tire and balance question
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,428
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RE: tire and balance question
I've been changing my own tires for 15 plus years cause I go through a lot on my sport bike. I just changed both tires on my 06 Ultra.
A trick I've always employed the first time I pull a wheel on a new bike is to check the balance of the wheel before I mount a tire. If it's off, I apply JB Quick to the light side inside the wheel until I get it balanced. Makes for less weight needed later.
On my Ultra, both wheels were balanced and needed no adjustment. Placing the dot at the tire valve the rear needed no weights at all, it was spot on, the front needed about 20 grams, less thanan ounce.
The front has less tread than the rear but wears down much slower. I still had plenty of tread on the front but saw a few cracks in the tread at 20,000 miles. This is the second rear on the bike and that's a pretty good ratio, change the front every other rear on a bagger.
A trick I've always employed the first time I pull a wheel on a new bike is to check the balance of the wheel before I mount a tire. If it's off, I apply JB Quick to the light side inside the wheel until I get it balanced. Makes for less weight needed later.
On my Ultra, both wheels were balanced and needed no adjustment. Placing the dot at the tire valve the rear needed no weights at all, it was spot on, the front needed about 20 grams, less thanan ounce.
The front has less tread than the rear but wears down much slower. I still had plenty of tread on the front but saw a few cracks in the tread at 20,000 miles. This is the second rear on the bike and that's a pretty good ratio, change the front every other rear on a bagger.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: NE Illinois
RE: tire and balance question
I also change my own tires using a friends NoMar tire changer. Like Jinks, I check the wheel for the heavy spot. You'd be surprised how many times it's not the valve stem. Once I locate the heavy spot on the wheel, I mark it and line up the dot on the tire with that mark. I then also balance the wheel and tire together.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 452
Likes: 2
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RE: tire and balance question
I've had pretty good luck balancing my own tires. just slide the axle in and hang it between 2 saw horses. The heavy side will be down. Spin it and watch. One spot will always end up down. Play with automotive stick on weights until there is no heavy side down.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 21
From: central florida
RE: tire and balance question
well i just mounted the frt tire today. i have 4 ounces of dyna beads (2 frt and 2 rear) but havent installed them yet. i figured it was easier to add them after a test ride than to pull them out later. i realize i dont quite know what to look for in "out of balance" on a bike tire. IE: if the frt needs balance will i feel it in the bars or frt end like ya would a car?or does it transmit thru the frame / floorboards ect????
should i just go ahead and add the dyna beads with a "can't hurt anything" attitude????
should i just go ahead and add the dyna beads with a "can't hurt anything" attitude????
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