Changing a motorcycle tire is a difficult and tiresome process for the first timers. However, with the right kind of instruments, physical strength and a little bit of patience, the complexity can be reduced to a great extent. The tools for the process should be arranged earlier, so that you don’t face any difficulty later on. The first step in changing motorcycle tire comprises of removing the old tire. How to Change Motorcycle Tire Materials Required * Several Tire Irons * Valve Core Tool * Bead Breaker * Compressed Air * Silicone Spray-on Lubrication * Rim Protector * Breezer Tire Tool Remove the Old Tire * Gather all the equipments required for the process. The tools are usually found at a motorcycle shop or auto supply store. * Use a valve core tool to let the air out of the old tire completely. The tool should be held tightly, as the air generally gushes out with great force. * Mark the edge with a pencil. This will give you an idea as to which way the wheel spins. * Using a bead breaker tool, split the bead away from the rim. The ‘pop’ sound will indicate that the bead is broken. * Break the bead on the other side of the tire as well. * After you have broken the bead on both sides, spray the silicone lubricant on tire beads. * To remove the tire of the rim, need to insert tire irons under the tire. A single tire iron cannot complete the task, so multiple tire irons should be placed strategically around the tire. * The other side of the tire should be removed from the rim as well. If well lubricated, the tire would come out easily, without much effort. Install the New Tire * To install a new tire, lubricated it well on the sidewalls * The new tire should be placed in such a way that it matches the rotation mark made earlier on the rim. * Firmly attach the new tire on the rim. A tire iron might be required to finish the job. The tire must be edged down over the lip of the rim. Once the tire is placed, line up the valve stem where it belongs. * Inflate the tire a little using an air compressor. * Use the Breezer tire tool to insert the tire bead into the wheel rim. You need to rotate the tire and work on opposite sides back and forth. * To finish the task, inflate the tire to the recommended psi. * Your job is complete.
Sources from: http://keralaonline.com/automotive/change-motorcycle-tire_26159.html

2009/3/18
Motorcycle wheels can be repaired just as easily as any other alloy wheel. The process is the same, but requires a different machine, because most motorcycle wheels have a "pressed in" barring that remains with the wheel. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. So Metro Wheels converted an old brake lathe to a state-of-the-art motorcycle wheel repair machine. All our hard work has been worth it, as the new custom repair machine allows for the barring that is pressed in and accommodates most wheel sizes. The wheel is centered on a shaft and then heated to ensure smooth movement under hydraulic pressure. Repair vs. Replace Why invest in motorcycle wheel repairs? Because replacing OEM motorcycle rims and wheels can range from $350 to $2,000 per wheel. So those who didn’t want to spend that kind of money began asking about having them "pressed" back out - and the motorcycle wheel repairs industry was born. So long as safety isn’t an issue (that is, when a wheel can be repaired by a professional technician without jeopardizing the lives of the riders who are relying on the wheel to do its job), then alloy motorcycle wheel repair is an excellent choice for economy and cosmetic restoration. But when a wheel has been damaged severely, Metro Wheels will not compromise your safety: if there’s any question, we’ll err on the side of not repairing what could lead to serious injury.
Sources from: http://news.reriani.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=8585

2009/03/23
GLOBAL demand for synthetic and natural rubber may decline as much as 9 per cent this year, more than double last year’s drop, as the global recession cuts demand for tires, the International Rubber Study Group forecast. Usage will shrink at least 6.1 per cent to 20.8 million metric tons this year, compared with last year’s 4.1 per cent drop, Hidde Smit, secretary-general of the group, said today in an interview. The slump may be as much as 9 per cent in 2009 if the recession and consumer confidence deteriorate, he said. The global recession has prompted automakers including Toyota Motor Corp, the world’s biggest, to cut production, contributing to a 46 per cent slump in rubber prices in the past year. Producers in Asia including Thailand have curbed exports and boosted stockpiles in a bid to fight the slump. “The macroeconomic situation has deteriorated rapidly and so has the outlook for the tire industry,” said Robert Simmons, head of rubber and tire research at LMC International Ltd. Rubber for August delivery, the most-active contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, added 3.5 per cent to 146.8 yen a kg (US$1,525 a metric ton) at the 11 am break in Japan, gaining on a weaker dollar. Wheat, corn and soybean futures also advanced today. Demand for natural rubber may slide 2.7 per cent this year to 9.3 million tons, while consumption of its synthetic rival may slump 8.7 per cent to 11.5 million tons, according to figures in a presentation provided by Smit. Still, Smit said last week that natural rubber demand may contract at least 5.5 per cent. ‘Biggest Factor’ “Tire demand is by far the biggest factor for the decline” in total rubber demand, Smit said in Singapore, where he’s attending a conference. “The main question mark is China,” the world’s second-largest auto market after the US, Smit said. China’s vehicle sales surged 25 per cent in February, the first gain in four months, after the government cut taxes on some models. China’s tire makers are now running at full capacity, Shen Jinrong, chairman of Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co Ltd, China’s second largest tire maker, said on March 19. The International Rubber Study Group, based in Singapore, comprises producers and consumers, and has 16 countries and the European Community as members, according the organisation’s website. Thailand and Malaysia, which are members, together with Indonesia, which is not, are the world’s top three growers.
sources from: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20090323135704/Article/index_html

