DIY tyre changing
Discussion
I think I need to build a shed to remove non-essential garage items like kids bikes, BBQ, lawn mower, leaf blower, wood chipper etc...3DP said:
Some useful tools posted. I have 10 tyres to change this year on my bikes. With my tyre guy being super careful with rims, but a little expensive at £15 per tyre to loose wheels, I'm tempted to make the leap now as it'll damn near pay for itself in 6 months...
I'd want to get a good machine though, as having changed scooter and enduro tyres by hand, it involves far too much blood, sweat, swearing and potential rim damage. I'm keen to see this one http://www.ccw-tools.com/Motorcycle-Tyre-Fitting-E... in action.
I've bought one but have yet to change any tyres, typical! That said, I should be fitting some tyres in a couple days now, whenever they want to show up. You'll want to get a certain type of bar (I forget which) to avoid scratching the rim when putting the new tyre on. I'd want to get a good machine though, as having changed scooter and enduro tyres by hand, it involves far too much blood, sweat, swearing and potential rim damage. I'm keen to see this one http://www.ccw-tools.com/Motorcycle-Tyre-Fitting-E... in action.
CoolHands said:
Bump!
It's that time of year again, I need new tyres. I bought them ready off the intrenets (Tmax scooter tyres so not readily kept in stock) & im thinking once again of buying all this shizzle and doing it myself. Anyone care to chime in with experience of doing their own?
When I looked at this last year I came up with the following numbers for Michelin Pilot Road 4sIt's that time of year again, I need new tyres. I bought them ready off the intrenets (Tmax scooter tyres so not readily kept in stock) & im thinking once again of buying all this shizzle and doing it myself. Anyone care to chime in with experience of doing their own?
Garage supplied and fitted
190/55x17
120/20x17
rear £151.80
front £114.31
Total £266.11
Online Tyre Supply
rear £119
front £86
Total £205
Difference:
£61
[DIY]
sealey tc965 £160
nylon motorcycle bar £65
Total £225
With the mileage I do would be 4 year pay back (as well as hassle of doing the job, getting the tyres delivered) so decided to carry on paying someone else to supply and fit.
Local place will fit tyres to lose wheels but charge £20.
You don't need the sealey changer - the cheap ebay ones for £35 are fine when used with a decent bar IMHO.
That said I didn't do my last change as it was an emergency change.
I don't so much do it for the money saving personally, I just find it handy to be able to do them as and when I need.
That said I didn't do my last change as it was an emergency change.
I don't so much do it for the money saving personally, I just find it handy to be able to do them as and when I need.
I just go to my local main dealer. Probably a bit more ££££, but I like giving them the business, they've got all the right kit, & if anything goes wrong, they'll help me out. Not only that, they do really good coffee, & as its a multi-franchise, there's plenty of nice things to look at.....
Oh dear, oh dear.
What a load of cheapskates.
I have changed 100's of tyres. some of them - especially Harleys and the like are a pita even on a proper tyre machine. I have had some refuse to pop up on the rim too. I really don't get this.
Balancing? An out of balance motorcycle wheel won't vibrate like a car. If it is 20g out, it is like someone hitting the rim every revolution with a 5kg hammer at 60 mph. Balancing makes a difference.
If you insist on diy, tyre wax is the best bet. If you have a tyre that won't even seal on the rim, take it off and put in a tube and inflate. A lot. Leave it for a few hours and the tyre will have opened up enough to be wide enough to seal.
Oh. How do you dispose of the old tyres? Local tips now charge around £2.
FFS use your local shop - every bit of income keeps us there for when you need us.
What a load of cheapskates.
I have changed 100's of tyres. some of them - especially Harleys and the like are a pita even on a proper tyre machine. I have had some refuse to pop up on the rim too. I really don't get this.
Balancing? An out of balance motorcycle wheel won't vibrate like a car. If it is 20g out, it is like someone hitting the rim every revolution with a 5kg hammer at 60 mph. Balancing makes a difference.
If you insist on diy, tyre wax is the best bet. If you have a tyre that won't even seal on the rim, take it off and put in a tube and inflate. A lot. Leave it for a few hours and the tyre will have opened up enough to be wide enough to seal.
Oh. How do you dispose of the old tyres? Local tips now charge around £2.
FFS use your local shop - every bit of income keeps us there for when you need us.
Prof Prolapse said:
That can't be true can it?
I've ridden on unbalanced wheels, lost weights etc, and the difference was pretty unremarkable.
No it's not true, pure hyperbole. Out of balance forces could be in the 5kgf range, but obviously that is nothing like the same as hitting something with a 5kg hammer which could produce peak forces of many 100's of kg.I've ridden on unbalanced wheels, lost weights etc, and the difference was pretty unremarkable.
ks.V8 FOU said:
Oh. How do you dispose of the old tyres? Local tips now charge around £2.
FFS use your local shop - every bit of income keeps us there for when you need us.
Nowt wrong with wanting to save a few quid. I do mine myself cos I'm not made of money. 8-10 sets a year soon adds up when my local place charge £15 per tyre. FFS use your local shop - every bit of income keeps us there for when you need us.
My old ones go to the go-kart track at work so cost nothing to get rid of.
I've never been charged for tyres at my local tip 
As for saving a few quid - my closest bike place wanted almost £400 for a pair of PR4 fitted. Thats not a few quid!
Thankfully the guy who does my MOTs for me is far more reasonable and as such gets my business where possible. He's also never balanced a motorbike wheel on his road or track bikes and never had an issue.
As for saving a few quid - my closest bike place wanted almost £400 for a pair of PR4 fitted. Thats not a few quid!
Thankfully the guy who does my MOTs for me is far more reasonable and as such gets my business where possible. He's also never balanced a motorbike wheel on his road or track bikes and never had an issue.
I tried repairing the tyre on my Honda CBR and read every google found bit of advice, watched all the DIY videos, bought the tools, used a heat gun, managed to break the bead with a car jack (just!), and then tried a combination of cable ties (didn't work) and tyre irons (too short) and managed to eventually get one side of the tyre off, fixed the puncture, and after days of trying could not get the tyre back on, all I did was damage the paint on the rim.
Eventually, defeated I took it to a garage that charged me £5 to put it on and took about 5 seconds!
I'll never bother even trying this again, what a waste of time.
Either buying a proper tyre changer or using a local garage would be my advice.
Eventually, defeated I took it to a garage that charged me £5 to put it on and took about 5 seconds!
I'll never bother even trying this again, what a waste of time.
Either buying a proper tyre changer or using a local garage would be my advice.
I feel your pain… changed tyre on my DT175 recently. Watched all the videos (which make it look relatively easy), spent £££s on all the Motionpro kit. My little tyre must be much easier than yours. But it took me two days and felt like I has been in a losing wrestling match afterwards!
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