Changing tires.

[wkboard]

I am just about to buy new tires for my 99'. The dealer wants $40 each to mount, balance, and new stems if I bring them in. (whether I buy them from him or not)

How hard, or even possible is it to unmount and mount new tires on the rims. I have read about some of you buying machinery to do this -- but can it be done without the big tools.

I don't have room for any more equiptment, but plan on removeing the wheels myself so I can grease everything, and do brakes.

I am interested to hear from some of you that have hand mounted RSV tires before.

Thanks,

[Squidley]

Alan,

 

To be quite honest with you, dont screw around with them by hand. #1 it's a PIA to do and the right equipment isn't cheap and will give you headaches. If he's going to put new stems in and mount and balance, pay the money and chalk it up to the price of running the bike.

 

I have hand broke many tires in my day, as I used to manage a tire store. The peace of mind you'll have that it is done right and your rim wont get scratched to me is worth it.

[Freebird]

That is hight though. I don't use our local Yamaha shop but the Honda shop will mount my tires for $20.00 each if I take the wheels in. If I were to buy the tire there, mounting and balancing is free.

[wkboard]

Thanks for the replies! I will call some more dealers.

We have a bunch of car tire shops around here. Can they be trusted with a bike rim?

[BOO]

I usually do my own, ask Stardbog, he just happen to be here one day when I took the rear tire off the rim, balanced it and put it back on.

No special equipment, you just need someplace to hold the rim down.

I've been doing this for years on and off. Don't like to take it to the dealer because I have to come back and get it. Sometimes I change the tire and let a HD mechanic I know balance it.

Search the web, there's all kinds of information on the net.

Jerry

[SaltyDawg]

Yeah check around, most dealers charge $40.00 a tire around here if you don't buy from them. I found a motorcycle repair shop that does them for $25.00. Ask around. The equipment to change them yourself will run you about $400.00 if you get the Harbour Freight tire changer with motorcycle attachment and the NoMar bar and wheel balancer. Several folks have that stuff and say it's not hard to do with the right stuff.

 

I am planning on getting that set up myself now that my wife has a bigger bike and is riding a lot more.

[Squidley]

Thanks for the replies! I will call some more dealers.

We have a bunch of car tire shops around here. Can they be trusted with a bike rim?

 

Alan,

 

I have friends that own a tire store and I change my own tires there on their car tire machine. You can clamp it on the inside of the rim and it works the same way. I will recant my statement of price as I thought about it and what Freebird mentioned, that might be a bit high. But depending on what kind of valves they install, valves can go up to $10 apiece. Shop it around and make sure if they balance it, that it's on a computer balancer.

[Guest KitCarson]

That changing tire stuff........I used to fight that, mash a finger or two.....get aggravated when the tire bead would not break off the rim..........now what I do is ahead of time.......just drop into a Bike dealer.....does not have to be a Yamaha shop.......any will do.....and just make arrangements with the dealer to get some new tires.....if they do not have them, let them order them and obtain them for you........make an appointment and they will install the new tires so fast it is done before you can even mash one finger!!! If you buy the tires from them.....installation costs are usually quite reasonable......just consider it like gas.....part of the cost of enjoying the bike and staying safe.

I do check the directional arrows.....pressure........torque on all nuts, then check the torque again about 500 miles later........then good to go till next time.

I think you will find if you buy the tires from a dealer........the costs associated with installation is very reasonable....plus they have a computer balance device which is far superior to a balance bar.

[Color01]

I checked last week by a Yamaha dealer in Virginia Beach.. and they would charge me $135.00 for changing a rear tire.

 

because my bike was a venture.

[Freebird]

That is just nuts. I would no doubt change my own before paying that.

[Pilot]

The last few times I had a dealer change and balance tires (which I removed from the bike) they charged their regular hourly charge. The last time they charged me for one hour at a cost of $70.00. I could buy the equipment for about $150.00 and do it myself but why. It's not worth the aggravation to me and a computer balance is worth it's weight in gold.

