Diy Tyre changing

[tankpb]

Does anyone change there own tyres and would you recomend it.

[BBROWN1664]

On a moped yes but on anything faster, that needs the wheels balanced so a dealer job anyway.

[NorthWestern]

Yes.


Would I recommend it?  Depends really.  You will probably be using tyre levers (once you have broken the bead) and until your very good at it you will damage your rim paint at least once (either by scratching it or the levering force chipping it).


Garages usually use one of those machines that pop the tyre off/on as it is rotated which avoids this.


Balancing isn't as hard as people make out and the whole thing can be done in less than 10 mins.  In fact you can balance it by holding the wheel with the spindle through it with one side proped on something - you don't need anything special, check you tube for vids its not a black art.


I do it because I usually nab some of my brothers old race tyres for nowt and do it at my dads place.  Getting a garage to do it would involve going to pick them up, taking my wheels off, driving to a garage etc etc so its just easier.  If I had no option or had concourse wheels or something I would probably pay the local place the £6 a wheel to do it.

[NorthWestern]

Unfortunately he recently changed from running 180 rear supersport tyres to 190 slicks (boo hiss)...


Which reminds me his bike is up for sale if anyone fancies a lovely Ducati!


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141131861366?s...1423.l2649

[Ianboydsnr]

I used to change my own using just 3 tyre levers and 3 quick clamps, and a hammer and bolster to break the bead, and a couple of metre lengths of 3x2 wood, using cut up old shampoo bottles(head and shoulders) as rim protectors


Never bothered balancing, well I did for a while but I gave up,


The trick is to keep the tyre opposit the levers in the wheel well, using the quick clamps, getting the second bead off by luring it with soap, then pulling it till its jammed on the rim, then hammering around the edges, until it pops off,


The first time took a lot of sweat and a couple of hours, but after a few I could do it in half an hour!




I have a mate that has one of these, and recons its very easy


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-Tools-T...2ecc99b039
But the bar is not the best, he uses one of these


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/manual-tyre-ma...27dbcab071


But we now have a proper tyre changing machine at work, so I use that now

[chaz]

I used to change my tyres years ago when the rims were chrome plated, took a car tyre off my trailer that had been on for 20 years, used the vice to break the bead might be a bit risky on a bike rim?
If you do your own you at least know that it hasn't had a 100 psi in it to get it to seal?

[Razgruff]

interesting seeing what people have used to break the bead.
I use a G clamp, I've found that thick plastic strip that is used on the corner of pallets of boxs, that have been banded is good for protecting rims from lever marks.

[tankpb]

Thanks for the interesting replies, I like the G clamp method and plastic protectors. The reason I am asking is I live 150 miles round trip to a bike MOT station and 250 mile round trip to Mitchells motorcycles in Inverness ( nearest bike shop), so the internet tyre dealers may have a new customer, any recomendations?.

[codgie]

try these guys
they have always been good to me


http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/roundandblack