Topic: How are you guys changing your own tires without chewing up your rims?

[fmctm1sw]

I did some digging around on this because I wanted to try it myself.  I don't have tire irons but I found something I thought would work relatively well:  Brake spoons at Autozone.  I have a couple rusty rims laying around so I took a shot at it.  First thing I realized I couldn't do was get ALL the air out of the tube.  I suppose I could have taken the valve out but I dodn't have the tool (lesson learned).  I duct taped my brake spoons with duct tape as I read here in another thread.  To make along story short, between my brake spoons and two long slotted screwdrivers, I got the tire off.  I went right through the duct tape and ended up with metal on metal rim to spoons though and scratched up my rim.  It's not really that bad but if you look close you can see it.  Am I expecting too much doing it myself?  Is a dealer going to do it any differently?  I just know if I pay the $40 or $50 a wheel like they said and it comes back with the same little scratches on it that I made, I'll lose my mind...

[heffay]

first step i learned in changing dirt bike tires... not much to do w/ scratching rims, but... you don't want ALL the air out.  you generally want the tube to retain its cylindrically circular form.   











wow... i didn't even set off the spelling alarm!

[heffay]

after changing many tires with levers/by hand... and learning to use a tire machine... i've learned that we should all just be replaced.   

[super pasty white guy]

cut some strips of plastic from a milk bottle or the like.  Put those against the rim when using a tire iron.  They also sell a product for this purpose as well.

spwg

[Jim F]

Also helps to use some WD-40 around the rim
and if it is a warm day then leave the tire out side as this
will soften the tire up a little

good luck

Jim

[bobrhix]

the only trick i learned---if i pull wheels the local shop charges only 15 bucks!! to mount and balance. hard to do the rebalance yourself.

[333]

You do want most of the air out of the tire.  The valve must be removed.  The tire must be squeezed together so the bead goes into the inner part of the rim so it has enough sideways movement to easily come off the opposite side of the rim.

In reinstalling the new tire, there is typically a mark(red dot?) that is to be matched with the valve stem of the tube.  This will help in balancing the tire, but will not substitute getting it balanced at a shop.

[Tower]

I've learned the hard way that tape is not effective protection, plastic lasts a little longer, but is ultimately also not effective.  Cut aluminum cans, sanded edges and folded over so as not to expose the sharp edges to your hands worked for me.

Balance is still done by the shop.  In my neck of the woods, changing tyres and tubes myself saves about $30/rim.

[Steve F]

Aw heck, I've replaced both tires in less than 20 minutes.......10 minutes to drive to the Honda shop and 10 minutes to go back to pick them up!   
I tried doing my own replacement.....ONCE, and that was enough to realize that it wasn't worth the effort, and having to take it all apart again to fix the innertube that I poked a hole in with the first attempt.
The dealer has a machine, and it's designed to not even touch the rim.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Doing your own tire removal and replacement with pry bars is insane.  Doing your own exhaust work on your car is insane.  I do just about everything else around here though. 

[Steve F]

Doing your own tire removal and replacement with pry bars is insane.  Doing your own exhaust work on your car is insane.  I do just about everything else around here though. 

Amen to that!  I HATE working on cars and trucks especially if you don't have access to a lift or all the "specialty" tools.

[MJL]

Aw heck, I've replaced both tires in less than 20 minutes.......10 minutes to drive to the Honda shop and 10 minutes to go back to pick them up!   
I tried doing my own replacement.....ONCE, and that was enough to realize that it wasn't worth the effort, and having to take it all apart again to fix the innertube that I poked a hole in with the first attempt.
The dealer has a machine, and it's designed to not even touch the rim.

I mounted a rear tire once and it sucked. Then I tried the front. I broke the rim strip when I trued the rim so I had to come up with a replacement as it was sunday. By the time I was done the tire wasn't centered on the rim correctly and I ended up taking it to a shop anyway for a new strip and mount and balance.

Tube tires are more flexy then tubeless, and these were tubeless.

[heffay]

You do want most of the air out of the tire.  The valve must be removed.  The tire must be squeezed together so the bead goes into the inner part of the rim so it has enough sideways movement to easily come off the opposite side of the rim.

not sure if you're arguing against me or reiterating.  and yes, 333, you're right.... you do want most of the air out of the tire, but it works best if the tube is not flat and starts to flop around like a noodle inside the tire.  it especially needs to be manageable once you can no longer get in there w/ your fingers when putting the tube and tire back on the rim.  this is accomplished by leaving a pound or two of pressure in the tube just to keep its shape... i will guarantee less pinches in your tubes and anyone that begs to differ has not changed enough tube type tires.  i learned this very early on, changing bicycle tires, and it carries over to moto tires, obviously.

[Bob Wessner]

I replaced both front and rear tires (or tyres if you prefer ) several years ago. I had the commercial rim guards, but found them too thick and difficult to remove after mounting. Used sections of two liter pop bottles instead. They were tubeless tires, with tubes of course, and a real pain! Not sure I would go through it again, might just take them in next time.

