Rookie tire mounting question...

[Al in Arkansas]

Excuse my rookie ignorance - but do I need to remove the brake rotor from my rear rim before I take it in to get my new tire mounted?  It seems like I should, but figured I would ask the experts.     Thank!  Al

[PAVALKER]

Nope....

Good luck with your DS.....

[NiteRiderF6]

You don't have to take it off... I always do, just to be on the "safe" side. If they are a good shop and have the right equipment, they won't damage your rotor, but it's pretty delicate, so I always take mine off. Good Luck!

[Bob E.]

I've never taken mine off....but then again, I mount my own tires.

[Master Blaster]

Look at it this way, it makes it easier for the shop, and only takes a couple of minutes so why not.  I take mine to a car tire shop and they do a great job without scratching the wheel.  Worth the 15 bux to me, but I do balance my own.  I used to mount them too but since finding this shop its much easier and quicker with less chance of damaging the wheel.

[Big IV]

It took me longer than it should.  I was trying to cover everything with cardboard and keep it safe and unscratched.
In a hurry born of desperation I took my rear wheel to a neighbor. I had bought the CB750 from him. He had been working on those CB 4 cylinders for nearly 30 years at that point. I knew he could change a tire faster than I could. And he could.
I dropped off the new tire and tire-d wheel. I asked if I should come back later. He looked at me puzzled, "it don't take five minutes."
He pulled the valve stem (which took longer to find that tool than anything else) then he laid the rear tire down on one side and started walking around on it to break the bead. Flip. Walk. Pulled right off easily.
I asked if he did the same thing to the fronts? Double front disc. He shrugged. "Why not."
It worked.
It was quick.
Nothing seemed to slow him down. Worth 4 bucks because I was in a hurry. But not the way I've done it since.