Changing Tyres

r1_lad · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Karma :

I am getting fed up of removing my wheels from my bike, arranging a lift to and from the bike shop (My bike is my only transport) and paying for them to fit a pair of tyres to my wheels every couple of months. I could ride the bike there and get them to take off the wheels (which is what i'm having to do today on my lunch break) but they charge £40/time for this.

It's something i'd love to be able to do myself. Is this going to be possible or not? Can you buy consumer machines to fit tyres to bike wheels? Are they all professional hydraulic machines that cost in the thousands? Also i'm not sure how balancing the wheels would be done if needed.

Would it be safe/possible for me to just do it with a set of tyre levers?

Is this something others have thought about before?
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RS50 -> RS125 -> GSXR600 SRAD -> 02 R1 -> Speed Triple 1050 -> Ducati Streetfighter 1099 -> DRZ400 Superetard

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

You can get a bead breaker, tyre levers and wheel balancing kit from Abba Stands.

Be worth having a look at some other tyre shops, the one I use charge £10 for ride in ride out fitting. Also if you're wanting to take the tyres in then if you can borrow another bike from someone you can take the wheels using that as you can take them one at a time on your back.

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Howabout getting another set of wheels? Then you can get them done more 'at your leisure'.

Frost · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2004 Karma :

Yes you can purchase machines to fit tires with yourself, and they are perfectly safe. How do you think bikers at club meetings get by? Razz

Most people use a mechanical tire lever, on which you place the wheel and tire then pull down on the lever to pusht he tire onto the rim.

M&P sell a wheel balancer for £72.99

iCraig · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Davo · Davo To The Rescue! Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Karma :

R1_lad

You could try the bike workshop down in Bolney, usually a lot cheaper than that, or theres a place in Faygate that does bike tyres, they were quite reasonable if I remember rightly.

stryker · Brolly Dolly Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Karma :

Alternatively you could stop going 0-60 in 3 secs and find your tyres last 10 times longer. Very Happy

Seriously though, how are you getting through tyres like that?
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Now what?

fazed · Korn is my hero! Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

wheeeelieeee from what I have been told Razz

r1_lad · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Karma :

Stryker: Wheelies and Motorways

Davo & Sickpup: Cheers i'll check those places out.

P&H wanted £50 inc VAT for a ride-in ride-out change. Fins in Redhill said £40. I'd love to find a place that does it for £10!

Bendy, i like your idea of another set of wheels i'll have to keep an eye out on ebay.
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RS50 -> RS125 -> GSXR600 SRAD -> 02 R1 -> Speed Triple 1050 -> Ducati Streetfighter 1099 -> DRZ400 Superetard

stryker · Brolly Dolly Joined: 30 Aug 2004 Karma :

Did anyone notice those strange tyres fitted in "The long way round" when their bikes were serviced in alaska. They were kind of a cross between motorcross and road tyres. Maybe they'd be harder? which probably makes them rubbish in this weather.
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Now what?

mrchips · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Karma :

I do my own. All you need is a few screw drivers/spoons and some fairy liquid and a compressor.
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pipnet11 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Karma :

All you daft people with tubeless tyres Mr. Green

Takes me about an hour to do both wheels, and half an hour is getting the buggers off the bike! two tyre levers bit of fairy liquid and a foot pump, easy. Also means that a puntcture on the road just means geting dirty instead of a call to the AA.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

You do need a bead breaker. You can get 'screw down' ones which aren't all that expensive.

Why not take your tools with you on the back of the bike and drop the wheel out in the carpark. That's what I used to do. You don't need a paddock stand, a simple single-legged prop stand will do the job.
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Rob W · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Nov 2004 Karma :

r1_lad · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Karma :

Yeah I know Brighton Road, I used to live in Redhill until a few months ago when I moved to Crawley. I work about 10mins away from Redhill.

Fins are quite expensive for most things i've found in the past.
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RS50 -> RS125 -> GSXR600 SRAD -> 02 R1 -> Speed Triple 1050 -> Ducati Streetfighter 1099 -> DRZ400 Superetard

EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

Fins also plaster your bike/keyring with stickers Rolling Eyes

Saying that they were quite negotiable when I had some tyres from there, got loose wheel fitting charges because of the single-sided swingarm.

Kram · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Karma :

how about u ride down to the bike garage, with a 22 socket, wrench, and a stand... and take the wheels out yourself, then give em the rim n change the tyre, then put it back in again...

that's what i do;) Twisted Evil

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