So tired of...tires

[85RZwade]

The things I do for my kids! Time for new knobbies, and I've put seven on in the last week; two skinned knuckles, but no pinched tubes! All three boys have new rubber, as well as my buddy Ron. Maybe this should have been in the 4-stroke blasphemy category 



My bike has gotten no love. That Michelin is a soft-terrain that's at least 15 years old, but it won't wear out! I have a set of gummy Shinkos waiting in the wings for it...maybe I can change two more tires without snake-biting a tube.

[Hawaii-Mike]

Nice work!

[SoCal250]

Your next business venture?
"Wade's Tires and Fabrication" 

[rodneya]

I got really tired of fighting to get tires off that have been on a rim for 20 years or more.
When I saw a tire changer come up cheap on marketplace it was a done deal.
Might not be the best, but it works with minimal effort no bashed knuckles or back pain (joys of getting older)

[85RZwade]

I actually bought a changer much like that from Harbor Freight...do you think I've taken it out of the box yet? Someday.

[soonerbillz]

I actually bought a changer much like that from Harbor Freight...do you think I've taken it out of the box yet? Someday.

I gotta get mine put together too.

[pdxjim]

After struggling/paying others to install tires with bib mousses on my dirt bike I convinced my club to my a Rabaconda.  Total game changer.

We also have a pro-level hydraulic tire machine that I've never figured out how to use with confidence.

Both are a big step up from a 5gal bucket and a couple of spoons.

[Clem710]

The tireman at the track showed me how to use the fancy pneumatic machine and then I did a bunch of changes to help remember.  The tireman is underappreciated on a busy, hot day.

Waaaay better than doing them by hand, the bead breaker alone makes me want one but they sure are heavy and take up alot of space.

A different guy has some hitch mounted setup that is manual but also is a pretty slick setup.  There was frequently no vendor for the tires he ran and competitors started wanting $20 per wheel and he was goin through quite a few of em and doesnt mind wrenchin.

My favorite is to ship buy em off of Wheelers at deals gap, they change them happily and are a true old school shop and motorcyclists.  Kenny also knows a thing or two about those fiddies if you are trying to make a fast one.

[m in sc]

i just pay the local shop 30 bucks a wheel. I -hate- changing tires . id rather get poked in the eye repeatedly with a bent 4 stoke exhaust valve.


but thats just me.

[Striker1423]

my local shops never have spoke weights, but still worth it most times.

[pdxjim]

$300 for a Rabaconda, or a bit less for the Tusk knockoff is so worth it.

Literally turns a pain in the ass job painless.

[Clem710]

My local shops arent local anymore and then you get into well, thats not our tire and we charge $300 for em and we dont have any in stock and you'll have to drop the wheel off for a day.....I could buy a new bike with fresh tires on it faster:)

I used to have a car guy local that would do it, super cool and was always in and out even when he didnt know I was coming.

Still dont know why most car guys say they cant do em, imma have to take a look at this special car only machine the next time I'm in.

[pdxjim]

Honestly though, if you can change a bicycle tire, you can change a motorcycle tire.

There are a few special tools that make it way easier (even without a Rabaconda).

Murphy's Concentrated Tire and Tube Mounting Compound
Motion Pro Bead Buddy
At least 5 high quality tire levers

[irk_miller]

I use zip ties, some soap and one tire spoon.  I can swap a tire in less than ten minutes.  No need for a tire changer or any crazy tools.

[Kawtriplefreak]

I am with M in SC on this one. I hand the local shop my old wheel and tire and the new tire and tube. I come back the next day and hand him $30 and walk back to the car with the new tire mounted and balanced on my wheel.