Changing your own tires, things you need.

[rocketbill]

I have decided to buy the things i need to do my own tire service. Driving 50miles round trip dropping the bike off in the am and having to drive back to pick it up in the afternoon is getting old, and today they told me they are not comfortable putting on a car tire. Thats ok, i'll do it myself. I know i will need some tire spoons, rim protectors. Found a balancing stand on e bay, wheel weights or dyna beads. Do you have to change your valve stems every time or just when they look crusty? Bead breaker. Grease for splines. Anything else? I enjoy working with my bike and i would rather do it myself anyway.

 

[ewswartze]

I am not trying to convince you to have the tires changed for you but please be advised
--- the bloody thing is tight!!!! I personally use a nevamar manual tire changing machine but it can be done by hand with spoons. A bead breaker would be nice also but if I run into trouble with the bead I generally use a couple of c clamps and they work just fine. Stem only needs replaced if existing one is crusty/dry rotted which is unlikely. If you need to replace the stem they only cost a couple of bucks and with a stem tool they pop out and back in easily.

 

[atomsplitter]

If you are going to use tire spoons, get the 2 footers (or longer). You will need the leverage to work the tire on. To get the old tire off you may want to use a die grinder with cut-off wheel and cut it off (its that tight).


On the other hand you could take the wheel and tire to a local tire shop and have them demount and mount it for a few bucks. Peerless Tire in Topeka does mine for $10.00.

 

[albertaduke]

HOLY MOLLY that is cheap allright .. compared to $60 up here in calgary

 

[TOMCAT]

Back tyres on Rockets are hard enough with a tyre changing machine , so i'm told by just about anyone who has changed a tyre for me. Great you enjoy working on your bike ... good luck with it . Let us know how it goes.

 

[rocketbill]

Thanks for the information. I thought that those spoons that are only a foot long would be too short, no leverage. I could always pull my tire get the old one off and then take the rim and new tire to the local tire shop and have them mount and balance it.

 

[out of taff]

I went to my local Triumph dealer to ask about changing my rear tire for a new un.
The service department suggested I take it to a specialized tire place. Said they will not try the rear size again, they screwed up a wheel when they last tried this.
I called the specialized tire place, ordered the tire (cheaper that the dealer) made an appointment.
In short. I rode up waited 15 minutes befor they started work. In the meantime I was inside in the AC drinking coffee. About 45 minutes later, rode home as happy as a clam.
The old tire had the typical flat center which made turns and banking a puckering experience.
I guess the size of rim/tire makes it a difficult job without the experience and good equipment to work with.

But I can change the tire of my bycycle

 

[rocketbill]

I just ordered a car tire, will pull my tire off, and just take the rim in to a tire shop and have it mounted.

 

[DRMD421]

I always change my own tires. I break the tires off the rim in a large vise. I drilled a 1" hole in a heavy metal table and I place the rim over the hole with two short 2x4s under the rim to protect it. I then bolt the wheel to the table with a 3/4 inch all thread. It holds the wheel perfectly while I peel the old tire off and put the new one on. Sometimes I use dynabeads and sometimes don't balance at all. Never had a problem and can usually do the entire mount/ dismount in 15- 20 minutes. On my second set of tires on the Rocket and did many on the Valk.

 

[rocketbill]

Hey TOMCAT your were right, getting the tire off (especially the first time-learning process) is a huge PIA. Ground it, hacksawed it, metal snips, to break the bead put the tire on blocks and used a jack under the bumper of my truck (this actually worked quite well). The steel cords in the bead area are STRONG. Anyway its off, next time 20 dollars to have a shop do it will be money well spent.