WORKSHOP
Tyre Swap
WORDS : Jock McLauchlan / Ben Wilkins PHOTOS : Geoff Osborne
Our quick guide to get you changing your own dirt bike ( or adventure bike ) tyres with the least effort .
Changing tyres seems like it should be the easiest thing , and so it seems if you ’ ve never done it . Have a go and you ’ ll quickly realise that it ’ s almost impossible ... unless you ’ re shown how . We reckon it ’ s an essential skill that everyone who rides a dirt or adventure bike should know – especially for those of you who do trail rides . It can be a long walk back to the pit / paddock if you get a puncture ... and the same goes for an adventure bike getting a puncture in the middle of nowhere with no phone reception . For this example we ’ re swapping the KTM 300EX-C ’ s standard Metzelers out for a set of Mitas rubber – a C-18 and C-19 . This is for a rear tyre change , but the principle is the same for a front too , except that the narrowness , and sidewall stiffness of the front tyre makes it harder . Much harder . Get your technique honed on the rear and then move on to having a go at the front .
40 KIWI RIDER