DIY tyre changing

[Tasmin200]

Does anyone have any tips for the best tools to do a diy tyre change? Me and a mate are thinking about going half's on a Sealey TC965 machine. Any good? Or what else is out there?

[Tasmin200]

Hmm, never seen the cable tie meathod before, it doesn't look too difficult. Cheers for the other tips too.

For balancing has anyone used those beads you put in the tyre?

[Tasmin200]

Rubin215 said:

My local tyre place is £10 to fit and balance to a loose wheel.

£10 as opposed to half an hour of wrestling with levers, skinning my knuckles, chipping my rim...

Yip, that's great. I'd do that too but there are no bike shops near me who will do it for that money as they didn't sell me the tyre and the garage who usually do mine have damaged my wheels more than once.

[Tasmin200]

bass gt3 said:

For 275quid I don't think you can argue really. If there's nowhere near that can change tyres this is a better option than faffing around with cable ties or tyre irons. Use tyre soap and it'll be a breeze.
WRT the balancing beads, they work well BUT be careful when you take the tyre off as they can go everywhere.

Thats what I was thinking. You can get that machine for £150, so £75 split with my mate.

I've changed tyres with levers etc before and fancied something to make it easier. With a cheap pair of tyres from Tyre Leader in Germany and that's it paid for.

The whole point of getting it is to be self sufficient and not have to entrust my wheels to a 18 year old on minimum wage who really doesn't give a monkeys about the paint on my wheels.