Tires
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
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From: Potsdam, NY
Tires
My dealer wanted $120 to change two tires. I decided instead to watch a few youtube how to videos on this and buy the tools (Motion Pro tire irons, bead popper and rim protectors ~$50 total) and do this myself. I wish I had done this 10 sets of tires ago. As it turns out it is not much more difficult than changing a bicycle tire. Used dyna beads to balance and dish soap and water as a lubricant on the beads to get them over the rim. How many of you change your own tires? I now kicking myself for having wasted money by not having done this several sets of tires ago.
To add insult to injury I found the same tires the dealer had for 50% less online.
To add insult to injury I found the same tires the dealer had for 50% less online.
Last edited by fat_tony; Apr 25, 2013 at 04:59 AM.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
I figure I saved about $450 dollars by buying online and installing myself vs dealer not including the one time cost of the tools and the $25 spent on the dyna bead kit and two filtered valve stems (dyna bead sells these for $3 each, keeps the dyna beads from clogging the valve stems). Another option is to by a static balancing stand from some place like Harbor Freight for $50 to apply traditional lead weights - how to youtube videos on this too.
Last edited by fat_tony; Apr 25, 2013 at 07:31 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 618
Likes: 16
From: beaumont texas
i do my own tire work. i found this write up in the under 50 bucs thread in the dyna section that works for me. https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...ml#post4542622
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,493
From: Decatur, Alabama
I've been doing my own tires for a few years now. I bought the Cycle Hill tire changer. Works good. Use dyna beads for balancing. I've saved enough money on tires and labor to more than pay for it. Of course, having 4 scooters makes the payback quick.
carl
carl
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 63
From: San Antonio
Great intel. I had two dealers in my area quote me prices of about $750 for WWW tires for my 2012 Heritage. Both dealers were within a few dollars from each other on their quotes. I bought them online, shipped free and had a local Indy mechanic installed them for a fraction of the dealers' quoted prices.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 502
From: Northern WV
Good for you, Tony! You'll really be saving money when you factor the discount on the tires and the labor. I did invest in a nice balancer and ended up buying a bead breaker from Harbor Freight. Marc Parnes sells a nice balancer. I use soapy water as a lube to remove but for mounting I found an aerosol tire mount spray (sold by Yamaha) that works really well. It's very slippery then tacks up when it dries but doesn't leave any residue.
What I appreciate as much as the savings is the convenience. I order new tires well ahead of time so their here, then take advantage of a rain day or evening to install them. It's a good opportunity to detail the wheels while the tires are off too.
What I appreciate as much as the savings is the convenience. I order new tires well ahead of time so their here, then take advantage of a rain day or evening to install them. It's a good opportunity to detail the wheels while the tires are off too.
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