How many of you change your own tires

[WesV]

Ok thanks guys!! I was getting worried I was over simplifying it by thinking that, but you have confirmed it is that easy!

[lhanscom]

I had a weight come off my front wheel this summer, and the 40mph head shake occurred, only noticeable if I didn't have both hands on the bar, but would amplify if let go. I've had a rear tire that was out of balance, and it caused a little vibration at certain speeds. So, I guess I'm saying balancing is important, don't leave it out of the mix.

[DMPLATT]

I'm interested in this as well. I'm looking to get new tires after the first of the year and see some good deals on the net. However, I know shops around here won't want to put them on if I don't buy them there.
This could be the answer. It's also something I've never done before, so I'm game.

Anyway, on the balancing issue, I get the idea of the heavy part down, so put weight on the top. How do you know how much weight? Aren't the balance weights different sizes?
Then, do you do this only once? I mean, after you install the first weight, is that it? Or do you make sure it's good and that you don't need another?

A freind of mine in Ohio says he's always changed his own tires and NEVER balances them. He's got an R1 and is a speed demon. How's that possible? WHen he was down here last month and we went riding (he burned me on his ZX6) we came back from our ride on the Highway. At one point I hit 100mph and I had a noticeable vibration. Enough for me not to hit 100mph again. At 90mph it rides nice. My front doesn't look to bad, but it's getting a bit worn. So I guess what I'm saying is that balancing to me is NOT an option. I feel it's very necessary. Just curious if others don't balance their tires.

Thanks.

[HiSPL]

You'll get a feel for it. Stick one weight on the top and lightly spin the wheel again. If it settles in the same place then stick on another weight. Wash, rinse, repeat.....

[Wingnut]

I suggest this.

Support the axle on each end and make sure it is level. Spin the tire by hand a little to loosen up the grease in the bearings. Allow the wheel to stop rotating by itself and theoreticaly if the friction of the bearings is low enough the heavy part of the tire will stop at the bottom. OK. Now, mark the bottom of the tire with something, pen pencil crayon whatever. Now move that mark to the 3:00 position, and select a weight, yes you are guessing at this point. Temporarily tape the weight to the 9:00 position and let go of the tire. If the chaulk mark rotates to the bottom again the weight is not heavy enough. If the weight goes to the bottom it is too heavy. Keep playing this game until the tire stays still when you let go. This is a pretty crude way of doing this but it will get you close to being balanced.

Hope this helps.

bob

[duaneage]

my story

Got quotes of 40 dollars a wheel and three days wait to change mine so I did it my self

I mounted a 17 inch 120/70 on the rear of my 650G. It's an IRC duotour 320. I did not cut the tire off, the steel belts are a real Hillary to cut through and their sharp. I used quick clamps to squeeze the tire to break the bread, then I used bicycle tire irons to pry it off, with a 1/2 inch box wrench for more leverage. The steel bicycle tire irons were perfect.

Fo installation I soaped the hell out of the tire for the second bead, the first one is easy ( just make sure the direction of the tire is correct, my first mistake) and I used 2 pieces of 3/16 steel flat stock, 1 inch wide and 8 inches long , that was smoothed and deburred to pry it on.

To protect the rim I placed a piece of mahogony about 3/4 inch thick under the flat stock . This wood is real hard and was tougher than plastic. 60 PSI from the compressor popped it on, but I used a nylon belt clamp to squeeze out the tire. this picture frame clamp was perfect for radially pressuring the tire so it sealed the bead.

3 hours start to finish and I rode it the next day. I saved enough for almost two new tires

[Evil Hobbit]

NOT ON A BET! The $20 I spend on having some other poor slob do it is worth it. I have done too many in my life and won't do it anymore. JMHO.

[duaneage]

20 a wheel?

have your "poor slob" visit my neighborhood.


Everyone I know does tires themselves because the shops won't change rubber you bring in without buying it from them unless they charge a fortune for " electronic computerized spin balancing" and standard shop rates to pull the wheels.

Justifies 39.99 a wheel in labor I guess.

[bwringer]

I, too am a big fan of paying someone else to mount tires. It just sucks.

If you're paying more than $15 or $20, or waiting more than 15 minutes, find another shop. With a proper tire mounting machine, it only takes one or two minutes to mount a tire. If they just have a monkey with tire irons, go elsewhere before he damages your wheels.

