I'm having a hell of a time breaking the bead on some Nanco Bigfoot tires. I've taken them to a couple of tire shops but nobody wants to mess with them because they are afraid to hurt the rims (4x8 aluminum Sysmic). So, I'm stuck trying home solutions. Reason I want to break the bead is I want to swap out the valve stems (straight now; going to curved).

Have people had any good fortune getting this done? Tips please!

Steve,

There is a tool that makes changing these kinds of tires quite easy. I have one and it works quite well. It took me a bit of time to figure out how to use it, because the instructions are not great (and I'd never changed a tire of any kind with a tire changing tool before.) However, check on youtube there are plenty of good videos using this particular tool. Just check and make sure your tire/rim size works. I think it will.

https://www.harborfreight.com/mini-tire-changer-61179.html

Steve,

Not sure if this applies to your situation but I was having a hard time getting the air pump to hook up to the valve stems on my buggy tires. I found that valve extenders provided the solution. They just screw on and I could bend the stem to easily hook up the pump and valve stem. Should be able to find them at an auto parts store for a few dollars.

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Steve, Not sure if this applies to your situation but I was having a hard time getting the air pump to hook up to the valve stems on my buggy tires. I found that valve extenders provided the solution. They just screw on and I could bend the stem to easily hook up the pump and valve stem. Should be able to find them at an auto parts store for a few dollars.

Not sure which rims you are using, but I like these 45 degree valve stems in Sysmic rims.

https://www.amazon.com/MMG-PVR70-Valve-Degree-Angled/dp/B017...

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Steve, There is a tool that makes changing these kinds of tires quite easy. I have one and it works quite well. It took me a bit of time to figure out how to use it, because the instructions are not great (and I'd never changed a tire of any kind with a tire changing tool before.) However, check on youtube there are plenty of good videos using this particular tool. Just check and make sure your tire/rim size works. I think it will. https://www.harborfreight.com/mini-tire-changer-61179.html

That tool looks like a winner! Thanks.

Steve,

I am using the Flexifoil stock rims. The problem I was trying to solve was not being able to plug in the connector on the air pump to the short straight valve. A curved valve would have been easy, couldn't do it with a straight valve. I found the extenders screwed it on and had not problem after that. You may have other reasons for wanting to change valves, in that case the tool is the way to go (and probably worth getting anyway, since we do have to change our tires from time to time.)

BTW - check on line to see if Harbor Freight has coupons for the tire changer. They often do have coupons for lot of things.

Here is how the straight vs curved valve stems look in Sysmic rims. It's hard to inflate the tires with the straight stems without really bending them over to the side. I'm worried that over time this bending is going to tear the valves once the rubber starts to dry out.

Yeah - no doubt curved is better. I may have to try that some time. Think I could just pull the bead over the rim, reach in - pull out the old stem and pop in the new.....a project for a later time.