How do you swap your motorcycle tires?

[Dave.R]

Hey Guys,

The time has come that I need to replace my tires. Rather than pay someone every time I need it done, I'd rather learn how. I've seen enough clips to have an idea of how to do it. But I'm curious for your guy's feedback.

Do you use spoons? And do you balance with beads, or lead weights and a stand?

Thanks!

 

[A_Pmech]

I've always used spoons, stick on weights and a bar that passes though the wheel bearings hung from the ceiling. I break the beads with a 6" bench vise.

However, I've been thinking about getting one of the manual tire changing units on the market now. It looks a lot easier to use than fiddling with spoons.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

I'll do my XS650 bias ply's, but one trip through hell doing the Bandit's radials and I swore off doing my own for good.

 

[JBradley500]

I do my own dual-sport tires on spoked wheels. 3 spoons and a bead buddy make it a relatively painless job. I've never done a tubeless or radial tire though.

 

[bwringer]

Here's a fantastic text on the topic:
http://www.clarity.net/adam/tire-changing.html

This is how I've done it for years -- dirtbikes, vintage bikes, modern sportbikes, etc.

It's a skill you have to learn -- the first few sets are very tough. With a little experience, you develop the skill, so try to find someone with more experience to help show you the ropes the first few times.

Honestly, I've used a No-Mar tire changer, and I wasn't the least bit impressed. By the time you finish futzing with the stupid No-Mar wheel clamps, I'm done using tire irons.

Modern radials are actually easier than narrower old bias ply tires. Wide tires do trip a lot of people up because it's more difficult to keep the opposite side of the bead in the drop center. Once you get the hang of that, they're like buttuh.



Two hints that will save a lot of heartbreak -- lots of people try to take stupid shortcuts for some reason on the following two items:

1) Spend the lousy $15 and buy a damn jug of tire mounting lube (Napa RuGlyde is easy to find). Hillbilly substitutes don't work as well and could kill you.

2) Take the time to make a stable, safe, way to SLOWLY and CONTROLLABLY apply force to break beads. Don't use a car, truck, explosives, kinetic force of any kind, hammers, etc. I use a very simple arrangement of two 2X4 boards attached to a leg of my bench. Breaking the bead doesn't take a lot of force -- I can do it with three small tire irons. There's also a Motion Pro tool called the BeadPro bead breaker that works on the same principle.


Also, replace those ancient tire valves.


Anyone wants lessons in Indy, PM me!




Here's my high-tech balancing setup, made with salvaged skate bearings and scrap -- you can balance to 1/8 ounce easily with this:

 

[Showkey]

Changing motorcycle tires is all about lube and technique. If your fighting, swearing and sweating your doing it wrong.
Spoons are the low budget, get done tools of choice. BUT back to technique.......you can trash your rims in just a few minutes.
Getting or not getting the tire into the drop center section of the rim is the most common issue the novice tire changer has.......this applies to spoons or tire machine.
Be very careful NOT to damage the brake rotor(s) while changing the tires.
Did I mention lube is your friend...........people use specific tire lube, windex, WD40, soapy water and many other products........some are better than others.
There are methods with rope and cable ties that work too........BUT.......again its all about technique.
It is really good to have a helper that knows how its done to show you the first time. Short of that you tube and lots of lube is your next best friend.


Edit typing same time as bwringer........

 

[NC-Shaun]

A living room is not complete without a No Mar Tire Changer!!! Yes, It is in my living room. Yes, I know I have issues......This is the only tire changer I recommend for powder coated and show quality wheels, yes you can fight tires on with spoons and guards, but this machine is something i should have bought a long time ago.

 

[NC-Shaun]

I have the Posi Lock Rim Clamp Upgrade on mine pictured, which is required for dirt bike wheels and Harley wheels (with the tall spools) The quick lock style he uses in that video are included with your purchase, and are the correct ones for your Yamaha.

This machine does not require removal of your brake rotor/rotors, or sprocket (if hard mounted to wheel like both my bikes are)

I use Bike Spirits for mounting lube, as I found the lube included with the No Mar tire changer to be garbage. Hope this helps ya Dave!!

 

[arz71]

Use tire irons and they are done manually. Motocross tires (the rear) being a 19" can be tough or hard on the knees.

 

[NC-Shaun]

I have mounted over 30 sets of sport bike tires on my personal bikes, they often saw speeds of over 150 MPH and sometimes 170 depending on the bike they were on. In that 30 sets I mounted, I had 2 tires that shook, one had a defective belt and the other needed balanced and shook at 140MPH and up. None of my racer buddies balanced their tires either, we all mounted the tires with the balancing dot to the valve stem.

