BMW R850 Maintenance Manual page 29

Front Tire Change
Hints: Warm the tires in the sun! A warm tire goes on much more easily.
When levering the last of the tire bead onto the wheel, be absolutely certain the
opposite bead is not seated but rather squeezed into the middle of the wheel.
Put just the wheel, no tire on it, on the balancing stand and check for the heavy
spot and use that rather than the tire stem for the heaviest spot.
Tire Removal
1. Place the wheel on the wooden support frame to prevent rotor damage (or
remove the rotors, 5mm hex bit socket).
2. Mark the direction of rotation on the wheel so you don't put the new tire on
backwards!
3. Remove the valve core with the valve core tool being careful not to let it get
launched.
4. With the wheel in the wooden frame, break the bead all around on both sides
with the bead breaker being careful that it does not slide into the wheel and
scratch it
5. Lube the bead on one side with tire lube.
6. Pry off the first side with 2 or 3 tire irons (tape them with electrical tape or duct
tape to avoid scratching the wheel).
Note: The GS has very thick rim edges and regular rim protectors do not fit. Also
because of the thick rim edges, tire irons tend to slip off unless you insert them a
little farther than usual.
Note: There is a bit of a trick to getting the second side off. Proceed as follows:
7. Lube both sides of the second bead extra well – this is the hard one to
remove.
7. Stand the tire and wheel vertical
8. With 1 or 2 tire irons reach into the wheel and pry the second side over the
edge of the wheel (pry it part way off) and hold it there under tension.
9. Take the heavy rubber mallet and pound the tire off the rest of the way.
10. Clean the wheel of any dirt. Clean off any old rubber from the wheel where
the tire seals.
11. Remove the old wheel weights with a razor knife and alcohol.
12. Balance just the wheel to confirm (or not) that the valve stem is the heaviest
spot. Mark the heavy spot if different than the valve stem.
Tire Installation
13. Align the painted tire balance dot with the tire stem or heavy spot on the
wheel!!! and the correct direction of rotation!!!
14. Lube the first bead of the new tire and push it on with hands, knees, feet and
tire iron.
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