2009.03.23 By Choi He-suk
Tires are crucial to the functioning of automobiles, but they are also one of the least exciting components. Although tires with special features are available, the practical functions of a tire have generally been limited to enabling a car to move along the road without slipping. However, as technologies evolve, tire makers are also evolving and developing tires with additional practical functions and even products that may alter automobile designs altogether. One tire maker that has deviated from norms is Michelin, which has produced the Active Wheel. The Active Wheel is not just a tire but a whole wheel that contains the brake, suspension and an electric motor to power the car, allowing cars to be manufactured without engines, transmission and suspension systems. Although not quite as radically different as Michelin's Active Wheel, local tire makers have also been upgrading and adding new functions to their products. The country's largest tire maker Hankook Tire launched the environmentally friendly tire Enfren last year. The Enfren is the country's first eco-friendly tire. It can help increase the fuel economy of a car by about 16 percent, which according to the company's calculations can cut fuel costs by around 410,000 won ($295) a year. That efficiency means Enfren tires can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4.1 grams per kilometer, which equates to 820 kilograms over a distance of 200,000 kilometers. According to the company, 820 kilograms of carbon dioxide is equivalent to the amount of the gas absorbed by 146 trees in one year. Kumho Tires also has a fuel-saving product in its lineup. The company's Ecsta DX Eco tires, designed for sport utility vehicles, are produced from silica rubber that reduces rolling resistance by 25 percent. That cuts fuel costs by about 300,000 won over 20,000 kilometers on some vehicles. In addition, Kumho Tires also produces a number of tires that have extra functions including those that reduce noise, SUV tires that provide extra support when towing objects and run-flat tires that continue to function for limited distances even after the tire has developed a puncture. In addition, the company also produces tires with more unusual features. Kumho Tires' Aroma DX is one of the more unusual products manufactured by the company. The Aroma DX is produced with rubber containing heat scented oils that also help increase the structural integrity of the rubber and reduce noise. According to the company, the aroma tires contain lavender, mint and white musk to give off a "gentle scent" when driving along quiet lanes with the windows rolled down. Although the "function" of Aroma DX appears somewhat useless, Kumho Tires is the world's only producer of scented tires and holds patents for the technology in Korea, Canada, China, Europe, Russia and the United States. Other products include tires that give off colored smoke and X-Speed tires that are designed specifically for use at high speeds. The X-Speed is can be used at speeds of up to 360 kilometers per hour, making it the second product able to withstand the conditions at such high speeds after a product made by Germany's Continental.
sources from: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/03/23/200903230077.asp

3/18/2009 By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer
The disposal of about 20,000 tires at an Axton dump site on Tuesday will cost the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality about $31,500. The tires will be hauled to an Appomattox landfill where they will be chopped into small pieces for safe disposal. DEQ Public Affairs Manager Bill Hayden said it will cost $175 per ton to dispose of the tires, and he estimated there were 180 tons of tires to be taken to the landfill. The cost will be paid through a state fund for tire disposal, Hayden said. He noted that whenever someone buys a tire in Virginia, $1 from the purchase price goes into the fund. Extremely muddy conditions at the dump site in the 1100 block of Hobson Road did not stop the tire cleanup on Tuesday. Hayden anticipated that tires removed from the site would be enough to fill two tractor-trailers. But “the mud may slow things down a bit,” he said Tuesday. “We’ll get as much as we can done today” and come back soon if necessary. The exact identity of the property owner could not be determined Tuesday. Hayden said, however, that the owner already “put a lot of effort” into the cleanup, such as by making sure metal rims were removed from tires. Except for the tires, most other materials dumped at the site over the years already have been removed, he said. “The tires had to go” due to environmental concerns, he added. Piles of tires can attract vermin such as rats and mosquitos. If they catch fire, the burning rubber produces thick black smoke with toxic emissions, according to Hayden and information on the Internet. The DEQ’s tire cleanup effort has focused on southern Virginia in the past couple of years, Hayden said, adding that the Hobson Road cleanup is to be the last one in this area.
sources from: http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=18124