I no longer ride sport bikes, I sold my last GSXR 1000 a few years ago. My Suzuki lineup included a GSXR600,750,TL1000R,and a GSXR 1000

I think the fella that designed this machine and runs the company still is named Steve, he is a great guy and takes pride in his company.

http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Classic_Model_Tire_Changer_p/tc-classic.htm

 

[ninjamunky85]

I just do it the old fashioned way with some tire irons and spoons. It's a bit of a wrestling match but I'm getting better at it after doing a few sets of tires. I usually don't bother with balancing motorcycle tires but when I do I just put the axle through the wheel and use some jack stands to balance the tire/wheel on to find the heavy spot.

 

[MikeF2316]

I cheat, I use the automotive tire changer at my friend's shop. You do need to be careful of the rotors on the front, and a 2x4 is required as a spacer to break the bead on the thin front rim.

I have a stand I made to balance. The axle bolts sit on the top of the stand. There is a little static friction in the wheel bearings, but if you rotate the axle back and forth a little, the heavy side always ends up at the bottom. I just guess as to weight size, and repeat.

 

[NC-Shaun]

Hey Ninja Munkey, is that an old Ninja 600R??? If so that was my very first street bike!

 

[Coopduc]

I bought a no-mar tire changer pro model used on Craigslist. Got a smoking deal from a guy that upgraded to a powered machine. The changer plus the right lube makes it easy !

 

[Ray916MN]

I have a local shop that does off the bike tire swaps for $20 including tax and disposal so I just have them do it. Also have a bud with a Coates machine who will do it for free, but he's on the other side of town from me and I'd prefer not to impose.

A cheap inexpensive method is the zip tie method.

Some tire irons, makes the zip tie method easy and cheap.

 

[NC-Shaun]

That zip tie method didnt work for me, I tried it once and got so mad that a new Avon tire tried to escape my garage door with the door closed. to this day it still looks like Wile E Coyote tried to run thru my door.........That was the final straw, before my No Mar Tire Changer arrived......

 

[brtsvg]

I did it for the first time last year using some borrowed tire irons. As others have said its a learning experience. I had a bit of trouble on the first one, but the second tire was a snap. Give it a try, I'd attempt it again.

 

[stikman56]

I use the HF tire machine to break the bead on my trials bike tire. Rear tires are tubeless so they sit hard over that lip on the wheel. Then irons, careful not to tear up the wheel. Might need a rubber seal or bike inner tube to get air in it after it's back on, then air it up until it seats, that can be 50 psi on one of these.

 

[ninjamunky85]

Hey Ninja Munkey, is that an old Ninja 600R??? If so that was my very first street bike!

Haha, it's not actually a ninja 600 but my '04 ninja 250. That is really me on the dragon though.

 

[Dave.R]

I ordered tire spoons and rim protectors yesterday. I'm not sure what to do about breaking the beads yet. I'm torn between a traditional balance stand and using the ceramic dynabeads.

Anyone have any experience with the beads?

I don't think the boss would let me order a No-Mar just yet.

 

[Aaron10647]

I haven't tried the beads yet but I did just buy a powered tire changer to do my own tires. I see a lot of aftermarket wheels come with beads from the big name vendors and I would expect a lot of negative feedback if they didn't work as stated. The general consensus is that they are good to go. I plan to spin mine as they aren't fancy and i have the machine but beads are really the only option for high dollar wheels where you don't want to see the weights.

 

[Cobra_Bob]

20 years of MX made for a lot of tire changing. At 55, I now refuse to change tires. Local shop does my BMW R1200GS tires for $35 apiece.

 

[Tucker99]

It's not hard. Break the bead with C-clamps. Use 1-C-clamp to hold the bead in the center of the rim. Opposite of that begin spooning the old tire off. LITTLE AT A TIME!! Most guys try to spoon too much on or off at 1-time. Just move around the rim a few inches at a time.

 

[rtole]

I used bars and balance beads on my vrod, but I work at a tire shop so I know how to use a bar. I used the bars to break the bead of the tires. I have worked in the tire business for 20 years, and can change any tire with 2 bars and a bead breaking hammer. For the most part.....

