AF tubeless - can I really fit myself?

[coaster]

I've managed to get the heavy duty ScootSmarts on but I warm my tyres in the oven first (Adele was not at home at the time (only to the point of being warm) which I would think would be essential this time of year. Well done for not scratching the rims

[Storkfoot]

You'd be wrong in assuming that, unfortunately.

[LuiLui]

I had two SIP rims fitted with Schwalbe Sportsman's at the weekend, at £10 a rim I was contemplating trying to fit them myself. Then I watched the local motorcycle shop guys stressing and swearing trying to get them on and decided it may be worth it;...... then I had to wait while they took them to a nearby tyre fitters to finish the job and decided it was definately worth the tenner a go Always carry one spare so hopefully that gets me home, if not nearest garage for some instant fill!

Mark

[Fast n Furious]

As we all know, the 10" rim lacks the "depth of well" making these a pain to deal with.
I think the people who make these rims have missed a trick.
Make them 12" and fit low profile 12" tyres which have a similar circumference to the old high profile 10"ers. That way they can be made with a good well depth making them a doddle to fit.

[Topgearskin]

I fitted tyres to two Scootrs rims with yokohama tyres a couple of years ago. I found the secret is definitely warming the tyres and being as patient as possible. I didn't have a jig and used Amazon bought levers, rim protectors and tyre soap. I couldn't get the tyres to seat on the bead even with a garage forecourt airline but hadn't tried the ratchet strap trick.

I'm a fan of the Scootrs rims and disappointed that they've stopped trading. If anyone's got any they want rid off I'd take them off their hands.

[Modbadger]

I too am a fan of ScootRS rims - I'm running the Mark One version, and Yokohama tyres - ludicrously difficult to get in the UK OR Europe, and very good tyres. Taking the tyres off is a bastard, hacksaw used until the metal cords defeated me and I went to my local tyre guys - they weren't very happy, and even less when I asked them to put new ones on - but didn't charge me much. I always carry a spare wheel with a split ring, and inner tube - just in case!

[Storkfoot]

Just had a go at fitting another Heidenau tyre (a K58) to another AF tubeless. This did not go as well. I have managed to break the metallic core around the edge of one side of the tyre. The tyre now needs cutting off.

Now I know I can pay for them to be fitted but I do like to do things myself, especially as I have the levers and kit to do it.

Heidenaus have noticeably reinforced sidewalls and I suspect I'd be better fitting tyres with non reinforced sidewalls.

Has anyone any suggestions please, other than S83 or S1?

Just to, hopefully, finish this thread off, I spent a couple of hours or so this morning trying to source a softer sidewall tyre and some decent tyre soap ( I really needed to get this sorted today as I want the scoot through the MOT this week). I failed on both fronts but I did end up with an S1 and some washing up liquid

If you have compared the sidewall flexibility of a Heidenau to a Michelin S1, you'll know that the difference is chalk and cheese. The S1 is very soft.

Neither Halfords nor a large motorcycle dealership locally stocked a tyre soap. Having then binned my existing tyre soap, as it was it was way too watery, I resorted to washing up liquid as it wasn't going to rust the rim.

Anyway, a couple of minutes with a hot air gun on the tyre and then another 5 or 10 minutes with the levers, and the tyre was on very easily.

So, where does this leave me? For the future, it seems to leave me with a choice of running a good quality reinforced tyre on a tubed rim, or a tyre I'm not fully confident in on a tubeless rim

[Phil D]

Tyre soap is readily available on eBay /Demon tweaks /Halfrauds , maybe your local tyre emporium may let you have some if you ask them -the right stuff makes all the difference.
The fact is as as has already been pointed out other types of tubeless rims are better designed in that they have a deeper well which makes changing tyres easier.
Yet another area where improvements could be made

[Phil D]

Incidentally the best stuff I've ever used is a product called "Gaithers super slick em" it made changing truck tyres a breeze.
Bloody slippery stuff if you can find it it's an American company.

[coaster]

Paul purely down to getting the tyre warmed through properly. A scooter tyre will fit diagonally in an oven, keep checking it and rotating if it's not fan assisted. Mine was uncomfortable to the touch when I did mine and went on in a matter of minutes and that was just with the rim flat on the floor, no holder. 3 SIP rims, all Dunlop Scootsmarts, 2 with 3ply side walls and one lower load rating 2ply (front). I also resorted to washing up liquid as the tyre soap wasn't working.

[Storkfoot]

Paul purely down to getting the tyre warmed through properly. A scooter tyre will fit diagonally in an oven, keep checking it and rotating if it's not fan assisted. Mine was uncomfortable to the touch when I did mine and went on in a matter of minutes and that was just with the rim flat on the floor, no holder. 3 SIP rims, all Dunlop Scootsmarts, 2 with 3ply side walls and one lower load rating 2ply (front). I also resorted to washing up liquid as the tyre soap wasn't working.

You have an oven fit to feed the court of Henry VIII then, as a tyre won't fit in ours, mate