rear tire replacement

[teck_mountain]

Pulled the rear wheel off my bike as it was bald. Any suggestions for things to look for or do before putting the wheel back on?

[Ken Talbot]

First off, I would look for a new tire!

But seriously, check the date code stamped into the sidewall of the tire to ensure you are not getting a tire that is already a couple of years old. 'They' recommend a max 5 year lifespan for a tire if you don't wear it out sooner. If the tire is already a couple of years old, and you don't put on a lot of miles, you'll need to replace it while it still has lots of tread.

Next, make sure the shop gets the new tire on the right way around, and with the yellow dot right next to the valve stem. Some guys don't pay close enough attention and you end up with the tread pattern going the wrong direction, or with something that's going to be hard to balance.

Tire changing time is a good time to remove the final drive so you clean and repack the splines. Pack both sets of splines - the final drive/drive shaft splines, and the final drive/wheel splines.

Lastly, watch out for a heating rear brake when you first start riding again. You can lessen the chance of this by cleaning and lubing the pad guides and the caliper sleeve. Just about every time I remove a set of perfectly-operating calipers, they run warm for the first while. Once in a while they run really hot as if something went back together a bit crooked.