thinking of changing my own tyres does any one know if the air line on garage forcourts is good enough to seal the tyre bead on a new tyre.
Most garages these days have these strange airlines where you get "small puffs of air" instead of a big blast. I've always changed my own tyres and until recently have used forecourt airlines. Most times the airlines will eventually get the tyre to seal on the rim but occasionally it's a real bitch and it's all down to lack of pressure and volume from these H & S driven airlines at garages. About a year ago I spent nearly 3 hours trying to get a tyre to seal on a rim - eventually managed it by using copious amounts of tyre lube but considering it only took me minutes to change the tyre I was seriously pissed off. Given that I have decent levers, bead breaker, balancer etc.. and I change a lot of tyres I thought it was time I bought a compressor. Less than £150 and it's the best money I've ever spent - no more scurrying to garages and feeding their shitty compressors with coins, just instant high volumes of air and instant tyre seating on the rim. Apart from tyres the compressor is great for clearing crud from these difficult to reach places and will drive air tools etc.. If you're new to changing your own tyres it really is worth spending a bit of money on decent levers and a bead breaker - I use Buzetti levers and a Scorpion mousse changer as a bead breaker (used to race and fit mousses to enduro bikes). Also got a static balancer for £15 off ebay. I save a lot of time and money by doing my own tyres and it's an opportunity to check everything else out (brakes, bearings etc..) while I'm doing it, plus given the appalling standard of service from some bike shops I really am not comfortable trusting my life to someone else.
If you're struggling to get a tyre to seal try using a ratchet strap as a tornequet around the tyre. Squashing the tread with the strap will force the beads onto the rim. If you're still struggling bash around the tread with the heel of your hand whilst inflating.
There is a button on the machine that looks like a flat tyre, pressing this will give you a continuous air flow.
Remove the centre of the valve as it will restrict the amount of air going in. Use soap and water on the tyre as it will help pop the tyre on the rim properly.
As Neil says remove the Schraeder valve for the first inflation when seating the tyre onto the rim then refit the valve and inflate to required pressure. Some of the forecourt tyre inflaters don't have a reserve air tank thus you only get little puffs directly from the pump when really you need a good rush of air initially. We change all of our tyres ourselves and wouldn't trust anyone else with our wheels.
I couldn't agree more. I remove the valve core before removing the old tyre anyway, so it makes sense to pop the new tyre on before refitting the valve core back in.
