Poll: Do you change tires yourself?

[rejeanprimeau]

Originally Posted by RDHenley

I did my own last time. Only problem was I thought it wasn't necessary to remove the rotors. I managed to warp both just slightly. Won't make that mistake again.

Rotor fit perfectly in a milk crate, I use one as my way to fit/remove tire.
I use the tie wrap method.

[Maxeffort]

Originally Posted by rejeanprimeau

Rotor fit perfectly in a milk crate, I use one as my way to fit/remove tire.
I use the tie wrap method.

I had to look that up. I learned something today! (Actually two things)

Tie wrap tire mount

[Crusty]

Uh-uh.

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[Bluto]

I mount all my own tires and do use zip ties on the ones with tubes as it is nearly impossible to pinch a tube that way...but don't bother when mounting tubeless tires.
Made a DIY fixture to hold wheels and clamp it in my Jawhorse, waaay easier than wrestling with a wheel on the ground. Also made a DIY bead breaker for tubeless tires (grafted on to a bicycle work stand)and that helps a lot too. Bought a gallon of Ruglyde tire mounting lube at Napa and that will probably last me a lifetime...

[JunkyardDog]

I used to mount all my own tires with hand tools (including tubeless) and spin balanced them using the axle and 2 jackstands. Hundreds of tires over the past 4+ decades. The last bike I replaced the tires on a few months ago, a Japanese cruiser, I got the back tire, a 150/90-15, on just fine. But I could not get the bead on the front one to seat. I finally gave up and took it to a local independent shop, thinking it just needed a bigger blast of air. They tried several times, removed and reinstalled the tire a couple of times, and finally got it to hold air. But the bead was still not tight up against the rim, and I decided it was not safe to ride it that way. We both decided it was a defective tire (I got it from Dennis Kirk, and it turned out to be 4 years old) so I had them install a new tire. They only charged me $15 to mount and balance it, and nothing for all the fooling around they did with the other one.

I have had arthritis for a long time, it keeps getting worse, plus I have knee problems. My orthopedic doctor says the left one needs to be replaced ASAP. So I decided that my tire mounting days are over. Mounting a tire requires me to get down on the garage floor on my knees, and I'm not doing that anymore. Plus I found a great place to have it done at a reasonable price, and they will order any tire I want.

As for tube type tires, I will not go very far from home on tube type tires. I have been stranded too many times. I stay within the towing limit of my road service plan on the couple of bikes I have with tube type tires. They are easier to work with, but they are also super easy to puncture. And they cannot be repaired beside the road like tubeless tires. Fortunately my Sportster has tubeless tires. I thought about going to a 21" tube type wheel in the front, just for looks, but the hassles and limitations just aren't worth it.

[Steve9]

If I could get it done for $15.00 I would never do it again.

[rokytnji]

Have no other shop within a 100 miles of my shop.
Then. When they tell me how much.
They think I have Doctor or Lawyers budget.

[rider61]

I still do all my own tire work.
Many years
Beads make them run as smooth as silk.
Being patient and careful is the key.
Have put thousands of miles on tubed tires I have put on myself.
Never a worry.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[Brad]

Nope. I pay a pro. FWIW when I was in PA, I used the local Honda dealer as they gave me the same tires for lower retail and $40 per tire as opposed to 2.5 hours labor at the dealer. Now I have an indy.