Guide to Changing ATV Tires
When it comes to common maintenance issues you’ll see as an ATV owner, you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on the tires . Whether it’s to fix a flat, swap for new rubber, or perform maintenance on your off-road machine, removing an ATV’s wheel and tire is a key skill you should have. Let’s go over everything you need to know to change an ATV tire easily and safely.
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Prepare Your Work Area
Ideally, you want to start with a solid, level surface to work on, though this isn’t always possible when you’re out in the world and need to change a tire wherever the old one happened to go flat. Even if you’re in that situation, there are some tips that are universally true. For example, you’ll want to chock the tires that remain on the ground with something to make sure the unit doesn’t move when you jack it up, and the parking brake should be engaged.
Before moving forward, you should also be sure you’re wearing the proper personal safety equipment, like eye protection and gloves. These will help keep you safe during the process and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Loosen the Lug Nuts
Before you start to lift the vehicle with your jack, loosen the lug nuts on the wheel you’d like to remove. It’s crucial to do it in this order, as loosening the nuts is usually near impossible once the tire is in the air because there is nothing to stop the entire assembly from spinning.
Lift and Secure the ATV
With the nuts loosened, you can now lift up your vehicle, being careful to position the jack underneath a solid point on the frame—not on any of the suspension components. Once lifted so the tire is clear of the ground, place jack stands underneath your ATV to ensure it can’t fall. Working in a garage or shop, it’s usually enough to place a single jack stand (be sure to check the stand’s weight rating), but if you’re off-road, it can be prudent to place multiple jack stands based on the angle of the vehicle and if it’s at risk of tipping over should it slip off the jack.
Remove the Wheel and Tire
Once safely lifted, remove the nuts and pull the wheel and tire assembly off the unit. This will give you access to the brakes and suspension, so if maintenance or repair work is your goal, this is the final step. For those replacing their tires, there is more work to be done.
Deflate and Break the Bead
First, use a valve stem tool to fully deflate the old tire. Then you’ll need to separate the tire bead from the rim. Start by soaking that bead in soapy water or tire bead lube to help everything slide off easier. A bead breaker tool is the simple way to get that wheel and tire separated, though a good hammer, punch, tire irons, and a crowbar can also be employed to break them both free using some old-fashioned hard work. If you’re doing this process even semi-often, it’s recommended to get the proper bead breaker tool, as the DIY method is possible but can lead to unnecessary frustration and damage—usually both, in that order.
Once the bead is broken, use your tire irons to pry the tire away from the wheel, being careful not to damage the wheel in the process.
Install the New Tire
Now it’s time to get your new tires and seat them on the wheel, repeating the process you just did but in reverse. Apply bead lube to get things slippery and then begin to pry the tire into place one section at a time, being sure to check that the orientation of the tire matches the tread’s proper direction. Once the tire appears to be on the wheel in all the correct spots, inflate it to the proper pressure based on the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Check for Proper Bead Seating and Leaks
At this point, check the bead all around the tire to ensure it is seated correctly on the wheel. You can listen for the hiss of air escaping as your first sign, but to be sure you don’t have any tiny leaks, apply some water to the area and watch for air bubbles to form, showing you where the air is leaking from.
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Reinstall the Wheel
Once your wheel and tire are properly assembled, install them back onto your ATV and loosely tighten your lug nuts before lowering the machine back to the ground. Then torque your lug nuts to the proper specification based on the manufacturer’s recommendation, tightening them in a star pattern to ensure the pressure is evenly distributed. That means you always tighten the nut directly across from the one you just tightened.
Once back on the ground, take your machine for a spin and then double-check for leaks and proper inflation after you return. If you follow the outline steps above, you’re ready to safely change your tires and get back on the trails.
Stephen Elmer
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