tire change
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 582
Likes: 28
From: North Eastern Pa.
Taking the wheels off the bike is the hard part. Then it’s just a big bicycle tire. I use an 8” C clamp to break the beads, then soap up the beads & 2 tire bars. Do a google search and watch a couple youtube vids
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 401
From: Port Coquitlam B.C.
Can you do that without scratching the crap out of the rims?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,265
Likes: 99
From: Northern VA
Buddy has the Harbor Freight tire changer w/ motorcycle tire attachment. (clamps onto the rotor)
He also has some sort of a teflon coated tire changing iron. Works like a dream.
Toss in some dyna beads, and good to go.
He also has some sort of a teflon coated tire changing iron. Works like a dream.
Toss in some dyna beads, and good to go.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 48
From: Ogden, UT
It is a simple process, I have found the hardest part is seating the bead on the new tire if you are tubeless. Some tires are much easier than others, but have had a few I had to take to a shop or use the explosion method to get them to take air.
Search youtube for videos on how to do it.
Search youtube for videos on how to do it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
With something like a No Mar changer, not so bad, but try stretching a skinny 21" off a wire rim with spoons, and you'll probably wish you'd taken the wheel to a dealer/indy and paid the 30 bucks or so they charge. Google "rim savers" and see a cheap way to keep from scratching up the rims; I even use them with a No Mar changer sometimes. If you can at least remove your wheels yourself, that's saving the biggest expense of having someone else mount your tires. Don't believe my sig pic; it's not so easy a kid can do it, but with this equipment, you could (unfortunately, ain't cheap, cost as much as... a couple tire changes at the dealer).
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
It is a simple process, I have found the hardest part is seating the bead on the new tire if you are tubeless. Some tires are much easier than others, but have had a few I had to take to a shop or use the explosion method to get them to take air.
Search youtube for videos on how to do it.
Search youtube for videos on how to do it.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
I just changed one yesterday! https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...own-tires.html
I've got a tire machine that I've used for the last two changes, but prior to picking up the tire machine I always changed my own with a JCWhitney bead breaker and tire irons. The most important step when using tire irons is to make sure protect the wheel from nicks and gouges and support everything such that you don't bend a brake rotor (or remove the rotor to really be safe).
I've got a tire machine that I've used for the last two changes, but prior to picking up the tire machine I always changed my own with a JCWhitney bead breaker and tire irons. The most important step when using tire irons is to make sure protect the wheel from nicks and gouges and support everything such that you don't bend a brake rotor (or remove the rotor to really be safe).
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 564
Likes: 6
From: Wyoming USA
I do my own front is 21" and no problem,just get some good tire spoons and as far as rim protestors I cut some strips out of a old milk jug.I have tubed tires also about 4 hrs and was off and on the bike.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 974
Likes: 4
From: Utah
2 Harbor freight tire irons, Bottle of liquid soap and a jack. I pull the wheel, lay it on a towel in the driveway, position it in front of the front tire of my car/truck so I can drive over the tire edge to break the bead. takes about 2 seconds. Soap up tire and pop her off with the tire irons. Soap up new tire and pop her on. I use the explosion method of seating the bead on tubeless tires and just let the tube do the work on tubes tires.
The first couple of times you do it, you will probably think its a pain in the ***. Just think about the money your saving. After you do it a few times its a piece a cake. I can do a tire in about 20 minutes.
The first couple of times you do it, you will probably think its a pain in the ***. Just think about the money your saving. After you do it a few times its a piece a cake. I can do a tire in about 20 minutes.
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