Mount tires myself?

[The_Veg]

I'm thinking about getting into doing my own tires, but here's a big question- for crazy modern big-tough-stuff like the rear tire on my GS, will I be able to do it with minimal equipment, being an average-strength guy? I'm hoping to avoid one of those huge tire-mounting rigs as I have neither the budget nor the garage-space for one.
I'm open to suggestions.

 

[JKERSH1]

Sure you can do it. It's more a skill than a strength event, so getting the right technique is more important than equipment. A couple of short and long levers will do the job. I use a HF changer and No-Mar bar, but the thick GS rims aren't a very tight fit, and I end up using levers more than the No-Mar bar.

If you search around the internet you'll find step by step instructions. Marc Parnes www.marcparnes.com/ makes a nice compact balancer.

 

[PGlaves]

For at least 15 years I mounted tires using only the short 6" or so bars that came in the BMW tool kit. When we bought Voni's first R1100RS I splurged and got a set of 11 inch bars. That is all I have ever used.

The toughest tires to mount on the bikes we have (F650s, K75s, R1150R, R1100RS, R1100S) are on the F650s - tube type, very shallow drop center in the wheels - the front is especially difficult.

The easiest are the 170-60/17s on the R1100S, RS, and R1150R. Decent drop center and the wheel width helps.

If I need more force than I can get with the 11 inch bars something isn't positioned right, something isn't lubricated right, or I am especially weakened that day

 

[podsobinski]

Wrestling an alligator

Always the correct tools make the job easier. That said, I have found out that I would rather wrestle an alligator than install my tubeless steel belted radial tires. I usually take the wheel off and haul it to my local shop and have them do it for $15. That also gives you a chance for cleaning and inspection. No skinned knuckels or nasty words coming from the garage.

gpodzo

 

[PGlaves]

Always the correct tools make the job easier. That said, I have found out that I would rather wrestle an alligator than install my tubeless steel belted radial tires. I usually take the wheel off and haul it to my local shop and have them do it for $15. That also gives you a chance for cleaning and inspection. No skinned knuckels or nasty words coming from the garage.

gpodzo

Sometimes I wouldn't disagree, but -

When I lived in Kansas the dealership was 50 miles away. Closed Sunday and Monday. Guess when Voni came rolling in from her summertime travels usually

Now I live 53 miles from town - 400 miles from the nearest BMW dealer - and an unknown distance from the nearest shop that could actually mount and balance tires reliably on a BMW rear wheel - maybe only 125 or so. One way.

But UPS delivers tires to my door so mount them myself I do. It is also a handy on-road skill. I've had to do it a couple of times when I found a brand X shop that would sell me a tire but had little time or inclination to mount the tire for me.

 

[darencs]

I've been doing my own for a little over a year now. I've changed them 3 times now and the first time was a bi... bear! But as JKERSH1 alluded to, if it's too difficult, you're doing it wrong. There is a lot of information available on the internet. One of the most informative I've found is this one:
http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html
I found it from a link on the IBMWR.org website.

This guys videos were helpfull.

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These videos don't cover the most difficult part. Breaking the bead. I found the 2x4 bead breaker on the internet though and it makes it a piece of cake. http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/bead-breaker/motorcycle-tire-bead-breaker.htm

Remember, If it feels like you're "wrestling an alligator" stop, read the instructions again and come back to it. It should be easy.

Hope this helps.

 

[The_Veg]

Thanks guys! I feel good about it.

 

[naddy100]

Sometimes I wouldn't disagree, but -

When I lived in Kansas the dealership was 50 miles away. Closed Sunday and Monday. Guess when Voni came rolling in from her summertime travels usually

Now I live 53 miles from town - 400 miles from the nearest BMW dealer - and an unknown distance from the nearest shop that could actually mount and balance tires reliably on a BMW rear wheel - maybe only 125 or so. One way.

But UPS delivers tires to my door so mount them myself I do. It is also a handy on-road skill. I've had to do it a couple of times when I found a brand X shop that would sell me a tire but had little time or inclination to mount the tire for me.

How do you balance the tires, or is it a big deal? Just this morning I took the front wheel in to my brand X shop (not THE Brand X shop, just A brand X shop), picked it up at noon and put it back on. They don't do the tire changing and balancing for free, but so far it seemed like the balancing part was probably worth the price to have them do it.

Noel

 

[burnszilla]

What are those pieces of plastic he's using? Spiffy something?

 

[PGlaves]

How do you balance the tires, or is it a big deal? Just this morning I took the front wheel in to my brand X shop (not THE Brand X shop, just A brand X shop), picked it up at noon and put it back on. They don't do the tire changing and balancing for free, but so far it seemed like the balancing part was probably worth the price to have them do it.

Noel

I balance the tires using a balancing stand. Basically a set of very low friction rollers that the axle will rest on with the wheel between the two uprights that hold the rollers. The entire wheel and axle roll on the rollers till the heavy spot is down. Add weights opposite.

You can do exactly the same thing on two level horizontal angle irons. The axle rolls until the heavy spot is down.

