Tire change

[piper51]

Anyone here changed their own tires? Hate to pay 25 a tire to change them. Just cheap.

[Ricky-D]

Yup!

Change and balance!

Not something for beginners tho!

***

[roboto65]

Do my own also couple of tire irons and a few tricks and you too can change your own !!!

[asfltdncr]

There is a homemade bead breaker in the forum somewhere with pics.

Then it's all about the lube, rim savers, and mount/demount bar available from NOMAR.

Go darkside and put a rear tire up front and you won't be worrying about it for quite a while.

[Bob E.]

I bought the Harbor Freight tire changer and it has more than paid for itself several times over.

[Farther]

...put a rear tire up front and you won't be worrying about it for quite a while.

What size and brand do you use?

[RoboCop]

Anyone here changed their own tires? Hate to pay 25 a tire to change them. Just cheap.

Use this homemade stuff to do all my tires, along with a couple of old school tire irons. Doing it on a warm day helps, diverse cursing vocabulary is mandatory.

[Valker]

Anyone here changed their own tires? Hate to pay 25 a tire to change them. Just cheap.

Local tire shop (cars and trucks) changes mine for $5 a wheel when I bring them in to him. I use Dyna Beads to balance. For that much, I won't break out the tire irons.

[tlanz]

I bought the Harbor Freight tire changer and it has more than paid for itself several times over.

+1 on the Harbor Freight tire changer; My buddy has one, so I sprung for the Marc Parnes balancer http://www.marcparnes.com (no affiliation) and have never looked back.

[asfltdncr]

...put a rear tire up front and you won't be worrying about it for quite a while.

What size and brand do you use?

Dunlop d404 up front and goodyear triple assurance (205/55/16) in rear.If you don't want to risk or mess with clearances, I recently heard of a forum member that used a 195/65/16.The larger diameter(65) will drop your rpms and I don't think you would have to do any fender nut modifications as you would on the 205.

[1FAST6]

I've been using my Harbor Freight changer for several years now.  Takes a few times to get the knack, but now I do them with no problem.  Just did F&R took less than 1 hr total.  I also use (and re-use) Dyna Beads.  I think they've been in 4 rears and 2 fronts so far...

[hubcapsc]

[Bob E.]

I broke a 2x4 with a rig similar to that (yes it was vertical, but buckled)...throwing my back out in the process.  That SUCKED!!!  The bead breaker on the HF changer is much more gooder. 

[hubcapsc]

I broke a 2x4 with a rig similar to that (yes it was vertical, but buckled)...throwing my back out in the process.  That SUCKED!!!  The bead breaker on the HF changer is much more gooder. 

Every time I change a tire I think to myself, "self, you should get one of those HF tire changers",
but I don't have a floor to bolt it to... my 2X4 almost breaks every time...
-Mike

[Spirited-6]

BOY, talk about "BARE BONES"   

I tend to like stuff like this. 

[asfltdncr]

I do have a HF changer but if you wnt to make it easier on yourself and the wheel,buy the NO-MAR mount/demount tool(it has teflon work surfaces)for about $100 and their lubricant.
It's pretty easy to balance your tires as well.HF sells one of those for cheap and you can buy the stick on weights almost anywhere.

[hubcapsc]

I do have a HF changer but if you wnt to make it easier on yourself and the wheel,buy the NO-MAR mount/demount tool(it has teflon work surfaces)for about $100 and their lubricant.
It's pretty easy to balance your tires as well.HF sells one of those for cheap and you can buy the stick on weights almost anywhere.

I once tried bucket balancing using the wheel's bearings... not so hot... now I bucket balance with Marc Parnes (tm)... 



I also have a gallon of this stuff, a disgusting product if you have to google for it:



-Mike

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I also have a gallon of this stuff, a disgusting product if you have to google for it:

-Mike

[Mildew]

I bought the harbor freight thing and it's a dust collector. I still couldn't get my tire off. I went to a motorcycle shop and he did it for free. Lol.. About bringing the rpms down. I ride to work every day running about 3700 rpm. That's 80 mph with a 205/60. What difference would a 65 make. I read some time ago that someone uses a 70. I know the big harleys with the extra gear run a pinch under 80 at 3000 rpms. That's where i'd like to be without buying a harley. Lol

[hubcapsc]

I bought the harbor freight thing and it's a dust collector.

Sell cheap? 

-Mike "they're already pretty cheap, and I don't have a floor to bolt it to..."

