Tire changing.....

[GeneM]

So does anyone here change their own tires and if so, do you just use tire irons and remove and mount the tires. How do you protect the wheels and how do you balance the tire after the fact......

 

[tejkowskit]

I change my tires with tire irons and rim protectors. These kind.Motion Pro Rim Protectors - Street Bike - Motorcycle Superstore
To balance I just mounted the tire without tightening the axle and lightly spun the tire. The wheel will stop with the heaviest spot on the bottom. Do this a few times to be certain that the wheel stops in the same spot each time. Put a wheel weight on the top of the wheel to balance it out. Repeat until its balanced. There are much much more accurate ways to balance but it has been working for me. I've gone pretty fast :spank: and didn't notice any wobble due to an imbalance in the wheel.

 

[jrevans]

So does anyone here change their own tires and if so, do you just use tire irons and remove and mount the tires. How do you protect the wheels and how do you balance the tire after the fact......

I use the Harbor Freight tire changer with motorcycle attachment.

I bought a Mojolever and use that instead of the HF bar, and it prevents my rims from getting mangled:
The Mojolever

This year, I also bought a set of Mojoblocks:
Mojoblocks
which fit on the HF changer to better hold the rim without scraping.

For balancing, I ghettoed up a rig using a pair of jackstands, a shaft with bearings, cones and locking collars. Basically, I make it so that the tire spins on the bearings, and see if the wheel/tire stops repeatedly in the same spot.

Years ago, I changed tires with irons, but it is so much easier this way!

 

[tejkowskit]

Yeah, its definitely a battle with irons. I count it as my workout for the day when I change the tires haha

 

[IGWright]

I use the Harbor Freight tire changer with motorcycle attachment.

I bought a Mojolever and use that instead of the HF bar, and it prevents my rims from getting mangled:
The Mojolever

This year, I also bought a set of Mojoblocks:
Mojoblocks
which fit on the HF changer to better hold the rim without scraping.

For balancing, I ghettoed up a rig using a pair of jackstands, a shaft with bearings, cones and locking collars. Basically, I make it so that the tire spins on the bearings, and see if the wheel/tire stops repeatedly in the same spot.

Years ago, I changed tires with irons, but it is so much easier this way!

Hey Everyone,


New to the Forum, but not new to riding.

I just bought the HF with the Motorcycle Attachment.
I'm about to mount the base unit on a big board I have out back of the house.

Does the Motorcycle Attachment thread onto the base unit?
'Cause I was have a lot of trouble hand threading it.
I'm assuming the threads are just a little rough, but I wanted to make sure before I strong arm it.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thank-you in advance.

Ian:rockon:

 

[Randomchaos]

I did mine myself for the first time in the spring. I tried those plastic/rubber rim protectors. They tore and let me mangle my rims =\. I switched to using cut up milk jugs to protect the rims. Works great! Make sure you don't rest the wheel on the rotors while working on it. Bent rotors = bleh! I got some black stick on wheel weights from cyclegear, and balanced the wheels on the bike before the brake calipers and chain where re-installed. Worked perfect for me.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I'm too lazy and don't want to scratch my rims so off to my local guy for tire changes for me...

For those who like to do this themselves, here's a link that makes it look like a cake walk: Mount a Motorcycle Tire Without Using Tools - ADVrider

 

[phranK2k11]

I change my own using zipties (big ones). After breaking the bead down, ziptie the tire in a few places (5-6) tight enough to make the bead areas touch. Spray some windex (acts as a quick drying "lube") on the surface of the tire where it will rub the wheel as it comes off. Now the two beads will act as 1 and the tire will pull right off by hand! Ziptie the new tire in the same way and it'll (dont forget to windex for instal) go right on too. ZERO chance of scratching a wheel this way!

As for balancing, I just line up the dot with the valve stem and see how it feels at highway speed. So far I've been lucky and not had to make any balance adjustments. If I ever get an out of balance tire, I'll take the wheels (off the bike) to a local shop and have em balance em.

Removing...the more ties you use the easier it is.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZTSdokVEIs&feature=youtube_gdata_player]How to dismount motorcycle tire with zipties - YouTube[/ame]

Back on. More ties make it easier here too.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6WPzRRJLpA&feature=youtube_gdata_player]How to mount motorcycle tire with zipties - YouTube[/ame]

These are example videos, not me or filmed by me.

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I change my own using zipties (big ones). After breaking the bead down, ziptie the tire in a few places (5-6) tight enough to make the bead areas touch. Spray some windex (acts as a quick drying "lube") on the surface of the tire where it will rub the wheel as it comes off. Now the two beads will act as 1 and the tire will pull right off by hand! Ziptie the new tire in the same way and it'll (dont forget to windex for instal) go right on too. ZERO chance of scratching a wheel this way!

As for balancing, I just line up the dot with the valve stem and see how it feels at highway speed. So far I've been lucky and not had to make any balance adjustments. If I ever get an out of balance tire, I'll take the wheels (off the bike) to a local shop and have em balance em.

Removing...the more ties you use the easier it is.
How to dismount motorcycle tire with zipties - YouTube

Back on. More ties make it easier here too.
How to mount motorcycle tire with zipties - YouTube

These are example videos, not me or filmed by me.

I'm impressed!!! Those are going to a favorite file, thanks!!!

 

[MattR302]

I tried changing them once on my old ZX6R with tire irons. What a huge PITA. It took like a whole night and a lot of swearing, and still had to take it to a shop to have them set the bead and balance the tires. For $15-20/tire, I'd rather pay someone else to do it.

 

[IGWright]

Just got the rear on.
Agreed, very tough.
Bought the Harbor Freight with the Motorcycle Adapter.

I will continue to do this work myself,
but I will probably use the Harbor Freight combined with the zip tie method.


I:smoking:

 

[ghostdog]

For $15-20/tire, I'd rather pay someone else to do it.

My thoughts exactly. They have the tools and charge a fair price, I'm happy to save myself the frustration and possible damage to my wheel during the 'learning experience'.