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Can you DIY change split rim tyres?
number-1 - 31/7/12 at 04:07 PM

Has anyone here changed tyres on a split rim before? Is it something i could do or would i need to take them to a tyre place?

They are 13inch Gotti lightweight wheels and i want to slip a set of slicks on for a trackday....mmmm....or maybe wets looking outside!

Any pointers would be great

Cheers

N1

pekwah1 - 31/7/12 at 04:22 PM

assuming you're not taking the rims apart, surely it's the same as changing tyres on any wheels?
If you don't have a suitable tool for removing the tyres in the first place then don't bother, breaking a tyre bead is hard work!

IF you got it off and got the new one on, how are you going to balance it?

number-1 - 31/7/12 at 04:24 PM

I planned to take the rims apart, clean, re seal and add new tyres

jossey - 31/7/12 at 04:26 PM

Costs £10 to take off 4 tyres but if you don't want them you can cut them off then just pay the £5 a tyre to refit and balance.

Wadders - 31/7/12 at 04:29 PM

Nothing to stop you doing it that way, but seems an awful lot of bother to save not a lot.
If they're not leaking i would leave well alone personally.
It will also be a fight to re-seat the tyre beads unless you have a juicy compressor.

Al.





i]Originally posted by number-1
I planned to take the rims apart, clean, re seal and add new tyres

plentywahalla - 31/7/12 at 05:44 PM

Normal practice with 3 piece split rims is to replace the bolts and the seals when re-assembling them. Its not recommended to use this as a means of changing tyres. It creates more problems than it solves as you will still need tyre levers to break the bead because of the rim profile.

number-1 - 31/7/12 at 05:45 PM

Will a trye fitter break open the rim normally or will it be the same as a normal rim?

perksy - 31/7/12 at 06:11 PM

They'll replace them like a normal wheel, Beware though that some tyre fitters don't like changing tyres on split rims as they are concerned about the wheels leaking afterwards
There's details of taking split rims apart on the wheel whores forum iirc

I'd be concerned about damaging the rim even IF you could break the bead on the tyre

One for the pro's imho

v8kid - 31/7/12 at 07:07 PM

Don't even think about it!

Been there, done it. It's a disaster.

If you split the rims the tyre still sticks to the two separate rims and you end up re-bolting them together just to get some leverage against a solid object. And then you have to reseal them.

Just pay for it in this case.

Cheers!

number-1 - 31/7/12 at 07:24 PM

Thanks for the advice chaps....I will take them to a tyre place and get them to do it