Here's Why Dealers Lose Sales
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 193
Likes: 2
From: Not too far up the BC border
I'm looking for tires this year, my tires I think are still factory but starting to show that both tires are getting worn. I want to get white walls but up here in Canada the prices are insane both at the dealers and tire shops (@ 300 bucks each). Looking on the internet and seeing the oodles of tires and choices kinda leaves your head spinning. From reading in here it seems that buying tires off the internet is kinda a buyer beware, old stock and 2nds.
I would apprectiate if someone would lead me down a path of a good tire and a reliable dealer who will ship to northern Idaho, and accept paypal payment would be a bonus.
I would apprectiate if someone would lead me down a path of a good tire and a reliable dealer who will ship to northern Idaho, and accept paypal payment would be a bonus.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 54
From: The Burgh
My indy mechanic does what I can't do myself, and mounting/balancing tires is one example.
Last time, I paid him $100 tip included for mounting/balancing 2 tires and installing 2 angled valves on the wheels. I brought the bike (Ultra), not the wheels. His rates are very reasonable and I can't find fingerprints (or scratches) all over the tins when I pick it up.
Last edited by frenchbiker; Mar 11, 2012 at 08:49 AM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 52,957
Likes: 44,476
From: SW OH.
I'm looking for tires this year, my tires I think are still factory but starting to show that both tires are getting worn. I want to get white walls but up here in Canada the prices are insane both at the dealers and tire shops (@ 300 bucks each). Looking on the internet and seeing the oodles of tires and choices kinda leaves your head spinning. From reading in here it seems that buying tires off the internet is kinda a buyer beware, old stock and 2nds.
I would apprectiate if someone would lead me down a path of a good tire and a reliable dealer who will ship to northern Idaho, and accept paypal payment would be a bonus.
I would apprectiate if someone would lead me down a path of a good tire and a reliable dealer who will ship to northern Idaho, and accept paypal payment would be a bonus.
Last edited by RAWHIDE07; Mar 11, 2012 at 09:24 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,913
Likes: 2,542
This leads me to ask a question. Why exactly do you try to support your dealer? No digs, and not being a smart a$$$.... really, but I can't run from dealers fast enough. But for dire emergencies I would never buy a thing from a dealer. They are utter and absolute crooks (as you just pointed out) and at least for me, spending my hard earned cash at my local Indy is money much better spent. The last thing I want to do is "support" my dealer, and as long as we keep doing so they will continue to gouge the **** out of us.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 995
Likes: 2
From: Canada
I agree I like to support dealer, but when I can throw a tire off and on with my tire spoons in about 15min I just cannot pay them $50 per 5min of my time. The worst part is they no doubt have a machine and can have the wheel off the bike tire changed and wheel back on the bike in 15 min.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 899
Likes: 10
I know not everyone wants to bother but I mount my own too. It's really not that hard. (Although my current low profile rear Metzler 880 200mm was a bit tougher.) I also made a wheel balancer out of two old jackstands and some skateboard bearings. The only other thing you need is a bead breaker and I was going to make one, but HF sells one for about $30 so what the heck. http://www.harborfreight.com/bead-breaker-92961.html
An aside about balancing. While some wheel assemblies, meaning the tire, wheel, inner tube (if installed,) and brake rotor may indeed need active balancing I find that nowadays modern manufacturing procedures turn out mostly balanced components. And while working on other folks wheel assemblies I don't find many that are out of balance. Granted my hillbilly jackstand setup isn't as accurate as that gee-whiz setup down at the dealership but we ain't going 200 miles per hour either. And I know plenty of long time riders who've never had a motorcycle tire checked or balanced and they seldom or never have a problem. I'm not sure I'd go as far as not checking the balance, but I'd say dealership balancing is mostly a profit center for them and nothing else. I mean it ain't your Gran-dad's '55 Buick.
Back to tire mounting itself. One trick I use, especially with low profile (small sidewall) tires is to actively warm up the tire first. I do this with a homemade tire oven. It's just some bricks for an enclosure and a clear plastic tarp over the top that's sealed at the edges. I place the tire (or the entire wheel assembly) into the oven which is outside in direct sunlight. In just twenty minutes or so it raises the temp of the tire enough to make it much more pliable and lots easier to mount or dis-mount when you go at it with the tire spoons. Note: You're not roasting the tire, just warming it up!
An aside about balancing. While some wheel assemblies, meaning the tire, wheel, inner tube (if installed,) and brake rotor may indeed need active balancing I find that nowadays modern manufacturing procedures turn out mostly balanced components. And while working on other folks wheel assemblies I don't find many that are out of balance. Granted my hillbilly jackstand setup isn't as accurate as that gee-whiz setup down at the dealership but we ain't going 200 miles per hour either. And I know plenty of long time riders who've never had a motorcycle tire checked or balanced and they seldom or never have a problem. I'm not sure I'd go as far as not checking the balance, but I'd say dealership balancing is mostly a profit center for them and nothing else. I mean it ain't your Gran-dad's '55 Buick.
Back to tire mounting itself. One trick I use, especially with low profile (small sidewall) tires is to actively warm up the tire first. I do this with a homemade tire oven. It's just some bricks for an enclosure and a clear plastic tarp over the top that's sealed at the edges. I place the tire (or the entire wheel assembly) into the oven which is outside in direct sunlight. In just twenty minutes or so it raises the temp of the tire enough to make it much more pliable and lots easier to mount or dis-mount when you go at it with the tire spoons. Note: You're not roasting the tire, just warming it up!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 3
From: Bel Air Md
my dealer is also big $ markup but they will mount the tires I bring them, always about half their cost. It works for me and they get the big markup for the people that don't care or don't want the hassle.