March 15, 2009
With diesel gas prices falling sharply, it would seem that trucking companies would be reaping higher profits. Click to enlarge Diesel prices have fallen, but so have the rates truckers receive for hauling freight. Dennis Scherer/TimesDaily Diesel fuel in Alabama is selling for about $2 per gallon, down from about $3.75 a year ago. While tractor-trailer operators welcome the lower prices, the trend is causing other problems. As fuel prices have fallen, so has the rate many businesses are willing to pay for shipping. Kathy Montgomery, operations manager for Zip City Trucking, said profit margins in the trucking business are shrinking. 'It's as bad as I've ever seen it,' Montgomery said. 'Freight rates are what they were 10 years ago,' she added. 'We might get $700 for hauling a load to Dallas that we used to get $1,200 to $1,300 for. While diesel prices have come down, the cost of trucks, insurance, tires and everything else has remained high.' She said the business has cut its fleet from 11 trucks to six in recent weeks because of the slump in revenue. 'We're downsizing. It's the only way we can stay in business.' Mike Limbaugh, owner of White Oak Transport in Decatur and a director for the Alabama Trucking Association, said many truck owners have been forced to park their rigs. 'They can no longer afford to run them with freight rates the way they are,' he said. Limbaugh said the amount of freight being shipped has declined as the economy soured and manufacturers scaled back production. With less freight being shipped, trucking companies are scrambling for business and many are willing to work for less, prompting shippers to cut the rates they are willing to pay. He said there is common misconception among shippers that trucking companies are earning higher profits because diesel prices have fallen. Limbaugh said the falling fuel prices do not offset the lower freight rates and the rising cost of owning and operating a tractor-trailer. Bruce Harris, owner of Harris Express in Leighton, said operating a tractor-trailer is expensive. He said a single tire for a large truck can cost more than $400. 'Anything you buy for a truck is expensive,' he said. 'I hear a lot of truckers say they can no longer afford to stay in business.' Harris, whose company hauls mail for the U.S. Postal Service, is glad he does not have to compete for every load as some truckers do. 'The mail business is still pretty good for us,' he said. 'But I worry about a lot of my friends in the business. A lot of truckers are struggling right now.'
sources from: http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090316/NEWS/903151991/1011

April 3rd, 2009
As American riders are encouraged to check their motorcycle helmets in the month of April, British bikers are being advised to polish up on tire safety.
With many English riders taking to the roads for the first time as the weather warms in Spring, TyreSafe and the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) are also advising motorcycling newcomers to boost their knowledge of tire safety.
New rider proficiency and safety are top of the agenda as TyreSafe and the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) encourage motorcycling newcomers to learn more about tire safety this spring. Lighter evenings, warmer weather and the long Easter weekend will see riding surge by almost one quarter more motorcycles on the road in April compared to those seen in March. In order to help riders stay safe on the roads, TyreSafe is running a Bike Tire Safety Month campaign throughout April to advise both new and experienced riders to check their the pressure, tread depth and condition of their tires before taking to the roads.
Many consider riding as a vulnerable means of transport, however, by promoting a higher level of rider proficiency and increasing awareness of safety issues, TyreSafe and the MCI aim to inspire a new generation of more savvy riders.
"Tire safety is critical to the bike's stability when accelerating, braking or cornering," comments Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. "The contact patch between the tire and the road is only the size of a credit card, and therefore riders should ensure that their tires are maintained correctly to help improve their safety on the roads. We also recommend that bikers take care to look ahead when riding and take measures to avoid any road hazards such as potholes, grit, drain covers and diesel spillages that could potentially damage their tires."
During April's Bike Tire Safety campaign, TyreSafe will seek to raise awareness of the importance of tires in motorcycle safety.
"We are pleased to support Bike Tire Safety Month as we seek to promote safer motorcycling, as learning how to control a bike effectively should go hand in hand with correct bike maintenance. Tire safety is crucial to rider safety and we recommend that new riders learn how to take care of their tires before setting off for their first ride of the spring," explains Karen Cooke, motorcycle safety manager, MCI.
Top tips for motorcycle tire safety :
.Check your tire pressures from cold at least once a week using an accurate gauge
.Inflate tires to the level recommended in the manufacturer's handbook
.Inspect tires for cuts, bulges, uneven wear or objects embedded into the tread pattern and replace if necessary
.Use dust caps to keep dirt away from the valve core and to act as a secondary air seal
.If your rims are cracked or bent they should be replaced immediately
.Check that your tread depth is not below the legal minimum of 1mm (for bikes over 50cc)
.Replace old or damaged valve stems
.Select the correct type of tire for your machine and riding style
.Check that both tires fitted to the bike are made by the same manufacturer and have the same tread pattern
.Make sure that your tire has been fitted the right way round by checking the directional arrows on the sidewall
.When replacing tube type tires always use a new inner tube
.Make sure your tire/wheel assembly is balanced correctly
.Keep oil and grease off your tires using detergent if necessary
.If you are unsure on any aspect of tire pressure or tire condition take your bike to an approved fitting centre and speak to the experts.
TyreSafe is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of the dangers of defective and worn tires, campaigning consistently to underline the importance of tire safety for more than 15 years.
Sources from: http://www.clutchandchrome.com/News/0904/News0904011.htm