[ColinMc]

I mainly just take tires off myself, so I can clean the rim up real nice and polish or paint anything that needs to have it done...then I got to the shop to have the new tires mounted and balanced since it costs next to nothing and is much quicker. Using motorcycle tire spoons i've never had trouble marring rims myself...chrome or aluminum...just been lucky I guess? I wouldn't dream of trying any low profile newer sport bike wheels though...egad.

[Artfrombama]

I cut the old tire off. Use a box cutter and cut the entire circumference of the old tire then cut the bead with tin snips and throw it on the brush pile (I know, not "Green").
Dust the inside of the new tire with baby powder and spray the bead with WD-40. First side pops on easily, second side must be persuaded with tire irons. I use long pry bars from Harbor Freight and have ground/filed the edges smooth, still use 3-4 layers of duct tape on the rim. Keep pushing the bead toward the center of the rim as you go.

[Honda_Nut]

My local custom bike builder will R/R for $25. I think it's well worth it. Plus, he'll do it right away.

[nollid51]

When I got a new tire for my CX I just took off the rim and brought it too the dealer. I had ordered the tire through him, and he charged me $20 for the tire change. I just look at it as a shipping charge that you would have to pay for a tire ordered over the web.

[mystic_1]

I use one of these, and a hammer:



They don't seem to be available any more, however.  Too bad, they work pretty well.  Called a "breezer", got mine from JC Whitney.

mystic_1

[speedy gonzalais]

Depending on the condition of the tyre it should be easy to remove unless its been run flat or almost flat that will make it hard, all you need is 2 small 2ft long levers with curved but rounded edges some grease an old paint brush valve remover and a new tyre.
Remove the valve and let the tyre deflate, push the bead away from the rim on both side get your brush greased up and brush round the bead and rim on one side only then insert one lever on the greased side and pull the bead over the rim, insert the other lever about 2 inches away and do the same, do this a couple of times then you should be able to ease the rest off with your fingers, Now if you got enough grease in there just push the tyre away from the rim you shouldnt need to use the levers and its off, Now grease both beads on the new tyre and try and ease it on the rim without using the levers, you might need to use one to push the last bit of the bead over the rim.
Insert tube and ease the other bead on using the lever only on the last bit of bead, and always make sure you not pinching the tube with the lever.

When it comes to changing a tyre grease is your best friend.

[crazypj]

The brake adjuster spoons/prybars also have a sharp edge instead of a radius-ed one which will probably chew up rims whatever you do.
 I usually use BMW levers on most street tyres (about 6" long)
Its a matter of persuasion not brute force.
 If you need 2ft levers your doing something wrong
 Removing tyres, you want all the air out and bead in drop center opposite where your working on it.
Re-fitting, put enough air in tube so it holds its shape and let a little out when you get tyre almost all the way on.
 I don't think you can call anyone who doesn't change their own tyres a 'real' motorcyclist, just a bunch of wannabee throttle twisters
 If you want difficult, try Avon Road race tyres (not even close to as soft or flexible' as normal Road Runners, and they seem to be made too small)
The ones that will get your hands bleeding though, Pirrelli motocross tyres (particularly sand tyres, much harder compound)
PJ

[low-side]

     If you're dealing with some 20 or 30 yr old tire I'd save yourself some aggravation and rim nicks and cut it off; newer tires come off relatively easy if you have the right tools.  I have some 18" tire irons that I have ground off any sharp edges and after removing the valve core it is pretty easy to remove the old tire  - you'll probably only need one or two bites on the second side of the tire.  There are ways to balance a tire at home, but one of the easiest to do at home is puttin gsome Slime in.  It will be forced to the light part of the tire and gets it balbanced pretty decently.  You can find out how to do it properly at home in most repair manuals or you could take it in and get it done.  While the tire and tube are off you can true the wheel, check for corrosion, and do some other things that the folks at the shop may or may not do well.
     It's not everyones thing.  The reason you can't get a breezer anymore is that no one can sell enough of them to bother stocking them.  I do it because I like to do it and I find it relaxing.  Kinda the whole reason for the whole vintage bike thing.  If I had super rare or expensive wheels I might take them in to a shop I really trusted.  If I didn't enjoy it I'd take them in.  If you like working on them yourself, you've recieved a lot of good advice and tips so far with more to come I'm sure and if you don't I'd find someone more reasonable to take your stuff to and save the headache.
     

[Heironymous Josh]

Portable tire changer from Harbor Freight - $50.  Lots of "Purple Dog Slobber" tire lube or dish soap.

[333]

Looking at the picture, that thing doesn't look like a motorcycle wheel would fit on it.

[Heironymous Josh]

Looking at the picture, that thing doesn't look like a motorcycle wheel would fit on it.

Here's a picture of member Ken74-550K0 using his.  I have one just like it.  I may have grabbed the wrong pic from the Harbor Freight website.