For the bolt on rear wheels I have a hub that bolts to the wheel and accepts a 17mm axle. It is a copy of the BMW tool a machinist made for me.

 

[sumran]

What about Dyna Beads?

I have heard good reports about Dyna Beads and planned to use them for my next tire mounting. From what I have read, they are not just an acceptable alternative, they actuallywork better. Any experiences to share? This is a link to their website.

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/motorcycle.htm

 

[darencs]

What are those pieces of plastic he's using? Spiffy something?

Those are made from "Tropicana juice gallon containers or oil containers".

Here's the post: http://www.floridasportbikers.com/showpost.php?p=183947&postcount=16

Balancing procedure:

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[rdalland]

Someone posted a link to BeadBrakR recently:

http://www.bestrestproducts.com/celestia/products/beadbreaker/

This may end up being my solution, none of the local guys will touch my wheels. I'm an hour and a half from the nearest BMW shop.

 

[darencs]

I have heard good reports about Dyna Beads and planned to use them for my next tire mounting. From what I have read, they are not just an acceptable alternative, they actuallywork better. Any experiences to share? This is a link to their website.

http://www.innovativebalancing.com/motorcycle.htm

I've been using Dyna Beads in my Roadster for a little over a year now. That's the main reason I changed my own tires the first time. I wanted to inspect the inside of the tires myself and see whether the beads were "doing anything" to them. And to see if I could get them out and re-use them.

I first put them in a set of tires that had 2-3000 miles left on them and that were well balanced. I went for a ride and found a long straight slope that I could get up to speed on and pull in on the clutch, let the engine drop to idle and see if I could feel any difference. I didn't. Then I went back up, removed the wheel weights and repeated the run. It was still perfectly smooth. The Dyna Beads instantly made up for the removal of the wheel weights.

I can't find it now but I've read that if you have to plug a puncture in your tire the plug will affect the balance beads so I plan to get setup to do the conventional balancing but I've been pretty happy with the Dyna Beads so far.

 

[bricciphoto]

Thanks for posting this question and thanks for all the posted tips. I tried changing my own tires last month and recognizing I was doing something wrong, I gave up and paid the dealership to change them. I know I can do it now. I was going about it all wrong.

 

[Crow18]

Seconded. The videos and tips are incredibly useful, as is the dynabead info.

Hopefully I won't have to put this knowledge into practice for another 4,000 miles or so, but still...

 

[Friedle]

mounting tires

After the initial shock of wondering if this was something people could get arrested for doing.......I realized what people were talking about.

It's no big deal to those of us who grew up (or still live) with tube type tires, but perhaps you now have a new National seminar topic Paul.

Friedle

 

[99007]

How do you balance the tires, or is it a big deal? Just this morning I took the front wheel in to my brand X shop (not THE Brand X shop, just A brand X shop), picked it up at noon and put it back on. They don't do the tire changing and balancing for free, but so far it seemed like the balancing part was probably worth the price to have them do it.

Noel

The way to balance tires is with ceramic beads - no nasty wheel weights and the beads can instantly compensate when your tire wears out or if you pick up a stone or something. I did a review on these for the ON and they really, really work folks. On my second set of tires with them. No wheel weights - no balancing at the shop. Nice even wear on the tires and a smooth ride.
Funny how reluctant the people at my local dealer are to glom onto these beads. They work.

www. innovativebalancing.com

Here is some discussion on them:
http://www.yearroundriders.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1551&hl=beads

 

[PGlaves]

The way to balance tires is with ceramic beads - no nasty wheel weights and the beads can instantly compensate when your tire wears out or if you pick up a stone or something. I did a review on these for the ON and they really, really work folks. On my second set of tires with them. No wheel weights - no balancing at the shop. Nice even wear on the tires and a smooth ride.
Funny how reluctant the people at my local dealer are to glom onto these beads. They work.

www. innovativebalancing.com

Here is some discussion on them:
http://www.yearroundriders.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1551&hl=beads

I have no idea if beads work in a conventional setting. I have a Smartire system with sensor/transmitters inside each wheel. I would be leery of using beads in the tire to try to compensate for this - not to mention the unknown effects of the beads on the sensors.

What I have done is balance the wheels by themselves without a tire mounted - very precisely. Having done that I seldom need to add weight to balance Metzeler tires. Every now and then I need to add a small weight but not often.

I attached the "permanent" weights as close to the center of the rim as possible and they are marked. Any added weight for a specific tire is not marked and comes off when that tire comes off.

 

[globalrider]

...will I be able to do it with minimal equipment, being an average-strength guy?

Thats what I've been doing for over 30 years...and here comes the best part; I have never nicked, scratched or gouged a rim in all those tire changes.

All you need are 2 or 3 tire irons (I use 2), a bunch of 2" x 5" plastic strips cut out from windshield washer bottles and a pair of knees.

As for balancing, I made my own balancer for about $20 which is now shown here (1st one listed): Anton's Wheel Balancing Equipment Page. Take your pick.

And now that I have a lathe and mill, I'm also be making one like the Marc Parnes balancer with a few mods added, for myself and a few friends.