To change or not change my own tires???

[snowcat]

The negitive-
I'm thinking by the time I buy the tires,tire irons,rim protectors,bead breaker and a balancer it'd be cheaper to have the dealer do it.
I know it would save me money in the long run but I'm also worried about damaging the rims and/or tires.
The positive-
I'll save money(hopefully) and like a right of passage be ABLE to change my own tires.
I've just lubed my own tranny/final drive splines without a problem but for some reason I'm more intimidated by the thought of screwing up 2 brand new tires,not to mention my rims.
I'm sure everyone elses "first time" was smooth. Right??
Any advice,tips or tricks for a nervous virgin?
thanks/hope to see you at the National
Dave
88K75C

[sgborgstrom]

The negitive-
I'm thinking by the time I buy the tires,tire irons,rim protectors,bead breaker and a balancer it'd be cheaper to have the dealer do it.


Maybe the first or even second time but after you've invested in the tools the only thing you'll ever need to buy again is more tires and maybe balance weights. You'll never have to buy another hour or two of the dealers time or pay his mark-up and you'll be able to change those tires whenever it suits you, not when they can squeeze you in. Don't discount the fact that now you have the whole world of tires available to you, not just those in stock.

One word of caution is in order, buying tools is a bit of an addiction, next thing you'll be asking is what brand of bike lift should you buy.

Not to stir up a hornets nest but... IMHO: save the :drink until after you've put the tools away.

Steve

[sgborgstrom]

One more thing, as suggested by Flash at some point, buy some Ruglyde from your local NAPA dealer. It's an excellent tire mounting lubricant.

Steve

[GSTom]

I have always changed my own tires. Sometimes with tube tires I have had to re-do one if I accidently pinched the tube. It can be a dirtier and tougher job than most of the other self-maintenance tasks, especially if your tubeless tire bead is reluctant to pop up into the rim , the bead is hard to break, you have a tire with a stiff sidewall, your tire iron slips and you bust a knuckle, etc. With all that said, the satisfaction of knowing how to and also being able to do this is worth the effort to me. Maybe when I am old and decrepit I will no longer enjoy the exertion. At $50 bucks (or more) for a shop to mount a tire, and tires on the internet at around $100- $150 you in essence get one free tire every time or time-and-a half that you change a set. Plus it is a good way to commune with your favorite machine on days when it is too inclement to go for a ride.

[Rich]

I have a local cycle shop do it for me and they only charge $20, with balancing. It is worth it to me, no scratches and I know it is balanced right. Plus I get to stand there and visit (really, that means keep a close eye on the task) while the job is done. If you can find a deal like that, I'd say why change your own.

[BradfordBenn]

If you get the gear, you might have a few friends stop by and want to see how it is done....

I have been thinking about it as I used to true my own bicycle wheels and change the tires so while I am scared to wrench, I would not be scared to change a tire. It really ain't that hard. Just balance it slowly and with patience. Me, I am more scared about mounting and unmounting the wheel.

[sgborgstrom]

Balancing isn't really all that big a deal. I've been known to not bother on wheels like the rear of my K100RS...no problems in many tire changes and many thousands of miles.

:hide
watching for flames

Steve

[MechanicSavant]

I've always done my own tire changing once ya do it once or thrice you'll never pay again...suggestions
get/forage a 30gal metal drum,most truck shops n garages , they're the ones grease & gearlube come in,approx. 14in.dia.X 27in.tall.once clean get about 3ft. of 3/8in./pcv fuel hose slit it length ways & glue it to the top rim of the drum..ya now have a good work station & a cool shop trash barrel..
I use a couple of 8in. C clamps & 2boards about 12" long 3"wide w/one long edge cut to match the wheel curve,mine are 3/4" oak..once ya get the tire squeezed by the clamps a shot o carb-clean acts as a penetrant & viola! one bead unseated to get the second bead reposition one board outside the rim& repeat..now put the C clamps back where thew were holding whatever together!!!
I use 2 long (14")tire irons that I've diped several times in plasticoat (and let dry) & no rim protectors
It's real important to be sure the bead you"re trying to lever off is centered in the deep grove in the center of the wheel!!!!same thing when going on be sure the 3/4 or so of tire you've installed is in the deep groove in the ctr. before trying to get that last 1/4 over the rim,,thats where most newbies really struggle
Don't forget the rotation arrows & if there is an ink or paint dot it usually lines up w/the valve stem..
when ya first get yer new tires home if the beads are really close put some wood or somthing in there to spread them & let it sit fer a day or 2..I've heard that an empty 120z. can is gust right for the rear tire
ther'se plenty of ways to make a gravity balancer & after checking against computer balanced wheels just as accurate...most racers I know are gravity balancing there slicks
It has taken me longer to type this than it would to change a tire!!!although I do use more than 2 fingers to change a tire!!!! :type
gether!!!

