Changing Your Own Tyres. Is it Worth it?
Discussion
Noticed yesterday that all 4 tyres on the car and the bike tyres will need changing over the next few months. If the wife passes her test I 'm sure it won't be long before some of her tyres will need changing too. At £15-20 a corner it's not cheap to have them changed over.
On a budget, what would be needed to change them yourself? Is the hassle worth it? I have recently purchased an air compressor from Aldi and would like to use it on more than pumping up my 10 year old unused basketballs.
Thanks
On a budget, what would be needed to change them yourself? Is the hassle worth it? I have recently purchased an air compressor from Aldi and would like to use it on more than pumping up my 10 year old unused basketballs.
Thanks
Some people will come along and tell you that it’s possible / not hard to fit car tyres with minimal equipment. Ask them what size the wheels and tyres were and whether they were precious about scratching them.
Motorbike tyres you can DIY much easier but car tyres- no, IMO. Unless we’re talking very small steel wheels and high profile tyres.
With car tyres the best bet is to use Internet tyre vendors to organise the delivery and fitting. There is a cost to fitting tyres. Disposal of the old tyres is probably the biggest, also valves and balancing.
Motorbike tyres you can DIY much easier but car tyres- no, IMO. Unless we’re talking very small steel wheels and high profile tyres.
With car tyres the best bet is to use Internet tyre vendors to organise the delivery and fitting. There is a cost to fitting tyres. Disposal of the old tyres is probably the biggest, also valves and balancing.
Would something like this do? Rather than a full on trye machine.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Manual-Portable-Tyre-Wh...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Manual-Portable-Tyre-Wh...
bongtom said:
£20 each!?
I didn’t think it was possible to tyres that cheap. Are they new or part worn?
£20 to change the tyre not buy it!I didn’t think it was possible to tyres that cheap. Are they new or part worn?
And agree with the above, bike tyres are easy enough with the correct tools (did mine last night in fact!) but car tyres are not really doable and after trying to DIY you'll be happy to pay someone.
I tried changing tyres on the dirt bike once. F**k that, felt like I'd done a few rounds with Mike Tyson afterwards and it took me all morning. With practice I could have sorted it alternatively pop the wheels off whip em up to the local tyre shop and for £15 their both done.
I'd also have wrecked a set of sports bike wheels in the process.
I'd also have wrecked a set of sports bike wheels in the process.
Just seen a couple of how to videos. Looks a like it can be done with a bit of hassle but knowing me nothing will go as easy as it does for him...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6WcogNMEys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnPUI1D0mn0
Comments taken on board though, thanks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6WcogNMEys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnPUI1D0mn0
Comments taken on board though, thanks.
Jazoli said:
bongtom said:
£20 each!?
I didn’t think it was possible to tyres that cheap. Are they new or part worn?
£20 to change the tyre not buy it!I didn’t think it was possible to tyres that cheap. Are they new or part worn?
And agree with the above, bike tyres are easy enough with the correct tools (did mine last night in fact!) but car tyres are not really doable and after trying to DIY you'll be happy to pay someone.
Don't you need a machine to take off/put on tires?
And what about balancing?
Cbull said:
Just seen a couple of how to videos. Looks a like it can be done with a bit of hassle but knowing me nothing will go as easy as it does for him...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6WcogNMEys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnPUI1D0mn0
Comments taken on board though, thanks.
That makes it look easy having bought one. I bought another machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9ymwz2sMqU and found it to be much better and easier. That said, if I'm feeling lazy, I'll take it to my local guy who only charges £10 a wheel and get it balanced as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6WcogNMEys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnPUI1D0mn0
Comments taken on board though, thanks.
Bike are easier than car. I did the front tyres on the Citroen AX recently which is on mighty 13" steels...
Breaking the bead on them was the trickiest part - if you've got an enormous vice, it's easier.
Getting them back on wasn't too bad - a pot of goo and some levers.
If your wheels are reasonable, you shouldn't need to balance them if you line up the dot on the tyre sidewall with the valve.
Good luck!
Breaking the bead on them was the trickiest part - if you've got an enormous vice, it's easier.
Getting them back on wasn't too bad - a pot of goo and some levers.
If your wheels are reasonable, you shouldn't need to balance them if you line up the dot on the tyre sidewall with the valve.
Good luck!
Been changing them for a while but recently bought one of the stand-up tyre changers as I'm fed up of struggling on the floor or bench.
I've fitted a steel plate with threaded boltholes into the workshop floor so that I can quickly fit/remove it when required - as it really needs to be held down and away from walls etc. (so completely in the way of everything) to be able to get any leverage, but I didn't want it permanently fitted and always having to work around it.
In all I've probably spent around £200 on equipment, but I'm now totally self-sufficient for tyre changing/balancing (and servicing & repairs) which suits me as I enjoy working on bikes almost as much as riding them but I can understand why some would prefer to get someone else to do it. I've probably just about broken even at £15 per tyre that the LBS charges, so 'in the money' from now on.
This afternoon I changed 4 tyres which would have cost me £60 at the local bike shop but the biggest thing is doing it when I want and not having to lug 4 wheels to the shop and wait around whilst they're done - probably took me around 3 hours with the odd interruption/tea break etc.
I've fitted a steel plate with threaded boltholes into the workshop floor so that I can quickly fit/remove it when required - as it really needs to be held down and away from walls etc. (so completely in the way of everything) to be able to get any leverage, but I didn't want it permanently fitted and always having to work around it.
In all I've probably spent around £200 on equipment, but I'm now totally self-sufficient for tyre changing/balancing (and servicing & repairs) which suits me as I enjoy working on bikes almost as much as riding them but I can understand why some would prefer to get someone else to do it. I've probably just about broken even at £15 per tyre that the LBS charges, so 'in the money' from now on.
This afternoon I changed 4 tyres which would have cost me £60 at the local bike shop but the biggest thing is doing it when I want and not having to lug 4 wheels to the shop and wait around whilst they're done - probably took me around 3 hours with the odd interruption/tea break etc.
dern said:
It's quite satisfying to do but with our local recycling centre charging to take tyres more I'm not sure it's worth it unless the tyres are a lot cheaper delivered than fitted.
Fair point. I managed to get rid of a pile of bike tyres I'd accumulated at a small local tyre place, chap only wanted a fiver which I though was very reasonable (and doubtless went straight into his wallet).Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff