Who mounts their own tires?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,788
Likes: 2,222
From: Texas
The last time that I had a dealer mount a tire was in 1994. I was on the road and needed a new rear tire, so into the Lubbock Harley-Davidson dealer I went. Got it all mounted up and rode away happy as could be. That night at a motel as I was checking the bike over, I noticed that the new tire was on backwards. I was 200 miles from the dealer that mounted it so I just rode it that way untill I got home and fixed it myself. Changing tires is really "easy money"! And I know if I can do it anybody can.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 93
From: Andrews, NC
I do. There are too many Rubes that don't care if they scratch your wheels.
First, I take the wheel to the man-cave and break the bead loose with
a small bottle jack and a 4X4 post under a floor joist, jacking down till the
bead pops loose. Then, I put the wheel into my wife's Blazer so the tire will
get warm while she is at work. It is amazing how easy it is to remove the
tire with tire irons with the tire warm. I also put the new tire in the Blazer so
it will be warm when I install it. Mine are tubeless, so I can usually twist the
tire on one side, sometimes both sides if I can hold the wheel. Air it up and
install Dyna Beads. Put back on bike. Job done.
First, I take the wheel to the man-cave and break the bead loose with
a small bottle jack and a 4X4 post under a floor joist, jacking down till the
bead pops loose. Then, I put the wheel into my wife's Blazer so the tire will
get warm while she is at work. It is amazing how easy it is to remove the
tire with tire irons with the tire warm. I also put the new tire in the Blazer so
it will be warm when I install it. Mine are tubeless, so I can usually twist the
tire on one side, sometimes both sides if I can hold the wheel. Air it up and
install Dyna Beads. Put back on bike. Job done.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 12
From: Commerce, Mich.
They sell rim covers for this...using them and a couple irons...removing and installing a tire isn't that hard, nor does it take all that long, once you have done it a time or two.
DynaBeads do the balancing for you...easy to use, very effective.
Doing it myself saves major dollars since I have two bike in the garage..
When you consider the labor alone..I am saving well over 500.00 per year changing them myself.. Hell...thats 500.00 that Ican use somewhere else...
DynaBeads do the balancing for you...easy to use, very effective.
Doing it myself saves major dollars since I have two bike in the garage..
When you consider the labor alone..I am saving well over 500.00 per year changing them myself.. Hell...thats 500.00 that Ican use somewhere else...
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
I buy my tires from the internet from JakeWilson.com and change them myself. I save atlest $300 a set over buying them from the dealer. I use Dyna Beads to balance them. Here is a good video on changing them yourself.
http://www.jakewilson.com/videos.do?videoId=83
http://www.jakewilson.com/videos.do?videoId=83
Cruiser
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 1
From: NYC
What's the easiest way to break the bead? I tried using a giant C-clamp but it didn't do anything. It looked like I was going to deform the bead before it broke. I live in an apartment building so I don't have room for anything big.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,151
Likes: 2,975
From: WACO
I used to.
I used to take off and mount my own tires because I am a REAL BIKER BY GOD. Also the nearest shop was 80 miles away. I was also a lot younger.
I am a lot older now and the nearest shop is 10 miles away.
I do take them off the bike myself ( I ain't that old yet). But, now days I take them to the shop and let them remove the old tire and mount and balance the new rubber.
I am a lot older now and the nearest shop is 10 miles away.
I do take them off the bike myself ( I ain't that old yet). But, now days I take them to the shop and let them remove the old tire and mount and balance the new rubber.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Western Kansas
I have always done my own unless I was on the road and needed a new tire or tube. I haven't yet had the chance to break down the tires on my Ultra, but plan on doing those when they need it.
I am pretty persnickety about tubes when I ran bikes w/ tubes. If I ever got a flat out in the boonies, I would patch it on the roadside then I always replaced the tube the first chance I got -or- I finally learned to carry spare tubes. I don't trust patched tubes....just a quirk of mine. When we were doing a lot of trail riding on dirt bikes and planned to be way out from anywhere, I always carried spare tubes and trail tools for both my bike and my daughter's bike. It was faster to replace the tube than to try and field-patch.
As others have posted...the more you do, the easier it gets.
I am pretty persnickety about tubes when I ran bikes w/ tubes. If I ever got a flat out in the boonies, I would patch it on the roadside then I always replaced the tube the first chance I got -or- I finally learned to carry spare tubes. I don't trust patched tubes....just a quirk of mine. When we were doing a lot of trail riding on dirt bikes and planned to be way out from anywhere, I always carried spare tubes and trail tools for both my bike and my daughter's bike. It was faster to replace the tube than to try and field-patch.
As others have posted...the more you do, the easier it gets.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,471
Likes: 5
From: Ocala, FL