[gsmetal]

$50.00 for a tire change? You have to be kidding!

Where are you going to have that done - Beverly Hills?

My dealer charged me $20.00 when I brought him the rims - I called ahead and ordered the tires - what ever brand I wanted from him and made an appointment to bring the rims up.

Went for a quick bite to eat and when I came back they were ready.

Mount your own tires? No thanks - I'll leave that to the pros. I have enough to do already.

[knary]

It all comes down to the local cost. If it were $50, I'd learn to do it myself. As I've never ever paid that much, I prefer to pay the money than spend many times that for the tools, never mind the value of my time.

[SweetT]

After a good solid two to three hours of wrestling with the wheels and tires, getting my knucles scraped up, and genrally having a tough time of it, I decided to never change my tires again. And yes I did have all the proper tools. Now I order my tires on line, take the wheels off the bike and take them to the local yamaha shop. There nearest BMW shop is 70 miles away and they charge $40 per wheel to change the tire, IF they can fit me in! The local Hardly shop charges the same amount but they wont change my tires anyway becasue the wheels are not off of a Hardly. The Yammie shop charges $20 per wheel and they're usually finished in about two hours. I think its a heckuva deal! :clap

[SHawn_P]

$50.00 for a tire change? You have to be kidding!

Where are you going to have that done - Beverly Hills?

My dealer charged me $20.00 when I brought him the rims - I called ahead and ordered the tires - what ever brand I wanted from him and made an appointment to bring the rims up.

Went for a quick bite to eat and when I came back they were ready.

Mount your own tires? No thanks - I'll leave that to the pros. I have enough to do already.


My dealer, that I bought my K12LT from, wants $135 to change front and rear and I bring in the wheel and new tire....

Consequently, I have alocal friend who is going to change them for me - I am going to supply some rim protectors and maybe the BMW adapter for his balancer.

[sgborgstrom]

All told it's just not that hard to change your tires. Long irons and some good lube make quick work of it once you've got the bead broken. Some folks use a big "C" clamp, others invest in one of the many bead-breakers on the market. I like buying tools and working on my own bike so it was relatively easy for me to make the investment. If the initial cost is a stumbling block, go in with some amigos, have tire changing parties followed by scrubbing-in rides. :thumb

You also have to be capable of enjoying the whole process of taking your bike apart and putting it back together again. Not everybody likes to get their paws dirty and that's ok...there are lots of tradesmen out there willing to do it for you. I enjoy heading for the garage in the winter and being able to spend some quality time with my bikes when the weather is just too crappy to go riding.

Steve

[Krunch]

Ok so you have heard form a few folks but nobody has answered your questions. It sounds like you can handle the mechanical end of this thing what you need is the tire specific part. The first tough part is breaking the bead. many breakers are available but all you need is a car and a bottle jack. Lay the tire on the ground preferebly a concrete floor, supported by 2x4's making sure you keep the break rotor off the floor, with another piece of wood under the tire itself yet not under the rim put the jack between the topside of the tire and underside of the heavy vehicle again be carefull of the rim. This will allow you to break the bead, remember that you will have to break both sides. You don't need fancy lubes either, just dish soap solution in a spray bottle, I allways lube for the removal process as it makes the old comeoff easier. Removal is the next step, take small bites, that is a few inches between the tire spoons at a time, smaller as you go. Again this is performed twice as the tire has two sides right. Installation, the new tire needs to be warm, leave it in the sun or in the house while you perform the removal of the old. Well I'v run out of space, feel free to email me for more.

[Krunch]

[QUOTE=Krunch]Ok so you have heard form a few folks but nobody has answered your questions. It sounds like you can handle the mechanical end of this thing what you need is the tire specific part. The first tough part is breaking the bead. many breakers are available but all you need is a car and a bottle jack. Lay the tire on the ground preferebly a concrete floor, supported by 2x4's making sure you keep the break rotor off the floor, with another piece of wood under the tire itself yet not under the rim put the jack between the topside of the tire and underside of the heavy vehicle again be carefull of the rim. This will allow you to break the bead, remember that you will have to break both sides. You don't need fancy lubes either, just dish soap solution in a spray bottle, I allways lube for the removal process as it makes the old comeoff easier. Removal is the next step, take small bites, that is a few inches between the tire spoons at a time, smaller as you go. Again this is performed twice as the tire has two sides right. Installation, the new tire needs to be warm, leave it in the sun or in the house while you perform the removal of the old. Well I'v run out of space, feel free to email me for more. Krunch