| I am asked for advice on removing and mounting | | | | Now, on to mounting a racing go kart tire on a one |
| racing go kart tires on one piece wheels often. So in | | | | piece go kart racing wheel. To accomplish this task |
| this guide I will attempt to explain how to do both. | | | | you will need a tire mounting ring or tire band as they |
| These tips are what has worked best for me. There is | | | | are sometimes called. There are two basic types, one |
| a risk of injury when mounting and removing tires and I | | | | is a Ratchet style tire band and the other is a Screw |
| will not be responsible for any injuries that result from | | | | type tire band. I have used both and had no problems |
| trying any of these techniques. | | | | with either. You will also need an air compressor, of |
| Let's start with breaking down a go kart racing tire first. | | | | course. I would suggest using a compressor with at |
| There are several kinds of bead breakers made to | | | | least a 20 gallon tank on it. Before starting to inflate tire |
| accomplish this task such as the RLV bead breaker or | | | | release some air until compressor kicks on, that way |
| the H.D. bead breaker we sell. A RLV bead breaker | | | | tank is completely full. |
| looks a lot better but a heavy duty bead breaker | | | | Now is the time to heat tire if you have a way to do |
| certainly works better. | | | | so. Heat simply makes the rubber softer, thus easier to |
| This task will be much easier if the tire is hot or at least | | | | stretch. Next make sure valve core is removed from |
| warm. If you do not have an oven or tire box to heat | | | | wheel. DO NOT FORGET THIS! Identify the smaller |
| a tire up, even placing tire in the bright sunshine for a | | | | edge of the wheel rim. Most of the time this will be the |
| while will help. First, deflate tire and remove valve core | | | | inside edge of wheel. Most Douglas wheels have equal |
| completely and place core in a secure place as you | | | | size lips but if you look closely one lip is thinner than the |
| will not need it again until you have a new tire mounted | | | | other and the edge is more rounded. This smaller edge |
| on the wheel. | | | | is the edge you will slide tire over first.. |
| Next, determine which side of wheel is the short side. | | | | It is now lube time. Use something slippery to lube up |
| Most of the time the shorter side will be the inside (side | | | | the edges of wheel and tire. I have used tire snot, |
| without valve stem) of wheel. Place wheel in bead | | | | dishwashing liquid, Simple Green, WD-40,and Greased |
| breaker with the shorter side facing up. Adjust bead | | | | Lightning. Avoid getting lube on the inside of tire as |
| breaker to fit the size wheel you have and simply push | | | | much as you can. Place wheel on a mat or pice of |
| tire off bead. Flip wheel over and repeat process on | | | | carpet between your knees. Hold tire like you would a |
| the other side. | | | | steering wheel and push it against wheel at about a 45 |
| That was the easy part. Now you need to get tire off | | | | degree angle so that the bead contacts the wheel at |
| wheel. There is a trick to doing this without using tire | | | | 2 points. Now push the tire on to the wheel. The first |
| irons. It just takes some practice to get the hang of it. | | | | few times you do this you will most likely be using |
| But once you do get the hang of it you will be able to | | | | brute force to accomplish this step. After you have |
| remove a tire without risking damage to the tire or | | | | done this several times you will figure out the trick and |
| wheel which you will be risking if you use tire irons. | | | | you will be able to do this without breaking a sweat. |
| With the inside of the tire, roll the top of the tire inward, | | | | Flip tire and wheel over and repeat process for other |
| making the bottom tire bead extend itself over the rim. | | | | side. |
| Grab the extended bead and slowly work the tire off | | | | Place tire and wheel in th tire mounting ring. Then, either |
| the rim until the entire bead has been removed over | | | | turn knob or use ratchet to secure tire band around |
| the rim. | | | | tire. Never use band with open end facing up and your |
| Now, flip tire and wheel over and push the rim on to a | | | | face right over it. If tire blows your face is toast. Lay |
| piece of carpet at about a 45 degree angle. Hold rim | | | | tire band on floor on it's side with open ends facing left |
| with your left hand and use your right palm to slowly | | | | and right instead of up and down. With everything out |
| work the outside bead over the inside surface of the | | | | of in front of the open ends, and both edges of wheel |
| rim. This method does take some practice to get the | | | | and tire lubed up, connect and begin pumping the air to |
| hang of it. If you can't get the tire off using this method | | | | it. When tire seals on bead you will hear a very loud |
| then here's how to do it using tire irons, or, heaven | | | | POP, that will almost make you go in your pants. Do |
| forbid, screwdrivers. | | | | not stop pumping air when you hear the first pop. |
| After breaking both beads place the wheel on apiece | | | | Keep pumping air to it until you hear the second POP. |
| of carpet with the valve side down. Push one edge of | | | | Release air as soon as you hear the second POP. |
| tire to the narrow middle section of wheel Take the | | | | And since you remembered to remove valve core, all |
| tire iron and place it on the other side and pull down. | | | | air will release immediately. You probably do not even |
| Take the other tire iron and do the same thing. Once | | | | want know how much air was in tire when second |
| you have about half of the bead over the rest of the | | | | bead pops on. |
| tire should pull over by hand, Flip tire and wheel over | | | | Put valve cores back in wheels and inflate tires to a |
| and the other edge can be pulled off by hand. Be very | | | | middle pressure that you run. Now would be the time |
| careful not to mess up the edge of rim or the bead of | | | | to balance your wheel. I have written another guide to |
| tire if using tire again. If you are tossing tire, you don't | | | | explain this process. |
| have to worry about that. | | | | |