Changing tires

[Ritten]

Ok...I've gone ahead and ordered the tire changer from Harbor Freight with the motorcycle wheel attachment. I wanted something that would help make the whole job easier and bring the wheel up to waist height. Other than a few specific quirks to get it to work with all of my bike wheels, it seems like a decent buy. I still have to get a good set of tire irons though, both for using in the shop as well as on the road. Those of you who do change your own, what have you found to be a good set of irons?

[JayD]

When you find out let me know. I did my last change with two 9 inch bars and struggled. I'm looking dor a big 16 inch mutha to complete my set

[pistonslap]

Iv'e had the Harbor freight machine for 4 or 5 years now. Seems to be holding up pretty well considering I've changed a shitload of tires on it. Once you get one and learn how to use it you'll also be changing all your budddy's tires also. Believe me I know!!!

Just make sure you have it mounted solid to the floor so it doesn't move on you. I use some old tire spoons from Motion Pro that are about a foot long. Work great. I guess most bike shops stock them . Got mine from a Honda shop 20 years ago and they are still doing the job.

I also use a tire balancer from Marc Parnes products. I think it is the best on the market for the money. Never had a problem balancing a tire with it.

[Ritten]

Well, as usual, most of everybody's advice was right. Changing out the tires on my bike (first time) proved to be a complete nightmare compared to the second time. Buddy of mine came over yesterday to put new Distanzas on his V-Strom and it took us all of 10 minutes per wheel for everything. Instead of using my big compressor we even tested out the CO2 filler that I carry on my bike to set the bead and then pressured up the tire with the portable compressor ($10 wal-mart special) to simulate having to do everything on the trail. Worked like a charm with a set of 12 inch motion pro levers although the 16 would have made it just a tad bit easier.

[dannyt]

helpful tips
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html

[Ritten]

Well, it looks like I'm not going to be taking the Missouri trip alone after all. My buddy from Thib. is going to take his Hayabusa up. His rear tire was shot though, so we went pick one up from Angelles (or whatever they're called now) and came back here to put it on.

One very big factor is that sportbike tires have MUCH less of a sidewall than dual sports. I broke the Mojo lever trying to get the damn thing off, and then we almost tore the rubber trying to get the damn new one on!! Once we got the first bead off and were working on the second, we got about 30% off and just started to lift the tire off of the rim. Well, the weld that holds the upper mount of the tire changer broke away from the stand. No big deal, since I'll just put a good strong bead on it when I get back, but it made hard work of putting the new tire on. We tossed the wheel in the grass, each grabbed a couple of irons, and started wrestling.

Me - 3, HF changer - 1

[chappy]

I have 2 10 inch motion pro irons and a curved 16. I can dismount most tires in about a minute and a half with the HF but I still prefer to mount by hand.. I find the key is to press the opposite side of th tire (from the side you are trying to lever on) into the rim center with your knees. If I had a helper or some way to do the pressing into the rim center on the HF machine I would use it for mounting also but as it is the knee/ground method is very quick and easy.

[Juice]

Hint Hint Hint. I need to mount a set of street tires on the KLR before my Barber run this coming weekend.................Not.Worthy





I have 2 10 inch motion pro irons and a curved 16. I can dismount most tires in about a minute and a half with the HF but I still prefer to mount by hand.. I find the key is to press the opposite side of th tire (from the side you are trying to lever on) into the rim center with your knees. If I had a helper or some way to do the pressing into the rim center on the HF machine I would use it for mounting also but as it is the knee/ground method is very quick and easy.

[Ritten]

Now that I'm back offshore and have all my pictures processed and uploaded, I can start posting...

Monday William came over and we loaded the HF changer into the back of his truck. We went to the shop and I started grinding right off. Two passes with the mig machine later and the base was welded better than new. A bit of black primer to keep the rust out and I'm pleased.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/RSTed1000/Missouri%202006/IMG_0840.jpg

With a pile of scrap iron on the side of the shop, we decided to make a few more modifications. The clamps that hold the rim in place were just a bit too small to hold the massive lips of the GS rims, so following what others have done to theirs, we welded up some angle iron onto the brackets which I will fit with some teflon strips when I get the chance. Those rims will be locked down now!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/RSTed1000/Missouri%202006/IMG_0843.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/RSTed1000/Missouri%202006/IMG_0844.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/RSTed1000/Missouri%202006/IMG_0845.jpg

I didn't have time to change out my TKC's for the Tourances myself before coming offshore, so I coughed up the $30 to have them done at the local shop. With only 24 hours at the house before leaving for Mexico next month, I wanted to get them done.

