Replacing tires

schroncc · Post by **schroncc** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:39 am

Has anyone put a new rear tire on their buddy? I have the rear wheel off but I am having troubles getting the old tire off. Does anyone know if the rims split or you just have to pull the tire off? Any help would be great.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:06 am

The Buddy tires are tubeless. There are no split rim assemblies. You need to have the tools and know-how to break the bead to get tubeless tires off and set the bead when you put it back on. Here are videos from YouTube on how to do both. It's not easy, though lots of folks do it. On our sister site, ModernVespa.com, we've seen folks say it's a piece of cake and we've seen folks destroy their rims trying to do it and everything in between.

Scudman: How to remove a motorcycle tire

Scudman: How to install a motorcycle tire

Good Luck!

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:12 am

you have to pry it off. very frustrating if you're not experienced at doing it. you can also scratch up your rim very badly if you're not careful or don't take your time.

schroncc · Post by **schroncc** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:57 am

Thanks guys. I look at Modernvespa and found a lot of info. It was the biggest pain in my butt getting that tire off and then back on. Much harder to get it back on. I can hardly type my forearms are so sore. If any one wants to try it, this site is pretty helpful (Its got some really good vids). http://www.nomartirechanger.com/V2/videohome.html I made I rig like theirs using a work bench, baseball bat, crow-bars and screw drivers. I wrapped everything in duct tape so i would not scratch anything and used a lot of window cleaner to make things go on smoother.

scullyfu · Post by **scullyfu** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 2:34 pm

jrsjr wrote:The Buddy tires are tubeless.

actually, the SI whitewall tires do have tubes.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:40 pm

scullyfu wrote:
jrsjr wrote:The Buddy tires are tubeless.
actually, the SI whitewall tires do have tubes.

Ah, good point. According to Chelsea

chelsea wrote:All of the 2008 Buddys that come from the with whitewall tires will feature tubeless whitewalls...I forget what company makes them, but they really are tubeless.

so those days should thankfully be over soon. I assumed that the OP was having troubles with tubeless tires because, from the way he phrased his post, it sounded like he knew how to handle tube tires but it wasn't working because the tire he was was dealing with was tubeless.

Anyway, you're totally right. Thanks for the reminder!

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:36 pm

having the right tools makes any job waaayyyy easier