If you are going to mount your own tires anyway, DO NOT use dish soap, shampoo, or anything else you might already have in your home. Household soaps range from relatively benign to murderously corrosive. Do not let these near your expensive tires and irreplaceable aluminum wheels. Soap residue will also become slippery and extremely dangerous the next time you ride in the rain.

Instead, spend $7 or so for a lifetime supply of the Real Deal -- Tire Mounting Lubricant. It's available in any auto parts store that caters to professionals (NAPA, CarQuest, not AutoZone or Advance) or in any off-road motorcycle/ATV shop.

This stuff will ease mounting and then dry to a tacky film that helps seal the tire and lets it stick to the rim without slipping. Most importantly, any residue will not become a slippery, soapy hazard to your life the next time you ride through a puddle. And, of course, it won't corrode steel or aluminum wheels.

[Jethro]

Man, all this talk about tire changing. I go to a shop in Manchester NH called Motorcycles of Manchester. They are strictly a used motorcycle shop and usually have 2-300 used bikes in stock. They have decent prices on parts, even if they have to order. Any tire you buy from them and they will mount and balance it for free, as long as you take the wheels off the bike. And they will usually do it while you wait. You guys are getting ripped off!

[earlfor]

Local shop..............$40 and wait a week.
Thats why I do my own.

Earl


[quote="bwringer"]

If you're paying more than $15 or $20, or waiting more than 15 minutes, find another shop. With a proper tire mounting machine, it only takes one or two minutes to mount a tire. If they just have a monkey with tire irons, go elsewhere before he damages your wheels.

[bwringer]

Earlfor, you must not be in the bad part of town. Or maybe your town doesn't have a bad part...

You want a rathole of a shop that's been there forever. Weeds and a motorcycle junkyard out back are good signs. A slightly greasy but friendly shop cat and/or dog wandering around is even better. These people will understand how much your bike means to you and why you're spending all this money on a bike old enough to drink.

If they're a new bike dealer, you're going to pay out the nose both for the tires and the mounting, and they'll give you a lot of lip in the bargain. If you get Skippy the brand-new mechanic, they might even mangle your wheels.

Maybe the cost of living and riding is just higher in your area.

Also, maybe we're not comparing apples to apples. Everyone charges $40 and up if you ride the whole bike in. That's entirely justifiable due to the time it takes to remove and replace the wheels properly.

[earlfor]

I always take the rims off the bike. The shop only had to mount tires onto the rims. New bike dealer with the attitude that if youre not spending 10K, they dont have time for you to be bothering them. Problem is, the Harley shop only works on Harleys, nope, wont mount a tire. The dirt bike shop will do NO work on any streetbike and there is only one streetbike shop/dealer and it is all brands. You can count on "Skippy" being the one to change your tire. THE mechanic doesnt lower himself to do such things.

Earl

Earlfor, you must not be in the bad part of town. Or maybe your town doesn't have a bad part...

You want a rathole of a shop that's been there forever. Weeds and a motorcycle junkyard out back are good signs. A slightly greasy but friendly shop cat and/or dog wandering around is even better. These people will understand how much your bike means to you and why you're spending all this money on a bike old enough to drink.

If they're a new bike dealer, you're going to pay out the nose both for the tires and the mounting, and they'll give you a lot of lip in the bargain. If you get Skippy the brand-new mechanic, they might even mangle your wheels.

Maybe the cost of living and riding is just higher in your area.

Also, maybe we're not comparing apples to apples. Everyone charges $40 and up if you ride the whole bike in. That's entirely justifiable due to the time it takes to remove and replace the wheels properly.

[WesV]

The shop I go to at home is the Suzi/Kawa dealer, but I get treated like a king there because dad went to High School with the owner and my bike was bought off him when it was brand new. I get them mounted and balanced while I wait for $10, doesn't matter if I order from them or not.

Now the shop I deal with down here in Blacksburg while I am at school is a nice little small shop with 2 people working the front and 1.5 people working in the shop. They still charge me $30 to mount and balance a tire I bought from them and I bring the wheel in. They charge $45 if I brought the bike in and if I brought them a tire I bought else where, $60.

[Anonymous]

Fifteen years ago I figured I'd pay to have the shop do it instead of doing it myself.

When I got home I realized he had put the tire on backwards. Big arrow on it indicating direction...and he had the bike too, so how do you make THAT mistake?


Been doing them myself ever since. Good tire irons help.