Tire Remover Poll of sorts

[JetDriver]

Just looking for what people are using.  Those of you who remove and replace your own tires, what kind of tire remover do you have- Harbor Freight, No-Mar, Cycle Hill, just use tire irons, etc.?  After you say what you've got, would you say if you would buy that kind again, or would you switch next time to what kind?  How about tire balancers- same thing- what do you have and are you happy with it or, if you had it to do over, what would you buy instead?  I'm hoping to use the vast experience here to get one I'm happy with the first time around.  Thanks.

[Ratdog]

I used (past dense being the operative word here) a Harbor Freight rig.  It did the job, but took a LOT of care and such to keep from marking the rim.  I found a local shop that'll mount/balance for $25 per wheel if you bring them the wheel/tire.  The local shop gets the nod from me. 

I marked the heavy spot on the rim and would rotate the tire on the rim to require the smallest amount of weight possible to balance it. And... do NOT us silicone spray to lube the tire to install it !!!!  I did (once), and had marked the tire/rim with a witness mark... it took NO time at all for the torque of the Valk to spin the tire on the rim (AT 47PSI !!) while riding... little by little.  If you're going to do your own, use tire soap.

[Dogg]

have my own machine. works good works fast and never scratches. I dont trust anyone with my wheels. reasons I need not esplain... 

[Jack]

Tire irons.  I had the wheel balanced 9 yrs ago and never balance the tires.

[hubcapsc]

Little tiny tire irons, because I'm a flipping idiot 



Sometimes I think a HF tirechanger with one of those (I forget the name) non-scratch
tire tools is in my future, but time for a new tire always arrives and I still just have the
little dirt-bike tire irons...

-Mike

[Sourdough]

I use the HF setup and a MoJo lever... works fine for us (group purchase). Have
only changed about 15 tires so far, but would buy this setup again. I balance
w/ dyna beads and that has worked out well also.

[Robert]

Well went through this just last night I used my shop lift with a piece of wood to press down on the bead and no problem broke the bead. Used a couple of screw drivers some shop rags to take off the tire with care and not to scratch the rim. But unseated one side of the tire and then used the cutting wheel to cut the bead on the other side and pulled the tire off by hand. The new tire went on no problem. Balancing them used the Dyna beads and it feels great. This is the first and last tire I will change by hand I agree with the previous post for 35.00 its worth to have them do it no hassles no worry no scratches. Then use the Dyna beads. Actually you could just run over the edge of the tire with a car to break the bead if you didn't have anything else to do it with comes off pretty easy. If your not worried about scratching the rim its not a hard job if you have to worry its a pia.

[silverback]

I am a member of the VRCC and I work for Cycle Gear and we will balance any tire free. So if you want to change the tire yourself go for it but you can get a high speed balance for free anytime at your local Cycle Gear store.  And if you want we will change your tire for $20 if you buy it from us or $30. if you bring in your own. and you will get the best prices guaranteed. Wheels must be off of bike.

[vanagon40]

http://zx-10r.net/forum/showthread.php?p=990733

I made a tire changer about the same as the one in the above post.  (Just the tire changer, not the bead breaker or balancer).

[GA Mike]

Silverback, where are you located?

[X Ring]

http://www.cyclegear.com/store.cfm

Marty

[Scott in Ok]

I use a harbor freight changer, with a No-Mar break bar, and no-mar tire irons.....

The harbor freight rig works but like others have said you have to be very careful not to scratch the rims.

-Scott

[hubcapsc]

http://www.cyclegear.com/store.cfm

Marty

I recognize that place now that you showed us the map... I went in there one day to look around
and the tire guy ended up giving me a handful of used clip-on honda-style wheele weights...

-Mike

[JetDriver]

I use a harbor freight changer, with a No-Mar break bar, and no-mar tire irons.....

The harbor freight rig works but like others have said you have to be very careful not to scratch the rims.

-Scott

It sounds like you solved that problem with the No-Mar break bar and No-Mar tire irons, is that right? Using those plastic rim protectors wouldn't do the same thing?

[Scott in Ok]

The problem with cratching the rims is with the rim clamp on the harbor freight changer.  There is no scratching with the No-mar tools of course.  This setup works for me and has saved me a ton of time and money. 

-Scott

[PAVALKER]

I have used the HF set up, nice and inexpensive actually.... especially when you get it on sale and use the 20% off coupons...    here.....   http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/common/displayPage.do?pageFile=magurl1.html

I do need to get the NoMar bar tho, and also make an adapter to put it in my truck hitch or put some concrete lags into the garage to "mount it".   But it has worked as is... for now.