My 99 400ex has the stock otsu radials on the rear and front. I recently took of the rear tire to put on my sand paddles and the tires have dirt or rocks or something inside them. The bead has never been broken and I was just wondering how its could have happened. Also any methodes for removing the tire from the rim would be helpful.

fourtrax2000 99 400ex

 

I have rocks inside mine, too. Never pulled the bead off but obviously enough to get rocks in there. I noticed that my tires deflate when jumping.

 

As far as breaking the bead....you ain't gettin em off! I had to take my factory's to a local tire shop and they had to use a six foot long slide hammer to break them. The tire machine would not even touch them. Take your wallet, they won't be happy.

 

I just replaced my stock tires for the third time and i must say that these are the best stock tires i have ever seen and probably the best traction high performance tire i have ever seen. But when doing hard trail riding they are too easily destroyed. i put a set of Bandits on this time and believe me if you ever buy another tire dor trails bandit should be it. they are great for moto also but they dont slide as well and are heavy

 

Breaking the bead down is not too dificult. I change all my own tires. I use an old bumper jack, the type with the large stamped metal base. I think the one I use is from a '76 Cutlass Supreme.
First take the valve core out.
You put the base on the tire, as close to the rim as you can, and hook the jack under a bumper. It takes some practice to get the proper angle, but it will work. You just don't want to start jacking away, you have to watch what you are doing and if the base starts to slide down on the tire, you have to stop and try a different angle. I always have to reposition the jack a couple times, but it works.

 

I disagree. The stock 400ex tires are definately better than other STOCK tires, but the side walls are to thin, good luck not getting a flat! And at high speeds they don't track straight. I've had just about every kind of performance tire, and the stock 400ex rear tires are towards the bottom. Oh, by the way. U WILL NOT get the stock rear tires of easily. Either buy a complete kit (around $200), or take em to the shop. They are on there! I think they use some space age gunk to hold the thick *** steal beads on the rim. Now taking aftermarket tires off is a completely different story. Good luck..

mark

 

I had a sidewall puncture in my stock ohtsu. I removed it using the method I described above and patched it from the inside. Getting it off the rim was a little more difficult than others because the rubber is thinner and softer. It took more repositioning and retrying than usual. It was only slightly more difficult to reseat the bead, as opposed to aftermarket tires. That was because I didn't want to stress my repair too much. So, I took it easy and didn't put too much pressure in it. Granted, I don't trust the tire too much anymore. I don't use it on my 400EX, I put them on my 350X because I hardly ever ride it any more.

 

I have rocks in my rear tires, too. Weird.

 

THEY ARE NOT ROCKS. I HAD THE SAME THINGS IN MINE AND THOUGHT THEY WERE ROCKS BUT THEY ARE JUST LITTLE MOISTURE BEADS.

 

when I push my 300 ex around I hear things rolling around inside my tires too.