All-Terrain Vehicles wear many hats in our modern society. Some are hard-working off-road transportation, others are weekend play machines. But in the end, most are ridden until the tires are ready to fall off. When the time comes to replace the tires, many do-it-yourself types are faced with one simple question: how do you separate the tire from the rim?

Preparation

Gather all of the tools you will be needing ahead of time. These should include a pair of tire irons, a valve core removal tool, bead breaking tool, and a spray bottle of soapy water. If your ATV is equipped with chromed or painted rims, you may also want to include a pair of wooden blocks and "rim protectors". Rim protectors can be made cheaply from the sides of plastic oil cans and will go a long way in protecting the finish of your rims.

Tire Removal

Remove the wheel and lay it onto a set of wooden blocks to provide support. Next, deflate the tire by removing the valve stem core. Core removal tools can be found at any auto parts stores or anywhere that sells bicycle tires and tubes. Place the slotted end into the valve stem and twist counter-clockwise to unscrew the core. Once the valve is out, you will need to break the seal, or bead, between the tire and rim using a clamp-like bead breaker. Once the bead is broken, push the tire downward to create a gap between the tire and rim. Spray soapy water liberally around the edges of the tire and rim to lubricate them for the next step. Slide your rim protectors between the tire and rim, placing one protector at the 11 o'clock position and the other at the 12 o'clock position. Slip the curved end of the tire irons under the protectors and around the lip of the tire. Pull the tire irons toward you then downwards towards the rim's hub to stretch the lip of the tire over the rim. Hold the 11 o'clock tire iron in place and move the other tire iron and protector into the 1 o'clock position and lift the lip over the edge of the rim. From here, you can remove the tire irons and pull the rest of the lip over the rim by hand with ease. Spray the inner lip of the tire again with soapy water and slide a protector into place between the tire and rim. Stand the wheel upright, holding it between your knees, and slip a tire iron under the tire and around the rim. Pull the tire iron toward you to pop the tire off of the rim completely.

Source:

"The Professional Motorcycle Repair Program"; Professional Career Development Institute; Prentice-Hall; 1995

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