Is it possible to swap the tyres and not mark the rims on BMW's new soft-as-cheese alloy rims?

I had a quick go, but both times I started to apply enough pressure to shift the tyre the rim marked. Gave up and took them to a tyre fitter, who reckons their machines don't touch the rims so there shouldn't be any damage...

Is it me? Or is there a special gadget I ought to be using as well as the irons to protect the rims?

I learned the hard way after taking a nice chunk out of my black Excels

£4.75 to you Sir

PAIR OF MOTORCYCLE RIM PROTECTORS TYRE CHANGE - BN! on eBay, also Tools Equipment, Accessories, Motorcycle Parts Accessories, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 08-Jul-09 23:10:12 BST)

(nothing to do with me by the way)

Yer.. Rim protectors are the way to go but they make the job take about 10 times longer !

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Formerly known as tedmagnum: UK-Capetown 2010. Watch this space: www.touringted.com

A 6-inch G-clamp makes a decent bead breaker and only works on the tyre wall. After that you can hopefully take bigger bites using the rim protectors. Use the clamp to break the bead then hold a section fully down the well.

Remember, BMW don't want you to do this, want you to use their dealers, will do anything to save 0.000001 € per bike and don't want to fill in a thousand elf-n-safety forms related to green goo on the production line; they've fitted the tyres with no lube. If your tyre fitter put the new tyres on with soap it'll be easier next time.

Andy

Some make rim protectors from washing up liquid bottles and similar. Seen on an ADV tyre forum .

Thanks Dick.

How come?

Well 10x is an exageration but they make things awkward with having to move them, expecially when you get close to having the bead all the way in.

Also, you still have to use a lever WITHOUT the protector to get the first few inches of the tyre out of the rim before you can put the protector on...

I just never bother with anodised or painted rims if I know I'll be doing my own tyre changes (which is pretty much all the time)

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Formerly known as tedmagnum: UK-Capetown 2010. Watch this space: www.touringted.com

Ah ok. Easier said than done when they come fitted by the manufacturer!

An old racing cycle tyre cut into 8-10 inch sections does a fair (and free) job of protecting rims during a tyre change.
Dave.

Lengths of hosepipe, cut lengthways

Old plastic milk containers, they're nice soft plastic and easy to work with, I cut the neck and the base off before use. I have tried the split water hose pipe (the type you water the garden with) and they are fiddly, I did have some zip ties through them to help me retrieve them, but they don't beat the milk cartons.



Trophymick

Milk cartons?

Can't quite picture how you use someting the size of a carton! Garden hose I can appreciate though...

The garden hose slips off the rim, and inevitably goes inside the tyre, trust me. Then it's a game of fish the hose from the tyre, great if you have all day to play, but I like to get tyre fitting out of the way ASAP.
The milk cartons (obviously flattened, and cut to your desired size) give you something to hold on to, and are less fiddly than hose, slip them in between the tyre and rim, and spoon away. They also cost nothing and in use are recycled, and then put in the recycle bin and recycled again. 2ltr drinks bottles work in a emergency, but are made from different plastic (very noisy).
Try the milk cartons next time you change a tyre, be enlightened.


Trophymick

Hmmm not sure why that's the case, if you use a bead breaker or on iron to push down the tyre into the well, you can get the protector in no problems, the first couple tugs are normally where the most damage occurs.

Also, make sure your tyre irons are flat where they press on the rim, a dose of WD40 (which I use) or washing up liquid (which I don't use) makes stuff a bit slippier.

Obviously, if you're changing tyres a lot.... get a tyre changing rig, better than scrabbling about.

RTS

Better still - invest in a pair of MICHELIN Motorcycle Tyre Lever MOTO - 380mm (15").

Using washing up liquid in a tubed tyre is not recommended due to its chemical make up that will damage the inner tube in time.

Your friendly local Watlings can give you a small pot of their commercial tyre soap if you bring a small container along and ask nicely when you get your tyres

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