Changing Tires By Guitarman (Read 1,706 times)

[Guitarman]

How hard is it really to change a tire and why?
I'm asking in general, but I'm specifically concerned with my Nighthawk.

[kz1000st]

If it has cast wheels breaking the bead is a beast. Just getting the tire on and off the rim is no bargain either. I take wheels to my dealer. They do in five minutes what takes me an hour or more.

[rks]

It can't be too hard, for I have changed 3 motorcycle, and 1 scooter tire, in the last 12 months..... and I'm a senior citizen. All you need is a couple of tire irons, and a couple of rim protectors are a good idea.

[cyborg]

It can be a pain ,,, in an emergency I could do them but I choose not to

[cookees]

We use a Harbor Freight bead braker and three spoons. The short sidewall tires can be a bitch. Use a lubricant ( Soapy water) and three hands.

[jct842]

If I can get the tire in my bench vice I use it to break bead. I learned how to change tires when I was 8 or 9 years old, then it was bicycle tires, then motorcycle, then car tires, all by hand. car tires you drive over them with left front tire to break the bead, but in them days all had tubes. I still change scooter and motorcycle tires by hand and I am 72 years old. What I don't understand is some one who cuts costs and buys a cheap tire then goes to a dealer to install it and spends what he saved to have it changed.

[Guitarman]

I've done bicycle tires, but never anything bigger. Was wondering how difficult it would be and is there anything I need to seal the bead?

[tvnacman]

shave gel as a lube .

John

[cyborg]

Yes the low profile tires can be a bear,,, I've done them,,, I put them in the sun so they heatup and are a little easier to work,,, I still take them to be mounted and balanced,,, but have been thinking of getting a machine but by the time I figure in adapters for bike tires and then 10" scooter tires I'm in for a chunk of change,,, Ive been looking for a used nice used one on CL but havn't found the right one yet

[Guitarman]

I've seen the machine do it, but when the bead pops, it sounds like the tire just blew up.
I'm thinking of changing my Nighthawk tires myself and I just wanted to know what to expect before I go all Wally world on it.
My local shop wants $375 to do both.  I think I can do it for almost half that.

[jct842]

Get on youtube and watch for a few hours. A friend of mine uses windex for a lube.

Just what sizes are you needing to change. As been said low profile tires are harder. The hardest I have done are those on my riva, a 10" tire. Seating the bead does take a lot of air all at once. When
I had the 3 scooters all with pirelli tires
I didn't have 1 weight, none needed, all balanced perfect.

[Guitarman]

Tire Size.: Front: 110/80-18, Rear: 140/70-17
I'll use balance beads.

I found a set of Pirelli's for $215 and free shipping.

[jct842]

Those should not be all that bad to change. When you get into the 50's and 60's profiles there is less wiggle room. check the youtube tire changing videos. And you will need lots of air. I had one I could not seat and the local car tire shop seated it for me at no charge, on that damn riva 10" rim.

With the lower speed limits in Hi. you could probably get by with a lesser tire but all it takes is one slip to make it a bad bad day. I'll take the pirelli's.

[Guitarman]

There's a Fastlube right down the street and I use their air from time to time for free.

Now, How do I block my bike up with no wheels on it while I go get them seated?

[JR]

Two Words:

  would I pay that to put tires on. Hell I can almost put a new set or tires on my 93 Chevy for that!  

Like they said videos and I'm with John even at my age I can change out both of my scooter tires which includes taking them off the scooter and putting them back on in less than 5 hours.

Use that saved money to go out and have a good time somewhere.

JR