getting tires mounted

[yak]

just wondering what fhe going price for mounting tires around the forum. i think 27 dollars a wheels is a little steep. thats me bringing the wheels to the shop .

[Jethro]

If you bought the tires elsewhere, I'd say that is a very reasonable price. I only buy my tires at the same place I get them mounted at. They charge me nothing for mounting if the wheels are off the bike.

[bj]

If that includes balancing it's not too bad. Course I mounted two myself recently so my opinion might be a bit slanted.

[Macmatic]

I mounted up two tires this summer and this is what I learned:

Next time I'm going to pay someone else to do it.

Or.

I'm going to spring for or build a bead breaker/mounter.

I did it myself with tire irons/spoons, soapy water, rope to help seat the new bead and a lot of swearing and sweating but I'm sure as hell not going to do it that way again if I have a choice.

Balancing was a snap though, I just stuck the axle into the bearings and set the wheel between two jack stands then spent a little time watching the wheels go round and round. I figured that once I got to where they didn't stop in close to the same place four times in a row I was set.

/\/\ac

[bj]

Jezzzz. The ISDE guys can replace a tube in under 4 minutes with just the tools they carry. We must be a bunch of wimps.

[duaneage]

Do it yourself. This excellent site shows you how

http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html

[8trackmind]

I mounted up two tires this summer and this is what I learned:

Next time I'm going to pay someone else to do it.

Or.

I'm going to spring for or build a bead breaker/mounter.

I did it myself with tire irons/spoons, soapy water, rope to help seat the new bead and a lot of swearing and sweating but I'm sure as hell not going to do it that way again if I have a choice.



/\/\ac

No need to buy bead breaker, a car jack and a (metal) bumper work great. I use armour all instead of soap and I remove My valve cores before I seat the bead. It took about twenty mins per wheel. Hope this helps.

[duaneage]

I snap mine open with adjustable clamps. I use three quick clamps and it pops. I have a metal strap 3/16" thick 1 inch wide that is deburred I use to pry them off. I use a piece of wood to protect the rim and it is a snap. Took me about an hour to remove the wheel, change the tire, balance it and install. With enough soap it slides right on. You make something slippery enough it fits anything.

To balance it I clamp an old axle in a vise, make sure it is level with a level, and then static balance the tire. No problem.

I ain't paying 37 dollars a wheel and waiting for two days for them to get around to replacing my tires. I have a spare pair of rims and tires, I will probably mount the tires on them so that I can quickly replace a wheel if I pick up a nail. I got a screw in my back tire in September and had to order tires.

7 days without a GS in Fall weather, I needed methadone treatment.

[8trackmind]

I ain't paying 37 dollars a wheel and waiting for two days for them to get around to replacing my tires.

Ditto that. I got both of My tires online from Bike Bandit. I paid less for two Dunlops than the dealer wanted for one...

[RobGS850L]

I like the idea of the quick clamps. I haven't done it that way but next time I'll have some on hand to try it out. 8) I'm way too cheap to pay out the $$$ to some guy when I can do the same job. What's real bad is I used to change my car tires to save a few bucks. I used to run over them to break the beads. But with a buddy and a 12 pack we usually got 'er done in a reasonable amount of time.

[oldschoolGS]

I use a local independent shop where I buy a lot of parts. I use mail order/web for tire purchases.

They charge $15 per wheel on a carry in.

In my book that is money well spent.

Ride On, Ed.
1983 GS750ED
2005 GSF1200SZ

[themess]

tire mounting

Duaneage, I've been looking for a good guide to mounting my own tires, and the link that you provide is the best one that I've seen. I don't so much mind paying to have a tire mounted. What bothers me more is paying $40 per tire more than mail order price to buy the tires from the motorcycle dealer.

Tom

[duaneage]

The author of that site races and goes through tires like there is no tommorrow. If I was replacing soft tires every 1000 miles I would have a tire shop setup too. I am tempted to make the tire breaker and keep it in my storage area because it is a time saver. I don't have real tire irons, might get a set cheap on eBay someday. His balancing guide is great, I have no problems with tire shake at all using his mounting and balancing method.

15 bucks is a sweet deal, but not in my neighborhood. They don't even want to see an old GS at most places. I also have a problem with long lead times since with the right tools and a tire machine both wheels can be done in about 45 minutes flat. Most shops I called wanted 1-2 days minimum.

[bwringer]

Do it yourself. This excellent site shows you how

http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html

I am the proud owner of an old car wheel turned into a tire changing stand, based on the info at this site.

Works great -- once the wheels were off the bike, it took me maybe 30 minutes to have the old ones off and the new ones on. Another 10-15 minutes spent balancing, and they were ready to install. And that was my first time changing any kind of motorcycle tire!

The GS wheels are narrow enough that seating the beads was really no struggle. PSSSHHHH...POP POP! and that was it.

I would also add that I went to NAPA auto parts and got a gallon jug of tire mounting lube for about $6, which will probably be a ten year supply. Nothing like having The Right Stuff for the job.

Frankly, I don't understand why you would trust your life to some home made concoction made from corrosive dish soap, or some hillbilly substitute like WD-40, Armor All, Crisco, bear grease, or whatever. There's a NAPA in just about every little town, or at least some auto parts store that caters to pros. Tire mounting lube works wonderfully, it won't damage your rims or your tires, and it cleans up easily without leaving dangerous slick residues.

[themess]

tire mounting

Now that bwringer told us where to buy tire bead lube, where can I find an air chuck that doesn't need valve core in the stem to inflate the tire and set the bead? I already have the 3 HP compressor.

Tom