When replacing your tires, should you replace all the wheel bearings as well?

 

It depends, if you have a static balance stand, with the wheel mounted on it, grab ahold of one of the axle mounting cones and spin the wheel, if there’s any catches or roughness, you’ll easily feel it, only completely smooth is acceptable.

If you have the 25mm bearings, and have 25k+ miles on them, you may want to replace them anyway.

 

I thought I was doing well until I got to around 24k and then one of the front wheel bearings went. Not totally just became very noisy.

I had to change tyres at 14K so doing the bearing at the same time is IMO not worth it. It doesn't take much effort I admit with the fronts.

Back wheel still doing well at 28K.

 

My front bearing came apart at 35k on my 14 Limited. Kind of a scary feeling when I saw how bad. No noise at all. Just felt weird going around a corner so I stoped to look. Here is what I found. Trailered home to repair.

 

50K haven't changed them yet. But in a few weeks getting new tires and will checking them out when the wheels come off.

 

Sealed bearings, I change them with new tires. Not too much extra cash for piece of mind, you are already there.

Old "open" bearings, repack them and carry on.

 

Bearing will most often give you warning signs if you check them. No reason to change bearing with a tire change if they are not bad.

 

I guess it would depend on year of bike.
Older bikes are roller bearings, grease and go...last a very long time.
Ball bearings would be different and require consideration.
Guess it would depend on who is doing the labor too, since a lot of the labor cost is getting wheels off and on the bike.

 

Well, I ask because I'm having 'Classic' style new tires put on by J & P Cycles and figured the bearings are right there so why not?

I know it's usually done with wear and high mileage but with mine its different, it is literally new with only 3k+ miles BUT... with the original owner whom I bought it from, it's never been ridden, it's a 2009 RKC.

I wonder about in all those years it sat, could the grease inside have dried up or something?

Also, who makes top quality wheel bearing that would fit my model/year?

 

6 Harleys and have only changed wheel bearings on '03 Glide at just under 60k miles and 1 time on my '13 Limited at 35k miles. I changed the '03 because I was concerned for the miles. The dealership changed the bearing in the '13 at tire change when they observed something. Also they knew I was pulling a trailer to Sturgis so may have done this as a precaution on that '13