Please note that it is not recommended to change a motorcycle tyre for road use by yourself as it is a more complex procedure that requires wheel balancing. If you want to change a road tyre, please contact a professional. You can find a professional near you here.
Accessories for changing your motorcycle tyre
2 tyre spoons (3 is better)
1 tyre mounting lubricant (air-drying like soapy water; do not use grease as it may cause the rim to spin and the valve to tear off)
1 tyre pressure gauge, if you have an inner tube
1 valve core remover, if you have an inner tube (optional)
1 damp cloth (optional)
1 lever arm (optional)
1 pair of gloves (optional)
Unless you are equipped with a wheel change stand, you can perform these steps on the floor on a cardboard box so as not to damage the side of the wheel that will face the ground. Caution: As the crown is fragile, start with the wheel placed on the opposite side. When you need to turn the wheel over, place the disc on a layer of rags to protect it. We will first look at how to change a motorcycle tyre when it has an inner tube. We will then see how to proceed when it contains the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM.
1 - How to change a motorcycle tyre if you have an inner tube:
Remove the valve cap
Press down on the valve core to deflate the inner tube (or use the valve core remover to get all the air out of the tyre)
Unscrew the valve completely
Unscrew the gripster screw a bit to release the tyre
Remove the sidewall from both sides of the tyre with a lever arm (or press hard on to loosen it)
Use a tyre spoon to remove the tyre from the rim around the entire circumference
Pull out the inner tube completely
Now use the tyre spoon to pull the tyre out of the rim and clamp it under the disc
Use a second tyre spoon to do the same operation about 15 cm further on. Clamp it under the disc and remove the first one.
Continue in this way, alternating between the two tyre spoons, until you have pulled the edge of the tyre out of the rim all the way round
Turn the wheel over
Apply lubricant to the edge of the tyre on the remaining side
Repeat step 6 and from 8 to 10
Pass a tyre spoon between the tyre and the lower part of the rim and lever the tyre out all the way around (make sure that the tyre on one side is at the bottom of the rim to better extract the other side with the tyre spoon)
Clean the inside of the rim with a damp cloth
Check the rim base; change it if it is damaged, otherwise there is a risk of damage to the inner tube
Put the new tyre on the rim (make sure the direction of rotation is correct)
Place the inner tube inside, so that the valve is facing the hole
If you have removed the valve core with the valve core remover, put it back into the valve
Inject some air into the tube so that it is not completely empty, but still has some flexibility
Apply lubricant to the edges of the tyre on both sides
Use a tyre spoon to put the tyre back on around the whole circumference by inserting it between the tyre and the lower edge of the rim and levering it out
2 - How to change a motorcycle tyre if you have the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM
If you want to change a motorcycle tyre equipped with the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM, the steps from 4 to 14 are the same as for an inner tube except that with a MICHELIN Bib MousseTM there are 2 gripsters to unscrew (or even 3 for a MICHELIN Bib MousseTM M18 in a MICHELIN Enduro Xtrem tyre in (140/80 - 18))
Then
Remove the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM with the tyre spoon
Inspect it to make sure it is in good condition
Clean it with a clean cloth
Clean the inside of the rim with a damp cloth
Check the rim base; change it if damaged, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM
Apply the MICHELIN lubricant gel supplied with the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM (1 tube for a rear tyre, ½ for a front tyre) and use a brush to apply it to the inside of the new tyre (don’t apply it on edges)
Insert the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM (in order to spread the lower area of the tyre, you can sit on the tyre to facilitate insertion)
Apply lubricant to the edges of the tyre on both sides
Before mounting the tyre on the rim, make sure the direction of rotation is correct
Use a tyre spoon to put the tyre back on the whole circumference by inserting it between the tyre and the lower edge of the rim and by levering
Use a tyre spoon to pull in part of the tyre and wedge it under the crown
Use another tyre spoon to pull the tyre in little by little. Towards the end, if necessary, use the third tyre spoon, also wedging it under the disc to help hold the edge of the retracted tyre
Turn the wheel over and inspect the other side to see if the edge fits tightly all around
Make sure the tyre is correctly centred. If it is not, use a tyre spoon and tyre mounting lubricant to help centre the tyre
Fully tighten the gripsters' screws
Why choose the MICHELIN Bib MousseTM instead of an inner tube?
MICHELIN Bib MousseTM is the Michelin's off road solution to tyre punctures. It is lighter than a reinforced inner tube and eliminates the inconvenience of a puncture when riding off-road.