 

[UncleJoe]

Before I got hit by an old guy in a pickup truck I could change the tires on my touring bike in about 15 minutes per wheel once it was on the jack. I took the time the first time to work out all the details and document it so it was easy after that. I used a Harbor freight changer and I highly recommend you bolt it to the floor. I would unbolt it when I was done and just leave the bolts in the floor it worked very well. Watch youtube, there are a lot of tricks and a lot of guys have modified their HF tire changers to make them work better. Probably the number one thing is to use more lube than you think you need. Also if it is a sunny day and you can let the tires warm in the sun a bit they are easier to work.

I found it to be satisfying and enjoyable once I worked out a system. It took a whole day the first time with setting up the tire changer and mounting it to the floor and getting everything down just right but after that is was pretty easy and very fast.

 

[E.Marquez]

Hey Guys,

The time has come that I need to replace my tires. Rather than pay someone every time I need it done, I'd rather learn how. I've seen enough clips to have an idea of how to do it. But I'm curious for your guy's feedback.

Do you use spoons? And do you balance with beads, or lead weights and a stand?

Thanks!

How .. if it is a street bike, well i walk out to the garage turn on the lights and air compressor, then put the bike on a lift, remove the wheel, walk over to the Coats tire machine and remove the tire, install the new one, and balance it on the SnapOn tire balancer.
If it is a dirt bike or one of the trainer motorcycles in the fleet I service, mostly I use three tire spoons and simple tire changer stand. Its more work doing dirty tires on the wheel clamp machine then it's worth, and I don't balance the trainer bike tires as they spend their life going 0-18 MPH.

Many swear by the static balancing one can do in a garage on a inexpensive wheel stand. Having done that enough and seeing what is really the balance of that assembly by putting it on a dynamic machine after static balancing to "perfection" as well as diagnosing and fixing various vibrations and handling issues on bikes that had user installed tires. I believe for road going bikes (other than dual sports with dirt tires) having the wheels dynamically balanced is the better way.

Changing a tire on a street bike wheel which you wish to preserve the looks of.. can be trick doing it manually, with rim protectors and some skill it can be done.... but an awful lot of folks scratch or ding wheels changing their own tires.

If you want to do it anyway, look at the No Mar http://www.nomartirechanger.com/ brand of tools.

 

[Tucker99]

I never balance tires on my street bikes. I've been using Ride-On for years works great.

 

[MrGiggles]

I did it last summer for the first time on my CBR.

I broke the bead with a big C clamp (the same one I use for brake calipers) and peeled the tire off with a pair of spoons. I laid the wheel on the garage floor with a chunk of 2x4 on one side, to keep the rotor off the cement, and went to town.

I have always used a strong mix of body wash and water for lube.. I don't change tires often enough to buy the real stuff and it works fine for me. You can check for leaks with it too.

 

[jwsia]

I use the HF motorcycle adaptor. Works pretty good, its paid for itself many times over

 

[NC-Shaun]

I ordered tire spoons and rim protectors yesterday. I'm not sure what to do about breaking the beads yet. I'm torn between a traditional balance stand and using the ceramic dynabeads.

Anyone have any experience with the beads?

I don't think the boss would let me order a No-Mar just yet.

Use the curved edge of your tire spoons to break the bead. Just use lots of lubricant and be patient you can break the bead if you work a 10-12 inch area with the spoon. Just try not to dig into the powder coat in the bead channel, this can cause slow leaks.

 

[Dave.R]

I think I'm going to go the C-Clamp route, or maybe that $50 bead buster from you know who.

Anyone have any experience with that?

 

[Dust Devil]

I have a coates 220 and sometimes I have to use a cheater bar on the bead breaker to get the bead to pop off. Using spoons to break beads works on MX tires but not so much on street bike tires.

At my shop we only use the coates to break beads, all tires are hand done by a guy that has been doing it that way for 40 years. I am all for using the machine but he likes doing them by hand. There is a lot of technique involved.

We use a machine to balance.

 

[893cv]

If I need to do a tire change myself by hand, I use these 4 tricks.

1. I put the clean new tire out in the sunshine if its warm out or next to the wood stove or space heater if it's cold out. A hot floppy new tire is your friend.

2. Brake the first bead with a c-clamp, then use a shop towel and a bit of plywood with the c-clamp to brake the second bead.

3. I then cut through the side walls and remove the carcass of the tire. I use a box cutter with a fresh blade for this. Once the carcass of the tire is off the rim the beads come off easy by hand. This step gives you 50% less of a chance to scrape up the rim with your tire irons.

4. Clean all of the old rubber and corrosion from the bead seating area of the rim. If its an old rim a lacquer thinner soaked scotch bright pad works well. If your rims are new or have good paint use car wax. This step will make it easy to get the bead of the new tire to seat properly and not leak.

Good luck.