Buying new shinko tires who installs there own tires? and is it easy todo?

[Chrominator]

Buying new tires and wondering how hard it is to install them yourself? if you do it yourself do you balance the new tires?
any special tools needed? I have spoke rims!!!!
Thanks

[Shores]

It was too hard for me but when I have a shop mount my tires, I have them leave the lead weights off and I install Ride On balancing gel. It gives you some puncture protection as well as great balancing even as the tire wears. Some folks use Dyna Beads.

[Chrominator]

so you Dont use tubes as i have spoke rims

[Shores]

so you Dont use tubes as i have spoke rims

Ride On and Dyna beads can be put inside tubes also as well as inside tubeless tires. Look them up. Watch their videos. Amazingly smooth balancing by both.

[Chooch]

To be clear, most wheels have spokes but many people refer to laced wheels or wire spoke wheels as simply spoke wheels and the rest are referred to as cast wheels. I have laced wheels and always mount and balance my own tires. It's not as easy as just removing the old tire and installing the new one but if you use the proper technique instead of brute force it becomes much easier. I made a square box from 2 X 4's to keep the rotors off the ground. I use a Harbor Freight bead breaker which works extremely well. Use at least three tire levers, plenty of lube, and keep the opposite side of the tire in the "well" of the rim as you are levering the tire off or on. To balance the new tire, I use two jack stands and the axle. I saved my old wheel bearings, removed the seals, cleaned them completely, lubed them with very light oil, and use them for balancing. They spin with little to no resistance. I use them outside the assembly and rest them on the stands. I balance my rear wheel with the pulley attached as an assembly. I use weights that install over the spoke. They can be fitted lightly over the spoke for testing purposes prior to driving them home over the nipple. The first time takes longer than the second time, etc. It seems to get easier each time.

[Brad_G]

I have installed my own tires. But I've also got all the spoons and such and have worked on tires off and on for 40+ years (mainly car and implement). It's not terribly difficult but does take a little practice especially with tubes.

[Ratl]

I have tubes. I use spoons and broke the bead using c-clamps. It takes some practice. As has been said, it gets easier each time as you figure out your technique.

Personally, I use Dyna-beads. The balance is perfect and I re-use them from tube to tube as I change tires.

Check out you-tube videos. They were very helpful. Initially, I wanted to know I could do it if I had a flat on the road and had to, but now, I don’t think I’ll take it into the shop ever again.

[Father Pobasturd]

I use the Dyna Beads in my wire spoked wheels. Highly recommended.

[Chrominator]

I bought the tubes with Dyna Beads in them
I have never used them before
you like them?

[davej]

If you use tubes and have never done them just bring them to a shop and pay to have them done. Any fold, crease or twist in a tube that is missed and not removed on install can and will cause catastrophic failure while riding and probably on your first high speed ride. I also recommend Rideon tire balancer as others have mentioned.

[Chooch]

Don't replace your own tubes or you will have a catastrophic failure?

[Chooch]

I read what you said. Don't replace your own tubes for the first time, take them to a shop.

[davej]

Just my opinion. You can have yours. And your still reposted just a portion of what I said. This person can do whatever they want to do. they asked and I gave my opinion just like you and everyone else that replied.

[davej]

I said you could if you have a fold or crease in it and don't get the crease out. Read what I said don't re-post just a portion of my comment. And yes an improperly installed tube can cause problems. if you put it together with a fold or crease in the tube you can and probably will have a tube failure (blow out) at high speed.

Keep in mind when a person is asking how hard it is to install your own tires that tells me that their mechanical experience is probably minimal. I would hate to tell someone that it is no problem and/or a no brainer job. You have 2 wheels between you and the ground. It is/was my intention to explain that things can go wrong if a tube is improperly installed. It may be a no brainer to some.But as a safety thing it may not be a no brainer to all, it is not like explaining an oil change or fixing a seat latch.

[Brad_G]

I said you could if you have a fold or crease in it and don't get the crease out. Read what I said don't re-post just a portion of my comment. And yes an improperly installed tube can cause problems. if you put it together with a fold or crease in the tube you can and probably will have a tube failure (blow out) at high speed.

Keep in mind when a person is asking how hard it is to install your own tires that tells me that their mechanical experience is probably minimal. I would hate to tell someone that it is no problem and/or a no brainer job. You have 2 wheels between you and the ground. It is/was my intention to explain that things can go wrong if a tube is improperly installed. It may be a no brainer to some.But as a safety thing it may not be a no brainer to all, it is not like explaining an oil change or fixing a seat latch.

davej has a good point regarding tubes. It's easy to pinch them or not get them in right. I grew up working in a service station in a small farming community so wagon/implement tires with tubes were often brought in for repair. I've seen many instances where a crease has caused a tube to leak/fail. In my case (implement tires) it was often from someone putting in too large a tube. It's better to error on slightly small as the tube will stretch a little vs. one that's too big and creases trying to fit into the confined space.

As mentioned here and can't be stated enough.....this is about your safety. Not only you, but others around you if you ride in groups. If you want to learn to do these maybe start with something that isn't life threatening such as a lawn mower or wheel barrow tire. If you can master those little bastards a motorcycle tire will seem easy.

[davej]

some of those lawn mower tubes can be a real bitch to change. lol Just holding them down sometimes can be a challenge. I flip riding mowers in the summer months and a lot of times I even bring tires from rider mower to the tire store for tubes About $20 for tube and install. unless I already have a tube on the shelf to install. I have a small tire machine from HF and some can still be a bitch. lol (front caster tires on a zero turn)

[Brad_G]

davej I have to fill those front casters every time I mow. I can't imagine how tough those little things are. I'd rather work on my 10-16.5 skid loader tires than those.

[roadiemort]

I never changed any tire and tube combo other than on a bicycle, learned that as a kid, still have mini spoons and a patch kit on my mountain bike. My motorcycle tires get changed at the local shop for 25 bucks a pop if I bring the wheel in.

[Brad_G]

Yeah if you can get a local shop to do it for $25 it's really money well spent. I'm a cheap bastard and like the abuse I guess.

[Shores]

A couple incidences with flats on my and friend's laced wheels scared the hell out of me so I went cast wheels on my next tire change. Then I add Ride On for a little more protection and carry a patch kit and a pump in my saddle bag. Also a Jesus on my dashboard!

[Brad_G]

Well today I got the new Commander II on the rear of my '08. This one is pretty easy as it's the cast wheel. I spent many years in my youth working at service stations repairing tires. So I tend to do a lot of my own car/truck/farm equipment tires. We've got a shop at dad's place with an old manual tire changer (car wheels) along with tire changing spoons etc. Last summer I picked up some more tire changing tools at an auction. In that lot of tools there was a slide hammer type tool that works to break beads along with the spoons in this picture. One actually is probably an old leaf spring off an old Model T type of car. This is only the 3rd motorcycle tire I've done. The first was in the campground at Eureka Springs during our meet and greet. The second was the rear of my '03 I did a couple months ago. It has laced/spoke wheels with tubes. I still need to do the front here in the next few weeks so I can get it on the road. Just thought I'd share my tools since this thread was brought up.

[brianmac]

pay the shop to do it, find one that gets 25 $ well spent

[Shores]

If you have a Cycle Gear store in your area, they charge $25 per wheel to mount a tire.

[Chromepony]

I had my own M/C service & repair shop for 6 yrs. I hated mounting tires ( especially "laced wheels" with tubes), but it was necessary as we sold lots of tires.
For me personally, changing motorscooter tires is a major pain in the shorts. I'll pay the scooter shop every time just so I don't have to deal with it.