Do-it-yourself tire change
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,068
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From: North East
RE: Do-it-yourself tire change
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
I just bought the changer for the bead breaker. I did not get the motorcycle wheel attachment. I do my changing on a piece of thick carpet.
I got the spoons and protectors at a swapmeet. However, places like J&P have them for a reasonable price.
Balancing? I do not balance. I just mount the sidewall dot in line with the valve stem. I have never had problems using this method. I have been riding on hand mounted tires for 15+ years. My tires last as long as the next guys and my bikes ride just as smooth. If I ever do get a "vibrator", pulling the wheel and getting the tire balanced will be simple enough.
I just bought the changer for the bead breaker. I did not get the motorcycle wheel attachment. I do my changing on a piece of thick carpet.
I got the spoons and protectors at a swapmeet. However, places like J&P have them for a reasonable price.
Balancing? I do not balance. I just mount the sidewall dot in line with the valve stem. I have never had problems using this method. I have been riding on hand mounted tires for 15+ years. My tires last as long as the next guys and my bikes ride just as smooth. If I ever do get a "vibrator", pulling the wheel and getting the tire balanced will be simple enough.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 241
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Do-it-yourself tire change
Pick up some rim protectors (plastic protectors that slip over the edge of the rim) for when you pry the bead away from the rim with the spoons. I found spoons at Northern Tools but you can find them on-line too - maybe even eBay. The carpet method is about as good as it gets too because the rim clamp on the changer is not all that gentle to an alloy rim. You can make a bead breaker with a couple of 2 X 4's and some steel rod....The changer is handy but not really a necessity to do a fine job. And I agree; who is going to take take the most care of your rims - you! And I don't balance either!
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Warwickshire, UK.
RE: Do-it-yourself tire change
ORIGINAL: jkoch06ultra
I have replaced 2 rear tires on my ultra at the dealer. Both times I also needed back brakes. Cost was a little over $300 each time. 12,000 miles each time. I could do it myself but do not know how to balance the wheel. You can use a large C clamp to break the bead. The rest is pretty easy. Make usre you put the wheel on in the correct direction. There is an arrow that shows the rotation direction. Maybe someone else has an idea as to how to balance.
I have replaced 2 rear tires on my ultra at the dealer. Both times I also needed back brakes. Cost was a little over $300 each time. 12,000 miles each time. I could do it myself but do not know how to balance the wheel. You can use a large C clamp to break the bead. The rest is pretty easy. Make usre you put the wheel on in the correct direction. There is an arrow that shows the rotation direction. Maybe someone else has an idea as to how to balance.
Roll the wheel each way and let it settle, the mark the uppermost point with chalk. After several goes at this, pick the mid point chalk mark and put a weight there. Repeat the rolling a few more time until the wheel stops in no one particular place.
Sounds a pain in the a$$ but it's still quicker than taking the wheel in (for me anyway)
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 235
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From:
RE: Do-it-yourself tire change
Most indy shops (find one who takes care of your stuff) charge 25 bucks for taking the old tire off and installing the new one, plus 1/2 hour labor to pull the wheel off the bike, so 50-60 bucks, plus the cost of the tire, should be about 200 bucks, depending on the tire purchased.
If you get 12K out ofa rear tire on a touring bike, you're doing really well. 8-9 K is "normal". When they get down to 3/32nds, they go REALLY fast, so that's when I usually change. Bike tires are expensive...but the rubber compound and construction is quite different than a car tire, plus you've only got two, so don't take any chances with your tires...the alternative can be quite costly!!
If you get 12K out ofa rear tire on a touring bike, you're doing really well. 8-9 K is "normal". When they get down to 3/32nds, they go REALLY fast, so that's when I usually change. Bike tires are expensive...but the rubber compound and construction is quite different than a car tire, plus you've only got two, so don't take any chances with your tires...the alternative can be quite costly!!
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: N.E. Ohio
RE: Do-it-yourself tire change
Go to: www.nomartirechanger.com
I bought one of their tire changers a little over a year ago after seeing it demonstrated at the BMW national motorcycle rally in Vermont.
It isn't cheap, but I figure I save between $150.00 and close to $200.00 every time I change a set of tires on either of my bikes. Shops around where I live charge $30.00 per wheel for labor and insist you buy the tires from them; at retail prices of course! By buying on the internet(www.swmototires.com gives excellent service with competitive prices and if you buy 2 tires at once shipping is free) I can save about $60.00 to $70.00off retail on a rear tire and around $40.00 on a front.
So, you can see, if you ride much at all, you can pay off the machine fairly quickly. And you become VERY popular with your riding buds!! (good for free beverages and food on rides, etc.)
I don't have any financial or other interest in the company, I've just been very pleased with their product.