[Guest KitCarson]

Yes 135 dollars is a little steep........unless......the Dealer is also considering as should be done with each new rear tire........pulling the drive shaft and checking and greasing the drive shaft and rear drive.....most likely not......but maybe...they have that worked into it.....would have to ask them specifically what they intend......that is a lot just to change a tire........dealers are all different......have found you do generally have to ask..........That is a good point about the rear drive each time you change a rear tire......you can always put it up on the jack....take it off yourself and have your wife stand there and balance the front end for two hours while you go run and get the tire mounted........:rotfl::rotfl:I have to do stuff like that when I am sure the grandkids are 100 miles from my house.......what does this lever do????

[Condor]

I just checked with a local independant shop and he charges $20 bucks off the bike. $40 bucks is way too much. Cycle Gear also changes tires. Check with them if you have a shop in your local area. At $135 dollars to R&R the reaar wheel the shop is saying they don't want to do it.... That's crazy.

[stardbog]

Hey Allan Go to Chicago Cycle. Thay will change for you ( And You Have $50.00 Gift certificate), let'em doit. Here is Mapquest: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=internal&addtohistory=&latitude=gXvubE9%2bVo9VUVzlQq3gWQ%3d%3d&longitude=6ueCtV7j1Dj6MmsxYR9Kxg%3d%3d&name=Chicago%20Cycle&country=US&address=3450%20W%20Touhy%20Ave&city=Lincolnwood&state=IL&zipcode=60712&phone=847%2d329%2d7350&spurl=0&&q=Chicago%20Cycle&qc=Motorcycle%20Dealers

Jerry (BOO) Is Right , It's no big deal if you have right tools, and some spear time, But on the end, you have to bring wheel to dealer for balancing.

[flb_78]

Local dealer here charges 40 bux a wheel to change a tire if you buy the tire from them, but that's bringing the bike in. 20 bux if you just bring the wheel in.

[awsmsrv]

Just one question: If I'm going to put Ride-On in the tires, should I forego the balancing?

[Guest KitCarson]

Hey Ride On.......fix a flat..........green goop..........all that stuff is very bad for rims........if you have to use fix a flat(which I carry) it needs to come out before a new tire is put on or old tire is fixed(I will never fix a tire) That stuff eats up the rim.....makes a mess.......just in general is not good stuff long term. I know this for a fact........I put it in a Honda 1100 shadow rear tire one time........it was in there for two years.....did not ride the bike a lot, took the tire off and the rim was a mess.........I ended up just buying a new rim.

Kit

[kbran]

I use rideon and I still balance my tires first. Not sure if you use it without balancing, although it claims to balance tires. As for as cleanup on the rims it washes right off and will not harm aluminum rims like fixaflat. I know because I have done it several times with no effect on the rims.

[Yammer Dan]

Frogman and I found out those 6 ply Kendras are not too easy to change. I have changed a lot of tires but that one.....

[Guest KitCarson]

It was fix a flat I had put in the tire on the Honda.......so those with full knowledge of Ride On could be right does not hurt rims. But about tires, I know tires are expensive and a pain especially on the Venture on the rear to change, But have had several friends go down because of a blown tire, I had one blow out on me long ago.....luck kept me up....Squid just had one blow out with him and by the grace of God survived it.......if you ever have a tire blow with you you will remember it for life.....that bike goes crazy....no way you can be prepared for that situation....and it is over in seconds....So I just want to stress again......tire problems on a bike are serious......I for one will only fix a flat long enough to ride it home....next day it gets a new tire, I want nothing to even remotely cause the tire plies to work against each other and maybe seperate and blow out.......I just consider good tires part of biking.

I looked at Squidley's tire.......had my kids scan the photo and blow it up for me.......yes it still had a little of the middle tread groove......but hey......I would have thrown that tire away long before that point..it is my gut instinct on that one it obtained a punture and got a little low heat caused the plies to work and blow, no one can prevent that, just one of those things , what it is but....I for one do not play with tires........I keep good ones on a bike......so that day when I need to hit 95 on the interstate getting around a big truck..I can do it and not worry about a tire.