[scooterhose]

I ordered a tire changer from HF just yesterday, with all the attachments...

I appreciate the mod pics...Not.Worthy Thanks12


Won't have access to a welder until August though.Bable12 Head Bang

[Ritten]

Won't have access to a welder until August though.Bable12 Head Bang


Unless you really get rough with the thing, the factory welds should hold fine. We were BOTH really pulling on the thing to get it to break loose. The angle iron should have no problem holding most rims. It's the spoke rims on the GS that are almost 1/2" thick lips (spokes go to the outside) that requires the mod.

[scooterhose]

Cool12 Thanks12 Wiggle




Unless you really get rough with the thing, the factory welds should hold fine. We were BOTH really pulling on the thing to get it to break loose. The angle iron should have no problem holding most rims. It's the spoke rims on the GS that are almost 1/2" thick lips (spokes go to the outside) that requires the mod.

[scooterhose]

WoooHooo got my knew Karoos and my 4mm heavy duty tubes today!!!

Now all I need is my HF tire changer and I'll be hammering and cussin shit...

Any pointers?qwer3

[scooterhose]

WoooHooo got my knew Karoos and my 4mm heavy duty tubes today!!!

Now all I need is my HF tire changer and I'll be hammering and cussin shit...

Any pointers?qwer3
"knew"??? What a dumb shit...Slap12 Blonde.e


Yo, RST how long did it take for yours to get there?

[Ritten]

I order all of my mailorder stuff while I'm offshore so it's home when I get there. I do believe it took about a week or so if I remember correctly though.

[scooterhose]

I order all of my mailorder stuff while I'm offshore so it's home when I get there. I do believe it took about a week or so if I remember correctly though.
Cool12 Thanks12 Not.Worthy

[Ritten]

Well, I have to make an update to this post now that it's been a little over a year and the HF changer has more than paid for itself!! Yesterday a buddy came over with a nail in the rear of his brand new FZ6 and I agreed to sell him the barely scrubbed in stock rear off of my 750 for $100 if he helped me with the install and to swap tires on my GS spoke wheels. I gathered all of my tools and prepared myself for what would surely be a back breaking, cussing, sweating few hours of trying to wrestle a sportbike tire onto a rim. Previous experience with DannyT's rear wheel and a Hayabusa rear wheel indicated this would be the case.

However, I decided to try Chappy's use of a silicone based spray instead of the traditional dish soap. DUUUUUDE........Bob, you are the MAN!!! With the silicone I only needed an iron to pop the last 3 inches of tire over the lip on the rim for the front of the GS wheels. The rear went on without any tools, just two guys pushing. The sportbike tire took a little bit more time.....10min. I am planning on having three or four cans of this stuff on hand from now on and where I used to be leary about changing my track tires, I now welcome the new found easy task!!!!

[chappy]

Well, I have to make an update to this post now that it's been a little over a year and the HF changer has more than paid for itself!! Yesterday a buddy came over with a nail in the rear of his brand new FZ6 and I agreed to sell him the barely scrubbed in stock rear off of my 750 for $100 if he helped me with the install and to swap tires on my GS spoke wheels. I gathered all of my tools and prepared myself for what would surely be a back breaking, cussing, sweating few hours of trying to wrestle a sportbike tire onto a rim. Previous experience with DannyT's rear wheel and a Hayabusa rear wheel indicated this would be the case.

However, I decided to try Chappy's use of a silicone based spray instead of the traditional dish soap. DUUUUUDE........Bob, you are the MAN!!! With the silicone I only needed an iron to pop the last 3 inches of tire over the lip on the rim for the front of the GS wheels. The rear went on without any tools, just two guys pushing. The sportbike tire took a little bit more time.....10min. I am planning on having three or four cans of this stuff on hand from now on and where I used to be leary about changing my track tires, I now welcome the new found easy task!!!!

Ted, I succesfully used the silicone spray for years. It makes changing tires a lot easier BUT:
I ran into an issue when I used it to mount an Avon Azaro ST rear. It went on super easy but the tire would SLIP on the rim while acelerating. At first I thought my clutch must be going out but then I realized there was no increase in RPM when I felt the slip. So I put a mark on the tire with a tire crayon at the valve stem and went riding. After a couple more slips I checked the tire and sure enough it had slipped on the rim.

