Dirt bikes, motorcycles designed for use off-road, come equipped with features including knobby tires that work better on rough terrain than standard motorcycle tires. Riders sometimes prefer to use their tires with low air pressure, to further increase their traction. This practice requires the use of a rim-locking mechanism to keep the tire's bead, or edge, from coming off of the wheel while the bike is in motion.
Step 1
Mount the bicycle on a bike stand. Remove the nut from the end of the wheel axle with a wrench. Loosen other nuts or bolts securing the axle in place. Slide the axle out of the wheel hub and remove the wheel from the dirt bike's frame.
Step 2
Place the wheel on its side in a level work area. If you are removing the tire from the rear wheel, place the side with the sprocket face down. If you are removing the tire from the front wheel, place the side with the brake assembly face up.
Step 3
Remove the valve-stem locking nut, then remove the valve stem core. Allow the tire's tube to deflate before proceeding. Turn the nut on the rim lock until it reaches the end of the threads; do not remove the nut completely.
Step 4
Push on the tire's sidewalls until the bead seal breaks loose from the wheel rim. Insert tire spoons between the bead and the rim to work the bead seal loose, if necessary. Flip the wheel over and break the bead seal on the other side. Flip the wheel back to its original position.
Step 5
Position the end of the tire spoon on the part of the wheel rim located directly opposite the rim lock. Insert the spoon between the bead and the rim, then move clockwise 4 inches and insert another spoon. Continue inserting spoons in this manner until the tire comes free of the rim.
Step 6
Work the tire tube free of the wheel hub. Push the valve stem core through the rim and into the tire tube, then set the tube aside. Reinsert the wheel hub back into the tire using the tire spoons. Rotate the tire until the bead lock is located next to the floor.
Step 7
Lift the tire upwards, then bounce it onto the ground; this will force the wheel hub into the interior of the tire, creating a large gap. Grip the top of the wheel hub and pry it free of the tire.
Things You'll Need
- Open-end wrench
- Tire spoons
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