 

Now both my friends who have went down and my own situation was caused by running tires too long......the one I had on my Harley at the time was slick!! Just one more ride......ya right!! Some of the tires I see on bikes at M and E worry me......the photos some of you posted on this subject last week.......fellows go get you some new tires!!! I for one learned my lesson........hope I can convince some of you to get rid of those slick tires too............yea I know you been running them like that for years.....it has never happened to me........well it can...and might.

Hey you know bikes are fun......the people are fun........things like to tease Muffinman about BBQ and it being an iguana that fell out of a tree is great fun!!! That is what these bikes are supposed to be......just fun and a part of everyones spirit..........do not let a bad tire ruin all that. Respectfully Kit

[Squidley]

Just one question: If I'm going to put Ride-On in the tires, should I forego the balancing?

 

 

Bob,

NO, you'll still want to balance the tire. What your doing when you balance a tire is your balancing it to the rim. There is almost always a heavy spot on a tire from it's construction and your just making that even on the rim, which is a constant.

Balance the tire and install the Ride On if you wish. I used it in my last set of Avons and it isn't a mess to clean like fix a flat. It actually does what it claims as i ran a screw through my rear tire before I was going to change it out and it held the same air for 3 week.

[Bummer]

...unless......the Dealer is also considering as should be done with each new rear tire........pulling the drive shaft and checking and greasing the drive shaft and rear drive...

Kit, I think you may have misunderstood this (or I have). You don't need to pull the drive shaft with every tire change, just the spline/pin assembly (clutch hub) in the center of the wheel.

[Guest KitCarson]

Kit, I think you may have misunderstood this (or I have). You don't need to pull the drive shaft with every tire change, just the spline/pin assembly (clutch hub) in the center of the wheel.

I do not know what the maintenance mileage would be for lubrication of the front splines on the drive shaft.......it is just a great opportunity to do this when the rear tire is off......and even with my eagle eyes on a tire.....they will still last right at 10,000 miles or better......not for sure on the Venture.....but used to last about that on my other bikes.......To keep the drive shaft greased is quite important......This is my first Venture.....but have had Honda bikes......and one of my favorites was my Suzuki Intruder.......I simply maintain the drive shaft at each rear tire change.......I think it should be done at each tire change......That is what I have always done with all bikes with a drive system........manual might say 24,000 miles for all I know......I can tell you........at 10,000 miles the front spines are dry...... Have not tried Royal Purple on Drive shaft just yet.....been using it on some of my other equipment.....it may just be the thing.

[Al Bates]

Dealers are all different. To save time and a few bucks and to make sure the Job is done right I do them my self. To me the tires are not that hard to change. I don't use the machines just a few hand tools and some cardboard to keep from scathing the rims. You do have to balance the wheel and tire. Static balance works well. At first I made one. A few years ago I purchase one, not much different from the one I made. (picture below) I believe in a good balance for a smooth ride. You can purchase the weights most any were. Don't forget to lube the rear hub pins, check break pads and lube the drive shaft splines if it has never been done before. It's also a good ideal to clean the rotors with a clean rag or paper towel and break cleaner. All this is ease with the wheel and tires off.

 

I purchase my wheel balancer here for $80.00 (at a bike show) a few years ago. http://www.nomartirechanger.com/

 

Hope this helps:080402gudl_prv:

[wkboard]

Thanks for all of the info!!!

I am out of town, so I will check close to me at some more dealers when I get home.

I am planning to grease the shaft and splines with royal purple, check brakes, etc while the tires are off.

I enjoy doing the work, and don't trust dealers(at least not the ones I have met so far)

I already have ride on to put in, and was impressed with the ride when I put it in my 89'.

 

Stardbog I will check closer to me, before Chicago Cycle, but I will be checking with them also, Thanks!