GS650L - grind rim's inner lip down to mount tire?

[sacruickshank]

Trying to mount Shinko 712's on the cast rims of a 1983 GS650L. The front went on OK, but the shop cannot get the tire to seat on the rear wheel, even with 100 psi and straps, and multiple attempts and different tire positions. Apparently the tires won't go over the small inner lip meant to keep the bead in pace. The mechanic is suggesting that I grind down the lip in roughly 1/3 of the rim (120 degrees, or 2pi/3 radians if you prefer). This would provide a little give and the tire *should* then mount.

I did search via Google, but no threads became apparent.

Should I ...
- Grind down the lip as suggested?
- Get a different tire (not trying to start tire discussion)?
- Go to a different shop to see if they have any luck?
- Something else?

Pic for reference

 

[Grimly]

Must be that tyre that's an outlier. Take it back.

 

[Cipher]

sweet baby jesus no
get a new tire
and a new "mechanic"
what kind of bloody moron would suggest such a thing?
If the tire is the correct size it will mount
Bias ply are stiffer maybe they are not used to working with them.
Different tire positions? how is that even a thing? there is a heavy spot that need to be oriented and a tire is uniformly circular.

 

[zed1015]

I'd take it to a different shop or get another tyre.
That small lip won't stop the correct size tyre from seating and you shouldn't grind it down.

 

[Nessism]

Are you using real deal tire lube? Not dish soap, tire lube. Also, you need to clean the crud off the rim.

 

[rphillips]

Never heard of such a thing. I couldn't say what the problem is, but can't believe grinding on the rim would ever be talked, or even thought about. Just my opinion, if the tire goes on the wheel, over the outer edges, it will go over this little lip...But I haven't seen it.

 

[Burque73]

Maybe the rubber is harder from sitting on a shelf for a few years. Is the manufacture date recent?

 

[sacruickshank]

Maybe the rubber is harder from sitting on a shelf for a few years. Is the manufacture date recent?

The tire is relatively new, date code from 2021. That's the first thing I check for any tire I buy

 

[sacruickshank]

thanks all for the input. I have used this same tire model on a Honda Comstar rim which also has that lip, so it can be done, assuming all mfrs use the same dims.

 

[sacruickshank]

Are you using real deal tire lube? Not dish soap, tire lube. Also, you need to clean the crud off the rim.

Mechanic mentioned using grease, perhaps lithium, not sure about real deal tire lube.

 

[Grimly]

Mechanic mentioned using grease, perhaps lithium, not sure about real deal tire lube.

That's enough to raise alarm flags immediately.
Never use ordinary grease to mount a tyre.
If he's not got the proper tyre soap, find another shop. Tyre soap isn't expensive, and if he's in any way mounting tyres regularly, he should have the proper stuff.

 

[Burque73]

The tire is relatively new, date code from 2021. That's the first thing I check for any tire I buy

Yes, of course. Someone has to be captain obvious though...


FWIW, my wheels have that lip too and the Shinko 712's have gone over it without too much fuss. Warming them up really helps.

A side note, a little Ru-Glyde and green scotch brite pad helps clean the crud off the inside of the wheel.

 

[rphillips]

Are you sure the one who mentioned using lithium grease on a tire & grinding the ridge off the wheel is a mechanic??? I don't think I know one who would say that...But strange things do happen.

 

[sacruickshank]

Are you sure the one who mentioned using lithium grease on a tire & grinding the ridge off the wheel is a mechanic??? I don't think I know one who would say that...But strange things do happen.

Honestly, I don't recall exactly what type of grease he mentioned, but the grinding part was very clear.

I'll clean up the wheel then try a diff shop to mount it, or maybe get a set of tire irons and try myself. Or maybe try the gorilla tape method described here ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr0ZIp1iXoc

 

[sacruickshank]

Yes, of course. Someone has to be captain obvious though...


FWIW, my wheels have that lip too and the Shinko 712's have gone over it without too much fuss. Warming them up really helps.

A side note, a little Ru-Glyde and green scotch brite pad helps clean the crud off the inside of the wheel.

Yep, I play the Capt. Obvious role occasionally as well. I have a variety of abrasives that I'll use on the wheel today.

 

[Rob S.]

My mechanic (Frank Davis of Powerhouse) said what I knew innately when I wanted to put Bridgestone 'Battleaxe' tires on my 11E: the wheels were not designed for that tire, and visa versa.

 

[Nessism]

My mechanic (Frank Davis of Powerhouse) said what I knew innately when I wanted to put Bridgestone 'Battleaxe' tires on my 11E: the wheels were not designed for that tire, and visa versa.

The Battlax BT45 and BT46 ARE excellent tires for GS's.

 

[sacruickshank]

here's a pic of the cleaned up rim, done with a combination of flap wheel sandpaper, wire wheels, scotchbrite w/ PB blaster penetrant, and scraping inner corners with flat head screwdriver. Not perfect, but better than before. Now to try to gorilla tape tire mounting method. If not, off to harbor freight to buy some tire spoons.

 

[bwringer]

In a few decades of changing many many motorcycle tires by hand, I've had exactly one defective tire. It mounted OK, but the wires in the bead were twisted and it would not seal. The retailer was quite gracious about replacing it once I managed to get a picture that showed the problem (it's hard to take a picture of a defect in a matte black object).

Anyway, either the tire is defective and/or the installer is an idiot. It's dead certain that the latter is true: the installer is a dangerous idiot. However, both could be true as well; the tire could be defective.

I think the big danger here is that the nitwit "mekanik" has damaged the tire, so there may be no way of determining whether the tire was defective in the first place, or whether it's still safe to use.

Honestly, I would, 100%, throw that tire out and start over with a fresh tire, mounting it myself, or finding someone who's not a blithering idiot. It's not an expensive tire, and it would be well worth the $70 or so for peace of mind. I absolutely do NOT take chances with motorcycle tires.

 

[sacruickshank]

I think the big danger here is that the nitwit "mekanik" has damaged the tire, so there may be no way of determining whether the tire was defective in the first place, or whether it's still safe to use.

Honestly, I would, 100%, throw that tire out and start over

Thanks for the comment about tire damage. The outer bead surface looks good, but there is about a 1" damaged section on the bead's inner wall that is either due mfg defect or installation abuse. I don't know which as I didn't inspect the tire that closely on arrival. See pic below for the damaged section. I suspect this would only reinforce your "chuck it and start over" recommendation.