The problem with silicone spray is that it STAYS slippery. I now use a professional product available at Pep Boys and I think some NAPA stores:
Ruglyde Tire Mounting and Rubber Lubricant $15 for a gallon (probably a liefetime supply for most riders) This works as well as the silicone spray and when it dries it is not slippery.

"Product Description
The Industry-approved Rubber Lubricant. Lubricates tires for mounting and demounting. A MUST for all tubeless tires. Protects beads against scuffing during mounting assures proper bead seating on rim. Protects against tire slippage after mounting. Also removes rubber squeaks in bushings and grommets."


No need to be overly concerned about the above, the worse that will probaly happen is your tire will lose balance, the slip is very minor, nothing drastic and many tire brands never slipped (dunlops, bridgestones) I cured my slipping tire without dismounting it completely. I removed the wheel from bike, deflated and broke the bead. Then cleaned between the rim and bead with a rag soaked in painters grease and silicone cleaner. If your tires are not slipping I would not even bother to do that.

[Ritten]

Thanks for the warning Chappy. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any slipping.

[Fitty]

I can add my hearty recommendation for the RuGlyde product. Works great. I put some in a spray bottle and like Chappy said, that gallon will last a long time. I got mine at Pep Boys. Using this I can usually put the first side of the new tire on the wheel with just a good, quick push. If I remember correctly, the main ingredient is EthyleneGlycol, and I've heard of people mixing their own using anti-freeze, but I'll just keep buying mine.

While we're on this subject, I'll add a little tip that I don't see mentioned much, maybe because it's obvious, but it wasn't to me. The first time I mounted tires, my rear had a slow leak around the bead that I couldn't fix. I thought the problem was my low-power compressor not having enough pressure to properly seat it. I took the wheel to a friend's shop that had a real compressor that seated the bead with two loud pops, but it still leaked. I finally fixed it by breaking the bead back down and cleaning the old tire residue from the rim with some RuGlyde and a Scotchbrite pad. There was just enough residue left on the rim where the bead seats to keep the new tire from seating. Now I clean it every time and I've had no problems since.

[dannyt]

Man where was all of this good info a couple of months ago. Ted and I had a real pisser of a time with my rear tire. So much so that we gave up on the tire changer and put the rim on the ground. I jumped my big ass up and down on it until the tire went on. Believe me it must have looked pretty damn funny.

[Ritten]

Man where was all of this good info a couple of months ago. Ted and I had a real pisser of a time with my rear tire. So much so that we gave up on the tire changer and put the rim on the ground. I jumped my big ass up and down on it until the tire went on. Believe me it must have looked pretty damn funny.


It was the two of us holding two irons, a flashlight, and a pair of needlenose pliers trying to get the damn rim protector out of the wheel that would have been hilarious to see!

[Fitty]

The first time I changed my tires, the one about the monkey and the football came to mind. :D

That's exactly what I looked like.

[chappy]

Man where was all of this good info a couple of months ago. Ted and I had a real pisser of a time with my rear tire. So much so that we gave up on the tire changer and put the rim on the ground. I jumped my big ass up and down on it until the tire went on. Believe me it must have looked pretty damn funny.

Actually, I only use the HF for dismounting. I prefer the ground for mounting cause I use my knees. Some tires are a lot harder to work with than others. What was it?

[snipe-br]

man, you guys are making me glad I bought that no-mar setup. I haven't had to jump on any rims since I got it.

[randyradio]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------Here's how I beat the humidity and get it all done in less than 5 minutes cheaply.----

Numerous times over the past dozen years I've
taken my wheels and new tires over to my auto garage and they use their tire machine to break the beads and pop off the old tires and slide on the new tires and reseat the tires and they're off the machine in about 4 min from when I walk in the shop AND in south GA here they've never seen that before so a $5 tip and a good thankyou and I go home to my lil balancer and I'm done. These modern tire machines don't even touch the rim as they rotate around the rim and the 4 foots that go inside the rim and then go stick going in the outside direction to hold the rim I just use some duct tape on them and they don't scratch. I have forgot this taping the foots a few times but don't see any real toothmarks on the rims after. I put this on a euro list a few yrs back and they chimed in with saying in Europe they always get their tires at the same place they get their car tires and they use the same mounting machines. Hope this works for you all. Better n doing chinups on your rims. Randy in GA