I used to use tire irons, and usually a buddy(especially for low profile wide rear or stiff dual sport rear tires), previously and did not look forward to changing tires. With this machine I can easily do it myself and I ALMOST look forward to doing it.
glazgowboy
I bought one of their tire changers a little over a year ago after seeing it demonstrated at the BMW national motorcycle rally in Vermont.
It isn't cheap, but I figure I save between $150.00 and close to $200.00 every time I change a set of tires on either of my bikes. Shops around where I live charge $30.00 per wheel for labor and insist you buy the tires from them; at retail prices of course! By buying on the internet(www.swmototires.com gives excellent service with competitive prices and if you buy 2 tires at once shipping is free) I can save about $60.00 to $70.00off retail on a rear tire and around $40.00 on a front.
So, you can see, if you ride much at all, you can pay off the machine fairly quickly. And you become VERY popular with your riding buds!! (good for free beverages and food on rides, etc.)
I don't have any financial or other interest in the company, I've just been very pleased with their product.
I used to use tire irons, and usually a buddy(especially for low profile wide rear or stiff dual sport rear tires), previously and did not look forward to changing tires. With this machine I can easily do it myself and I ALMOST look forward to doing it.
glazgowboy
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 0
From: North East
RE: Do-it-yourself tire change
ORIGINAL: glazgowboy
Go to: www.nomartirechanger.com
I bought one of their tire changers a little over a year ago after seeing it demonstrated at the BMW national motorcycle rally in Vermont.
It isn't cheap, but I figure I save between $150.00 and close to $200.00 every time I change a set of tires on either of my bikes. Shops around where I live charge $30.00 per wheel for labor and insist you buy the tires from them; at retail prices of course! By buying on the internet(www.swmototires.com gives excellent service with competitive prices and if you buy 2 tires at once shipping is free) I can save about $60.00 to $70.00off retail on a rear tire and around $40.00 on a front.
So, you can see, if you ride much at all, you can pay off the machine fairly quickly. And you become VERY popular with your riding buds!! (good for free beverages and food on rides, etc.)
I don't have any financial or other interest in the company, I've just been very pleased with their product.
I used to use tire irons, and usually a buddy(especially for low profile wide rear or stiff dual sport rear tires), previously and did not look forward to changing tires. With this machine I can easily do it myself and I ALMOST look forward to doing it.
glazgowboy
Go to: www.nomartirechanger.com
I bought one of their tire changers a little over a year ago after seeing it demonstrated at the BMW national motorcycle rally in Vermont.
It isn't cheap, but I figure I save between $150.00 and close to $200.00 every time I change a set of tires on either of my bikes. Shops around where I live charge $30.00 per wheel for labor and insist you buy the tires from them; at retail prices of course! By buying on the internet(www.swmototires.com gives excellent service with competitive prices and if you buy 2 tires at once shipping is free) I can save about $60.00 to $70.00off retail on a rear tire and around $40.00 on a front.
So, you can see, if you ride much at all, you can pay off the machine fairly quickly. And you become VERY popular with your riding buds!! (good for free beverages and food on rides, etc.)
I don't have any financial or other interest in the company, I've just been very pleased with their product.
I used to use tire irons, and usually a buddy(especially for low profile wide rear or stiff dual sport rear tires), previously and did not look forward to changing tires. With this machine I can easily do it myself and I ALMOST look forward to doing it.
glazgowboy
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 0
From: North East
RE: Do-it-yourself tire change
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
I just bought the changer for the bead breaker. I did not get the motorcycle wheel attachment. I do my changing on a piece of thick carpet.
I got the spoons and protectors at a swapmeet. However, places like J&P have them for a reasonable price.
Balancing? I do not balance. I just mount the sidewall dot in line with the valve stem. I have never had problems using this method. I have been riding on hand mounted tires for 15+ years. My tires last as long as the next guys and my bikes ride just as smooth. If I ever do get a "vibrator", pulling the wheel and getting the tire balanced will be simple enough.
I just bought the changer for the bead breaker. I did not get the motorcycle wheel attachment. I do my changing on a piece of thick carpet.
I got the spoons and protectors at a swapmeet. However, places like J&P have them for a reasonable price.
Balancing? I do not balance. I just mount the sidewall dot in line with the valve stem. I have never had problems using this method. I have been riding on hand mounted tires for 15+ years. My tires last as long as the next guys and my bikes ride just as smooth. If I ever do get a "vibrator", pulling the wheel and getting the tire balanced will be simple enough.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: Do-it-yourself tire change
I do my bead breaking on a heavy piece of carpet and have never bent a rotor in the process. (I did bend on a while back while changing a tire, but that's another story.
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