Tyre fitting machines

Gazz · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 May 2009 Karma :

Does anyone know if tyre fitting machines are the same for cars as they are for bikes?

And if so, why does the places around here which usually do cars not do bikes as well?

BakesBeans · Spanner Monkey Joined: 14 Aug 2012 Karma :

MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

The wheel centers on cars are bigger/different design than on bikes.
Bike wheels need a special adaptor so the bike wheel can be mounted on the arbor of the balancer.

And.. some car tyre fitters are not interested in any liability with bike wheels. Jus wot ahv'e been told by car tyre places
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

monkeybiker · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Sep 2014 Karma :

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Karma :

This is the machines we have in the workshop.
They are one of the best on the market. Typically a car tyre changer.

https://www.changemytyre.com/Upload/fldProducts/201312300950542914-Tyre-changer.PNG

This is a typical bike tyre changer:

https://www.corghi.lv/corghi/BC200Sl.png

Strictly speaking, you can do either type, on both machines.
But there are certain limitations of both, for certain types of car/bike wheel/tyre.

The bike changer wouldn't stand a cat in hell's chance of changing a big 20" runflat car tyre.

Likewise, the car changer wouldn't manage some front bike wheels, or smaller scooter wheels.

Reason being, the bike changer wont be gutsy enough to do the heavy duty car jobs.

And the car changer top arm does not come down as close to the jaws as on a bike changer, making any bike rim narrower than about 4j, quite difficult to do.

Notice the jaws on the bike changer stand quite a big higher. This allows the narrow 1.75" MX rims and similar to fit.

HTH.

MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Karma :

kramdra · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Karma :

The professional monkeys in many places have not got a clue and can only do things as they have been shown. You dont need a changer machine or compressor to fit tyres.. you can balance a wheel quite well with it in bike and brake calliper removed.

You dont need to pay 5 quid extra for a 20p valve and balancing Mad

valves are cheap enough to replace every time.

Secondly refitting a bike wheel requires some care, rather than just blasting nuts with impact gun. Its a very easy job to do yourself, and much less risk of fuckups than expecting a car place to do it properly. I can do a tire as quick as ride to garage Thumbs Up

Bike shops are not much better.. dealerships very good at fucking up.

Kaya75 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 11 Jan 2015 Karma :

Where ab
outs are you ? I asked around and found a great bike tyre place in Romford , Harold wood road. It's worth a ride out to a decent place, plus you run them in on the way home Thumbs Up

MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

Removing and fitting bike wheels is not 'easy'.

There are certain ways to do it and it can take a bit of knowledge to do it properly.
The bike is very stable on its wheels and side stand but very unstable if a wheel is removed.
To do it safely you need paddock stands or something similar (ABBA stand etc.).

You need to observe which way the tyres/wheels are fitted as they are very 'directional'.
You need to pay attention to the parts used to hold the wheels in place and also the adjustment of the rear wheel.

There are many more points to consider. It is not 'simple' but is is very do-able if you are determined and keen enough. If you do not have space to do the work then you are stuffed and have to pay the garage.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

Taught2BCauti... · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jan 2012 Karma :

There are several independent tyre fitters near me, and all but one will do bike tyres as long as you remove the wheel yourself and bring it in.

One of them will even collect and deliver for a small additional charge.

The one that doesn't do bikes, has a really old machine that has a central boss that is too big to take a bike wheel. Most modern machines don't have this, and will accept bike wheels - but the management might decide not to do your bike if they think their machine might damage the rim.

None of them do balancing for bike wheels, because the balancing machine also has a central boss that is too big to take a bike wheel.

None of them stock bike tyres either, but will supply to order or fit yours.
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Mudshark · Nearly there... Joined: 19 May 2014 Karma :

MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

Fladdem · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :

I use the car tyre machine at work for my bike tyres. The issue is the really skinny tyres, like the 90/90/21's on my 250's. the machine can't adjust to that so I just use the machine to hold the wheel then use tyre levers. Thumbs Up

I can't balance it using the machine, but I belive you can balance it by fitting it back on the bike, spin the wheel, let it stop somewhere, mark the point it stopped, spin again, if it stops in the same place, that means it's heavier there, so directly opposite stick a weight. Keep doing so until it doesn't stop in the same place twice. I think it's something like that anyway. Confused

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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.