyre away from the rim on both sides. Work right around the wheel.

6. Fit rim protectors, push a tyre lever under the bead and hook it to a spoke. Use a second and third lever to work the bead over the rim, then pull the tube out.

7. Check the rim tape and the inside of the tyre for thorns, glass or a protruding spoke. Fit the new tube with a light dusting of talc and seat one bead on the rim.

8. Ease the second bead on with your hands and levers, stopping before the last section. Check the tube is not pinched, then lever the final bit over.

9. Inflate slowly to the pressure on the sidewall, watching the bead line seat evenly all round. Soapy water on the bead helps it pop into place.

10. Refit the wheel, spacers and caliper, slide the axle through and torque the nut to the manual figure. Spin the wheel, then pump the brake lever before you ride.

Tips and common mistakes

Questions

How do I know if I need a new tyre or just a new tube?

Look at the tread depth and the wear markers. If the tread is at the limit, the sidewall is cracked or the tyre is squared off, replace it. A simple puncture with good tread usually only needs a new tube or patch.

What torque should the axle nut be?

Use the figure in your bike's owner's manual, as it varies a lot between models. Guessing risks crushing the wheel bearings or letting the axle work loose.

Can I change a tyre without a bead breaker?

Yes. Large clamps or a strong vice on the tyre sidewall can push the bead off the rim, though it takes more effort than a proper bead breaker.

This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.