[Sodbuster]

Anyone here changed their own tires? Hate to pay 25 a tire to change them. Just cheap.

Use this homemade stuff to do all my tires, along with a couple of old school tire irons. Doing it on a warm day helps, diverse cursing vocabulary is mandatory.

Got any dimensions on that bead breaker ??  How long is that handle ??

[John U.]

I've found that the Harbor Freight bead breaker (the separate tool, but nylon cutting board pieces can be screwed on to protect rims) works well. If you're going to get the HF tire changer get  the No-Mar tire change bar and these to protect your rims: http://www.nomar-secure.com/product_p/ac-rc-spools-tall.htm
They sell two versions, get the tall ones for larger rims.

[RoboCop]

Anyone here changed their own tires? Hate to pay 25 a tire to change them. Just cheap.

Got any dimensions on that bead breaker ??  How long is that handle ??

It's currently stowed behind a big pile of crap, can't get a tape on anything but the handle and it is 5 ft long, I should have gone at least 6 ft.  Only other things that really matter is to make it deep enough to not bottom out on the rotor and make it wider than the rotor  but narrower than the rim.

.

[Farther]

Hey RoboCop: Is that Mount McLoughlin in your signiture photo?

[RoboCop]

Hey RoboCop: Is that Mount McLoughlin in your signiture photo?

Other end of the state, Mt. Hood just east of Portland.  Pics taken near Hood River.

[1FAST6]

My HF Tire Changer is not bolted to the floor.  I bolted it to an old piece of plywood so I can move it around.  Maybe 3' square.  I stand on it when using the changer and I have no troubles at all, then shove it in the corner to store till next time.

[hubcapsc]

My HF Tire Changer is not bolted to the floor.  I bolted it to an old piece of plywood so I can move it around.  Maybe 3' square.  I stand on it when using the changer and I have no troubles at all, then shove it in the corner to store till next time.

Hmmm... I wondered if the plywood trick might work... I probably age about a year or two every time I change a
Valkyrie tire with my current tools - 10 or 11 inches long:



If I get a HF changer and bolt it to some plywood, then all I'll need is a corner! 



-Mike

[maniscar]

My HF Tire Changer is not bolted to the floor.  I bolted it to an old piece of plywood so I can move it around.  Maybe 3' square.  I stand on it when using the changer and I have no troubles at all, then shove it in the corner to store till next time.

That's what I do too.  I use a 4' x 4' x 3/4" piece of plywood.  I mount the HF slightly off center for more standing room.  Works great!

  Rich

[1FAST6]

You'll still need those tools!  I use the bar on the changer to get it about 80% on, then use the spoons to pop it the rest of the way.  After doing about 20 or so tires (MC and DS) I decided it's much easier to use that combination.  First bead usually goes on no problem.  For the 2nd, I use 1 spoon to hold the bead from slipping out while you run the tool around as far as she wants to go, then prop the bar up on the changer to hold the bead in place, slip the 2nd spoon in just behind the first one and pry it on.  Pull the 1st spoon out, slip it in between the bar and the 2nd spoon, pry it on and you're done.  If you use Dyna Beads, put them in after you do the first bead and before the 2nd.

[hubcapsc]

You'll still need those tools!  I use the bar on the changer to get it about 80% on, then use the spoons to pop it the rest of the way.  After doing about 20 or so tires (MC and DS) I decided it's much easier to use that combination.  First bead usually goes on no problem.  For the 2nd, I use 1 spoon to hold the bead from slipping out while you run the tool around as far as she wants to go, then prop the bar up on the changer to hold the bead in place, slip the 2nd spoon in just behind the first one and pry it on.  Pull the 1st spoon out, slip it in between the bar and the 2nd spoon, pry it on and you're done.  If you use Dyna Beads, put them in after you do the first bead and before the 2nd.

Heck, with a generous application of rubber lubricant, I can get it 70 (maybe not 80)  percent on with no tools...
of course, watching me mount a tire is probably a lot like watching sausage being made... and you don't want me
or my little spoons anywhere near your shiney/unscratched/chromed wheels 

The hardest part, for me, is getting the second bead of the old tire off, that seems like the place
where a real tire changer would help...

-Mike

[1FAST6]

Taking them off is a breeze!  1st bead on is no trouble either.  I have to work at the second bead on, but like I said, after a few times it gets easier.  First few times I had me and two other guys trying to force it on.  As with most things in life, "It's easy when you know how!"