Changing tires?

[Bear]

    So after 95,000 on my RK I'm thinking of doing my own tires ( I do everything else) I dont see the Harbor freight machine listed anymore. How do you guys do it?

[nibroc]

get wifie out in the garage and have her hold the big long screw driver and have at it!!

[Bear]

So everybody uses spoons? How about breaking the bead?

[calif phil]

Bikers choice # 15-0211 is a good $40 bead breaker. 

[2006blueking]

I use a large vise and soapy water and a large c-clamp  vise breaks the original bead and the c-clamp is used to work my way around the rest of the wheel

[garyajaz]

i have always done my bikes by hand.  large and long spoons/irons.
last flat on sporty (july)i snapped a tendon in hand doing it.
so now i just pay the 10 bucks at  my indy.
cheaper than the 16,000 surgery.
gettin old is not for sissies.

[mor pwr]

Buy a No-Mar tire machine and it's a piece of cake. Then start changing tires on the side and make some money at it.

[wholehog]

harbor freight site has the changer....it breaks the bead just fine and tire removal is easy....about $100....

installing may be another thing depending on the tire and rim so get some levers also

[truck]

I have a Harbor Freight tire changer and it has a built in bead breaker.
After using it several times with the mount dismount bar and getting a few bruised and bloody fingers I settled on using the changer to hold the wheel at a nice working height and using levers-spoons-tire irons to do the change.

[deathwish]

for tires 130 and narrower I use my vise. Once one side of the bead breaks I move the tire so one jaw is on the tire and put a piece of plywood between the other jaw and rim. For wider tires I use 8" C clamps about the same way. For removal I run a sawzal across the bead to within about about 1/2 to 3/4" of the rim. I then spoon the bead over with 2 spoons and slide a piece of flat steel between the bead and rim. Grab the 4 1/2" angle head and cut the bead. Flip wheel over and repeat. Carcuss is now cut in half. I do use the plastic rim protectors under the spoons.  For putting the tires on I use WD 40 so I never have moisture inside the wheel and it is slick as heck. evapotates quickly.

[NETacomaFatboy]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/new-Manual-Portable-Tire-Changer-/380399490372?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item5891939544

[PoorUB]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/new-Manual-Portable-Tire-Changer-/380399490372?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item5891939544

You still need the motorcycle wheel adaptor, that is the plain jane version for car tires.

[lilchief]

One of the managers at our local HF said that they quit making the MC adapter because they were upgrading it & were going to come out with a new adapter. This was last year & it was supposed to be out by now, but I haven't seen yet it either. I have a brand new base sitting in the garage because I was going to buy the MC adapter later and didn't get it before they discontinued it  I have a buddy that fabricated a motorcycle adapter that will fit with my base but neither of us have tried it yet. It actually makes it so the HF base mounts into the receiver hitch of your truck to keep it steady. I'm due up for a set of tires this summer so we'll give it a try then.

Lil Chief

[Glide-Rider]

I purchase my tires on line.  When new tire arrives I will take old tire & wheel off and take the new tire and old tire on wheel to local independent.   They will take off old and put on new and balance for $22.50 per wheel you bring in.  Works for me.. 
Pete

[barny7655]

All my 21 inch wheels do by hand to put them on with a little soapy suds, dont need spoons  or any thing just work around the rim , at least its saved my mag wheel from bruising, use a slit plastic hose on the rim to remove tyre once one bit is up easy for the reat to follow , the inner you can roll over by hand ,, cheers Barny

[moose]

just bought a coats 220 for my new garage have not tried it yet

[Tsani]

Just assembled my christmas present:
A No-Mar Cycle Hill Tire Changer with the no-mar bead bead breaker.

Just did my first tire. 

[wholehog]

I purchase my tires on line.  When new tire arrives I will take old tire & wheel off and take the new tire and old tire on wheel to local independent.   They will take off old and put on new and balance for $22.50 per wheel you bring in.  Works for me.. 
Pete

50 bucks here for that

[02 Ultra]

do the rotors and or pulley have to come off?
02

[Coyote]

do the rotors and or pulley have to come off?
02

Not with a Cycle Hill or No Mar. Cycle Hill is a big step up from Harbor Freight. No Mar is a nice step up from Cycle Hill.

[02 Ultra]

I am thinking with by hand with tire spoons. Seems like it would be hard to pry off with them in place?
02

[Coyote]

I am thinking with by hand with tire spoons. Seems like it would be hard to pry off with them in place?
02

About half the tires I mount I do with spoons. I never take them off.

[Old Crow]

I do mine by hand.  I built a frame out of 2x4 to set the wheel in.  Takes the strain off the sprocket or rotor.

[Eleft36]

I purchase my tires on line.  When new tire arrives I will take old tire & wheel off and take the new tire and old tire on wheel to local independent.   They will take off old and put on new and balance for $22.50 per wheel you bring in.  Works for me.. 
Pete

50 bucks here for that

It's worth the price an hours labor not to scar my wheels and end up with a nice dynamic wheel balance.
Factor that cost into 12-13000 miles of vibration free miles,  priceless.

Al

[Deye76]

Does the rotor and pulley need to be removed with the No-Mar?