TIRE IRONS

[Rain Man]

I went to my local Honda dealer today to get 2 knobby tires mounted onto my Katooms rims.  Last time I did this, it cost me 30 bucks, great, sure and hell beats doing it with tire irons as usual.
  Today, they wanted 112 bucks. I got rim locks and those cost 12 bucks extra a piece. Ive gotten older, and the tire machines a lot easier, but damm, is that too much money??   My tire irons prevailed, I did get to look at all the new stuff I'm gonna use for traction this summer!!
Raymond

[Kip Kern]

Wow, to get a tire mounted here it's still $5 and thats on a tire machine.  Of coures, tubes, rim locks, rim strips are extra.  I guess I'am lucky.  Where the heck do you live?

[OUCWBOY]

I do all myself, even though it's a pain sometimes to get the old stuff off. Here in the San Diego area the charge about $50.00 to $100.00 a pop. It depends on where you go. The closest place to me is a Yamaha, Honda dealer. They wanted to charge me $80.00 for a set of 32mm fork seals.

Donny Smith

[Tony Price]

There ought to be a law........

For $10 a wheel I can carry in my rims with old tires on them, along with my new tires and tubes bought elsewhere, and pick them up later all mounted up.    

I can also get the occaisional old stubborn Metzzler pulled off for $10 at another local shop, they won't mount tires not purchased from them though.  I don't mind spending a few extra bucks to buy their tires though.  When you buy your tires from them, they remove your old ones and mount the new ones for free.

Tony Price

[Rain Man]

Kip, The Honda dealers in Buxton Me. and he's the biggest one in the state. He's got every rising sun bike this model year in that show room.  I'm not sure, but I think Metzlers aren't making motorcycle tires any more.[?]  I know the one's I've run for 14 years aren't available. The Enduro guys are all going to perelli's.
Raymond.

[G Ellis]

Get a good set of tire irons,let the air out and loosen rim locks. Stand on the sidewalls to break them loose.[]I can change a tire in 5 min. You could always use the practice to get as good as the isdt vets. LOL :D

[bkinnon]

Rain Main.. I know it is a bit of a drive for you, but Maine Cycle in Auburn will mount them free if you buy the tires there. Pine Tree Trail Riders Club, of which you and I have emailed back and forth a bit, was started there. Bruce Myrick and his riding buddies from the 60's and 70's started a club and it is still going strong today. Bruce, his son Jimmy, and most that go there are woods riders or motocross riders. They can get anything that you might need.. including weekly club rides from the shop. Now how can you beat that.
Bill

'97 KTM Jackpiner 200LE
'00 KDX 200
'80 KDX 250
'74 Hare Scramble 250
'73 Jackpiner 175 (3)
'73 Jackpiner 175 original owner
'73 Six Day 125
I need..
any steel tank Berkshire
any fiberglass tank Berkshire
any steel tank Six Days

[jj]

I came up with a very easy way to dismount old tires one day when one of those old rears with the built in rubber rimlock was getting the best of me. Its very easy and you will eliminate rim damage, but you will have to sacrifice the tube.

Simply take a sharp knife or box cutter and cut through the middle of the tire's sidewall 360 degrees around. Repeat on the opposite side and your tire will literally fall of the rim. The initial cut will resist a bit but you will be surprised how easy it becomes after you get the hang of it.

John J Slivka

[cardojr]

rob's 5 hour & 5 minute tire changing trick-learned this one from changing stiff sidewall trials tires. Place tire in a black leaf bag with a wet sponge-wrap it in black plastic and leave it in the sun for the afternoon (or put in the trunk of the black buick). tried it last summer on a 20 year old fossilised 6-ply barum- came off like it was only 10 years old.

[El-Viejo]

Have you guys ever tried a product called Ru-glide?  Used to be available at NAPA.

[OhioTed]

Changing tires is one of the few mechanical-type jobs that I have ever become halfway good at.  Here are a few tricks I have learned:
As mentioned above, get the tire(s) good and warm.  I just slipped a pair on last night and before doing so, had them sitting about five feet in front of a torpedo heater for a while.  Also, I have two sets of tire irons - big ones and small ones.  Use plenty of lubricant.  Right or wrong, I use dishwashing soap.  Run a bead of it around the tire's bead, then smear all around, especially underneath the tire bead.  Also, once you install the tube, fill it with just enough air to make it round.  That eliminates folds, which could end up getting pinched.

[don howard]

Rain Man.   Don H here I have made a good tire changing tool that works for me. One 14inch auto wheel with rubber tubing around the top to help hold and non marring the rim two good tire irons and soap the tire good do the rest as the others do enjoy. more you do the better you get .   DON H

[Speedy]

quote:Originally posted by Rain Man

Kip, The Honda dealers in Buxton Me. and he's the biggest one in the state. He's got every rising sun bike this model year in that show room.  I'm not sure, but I think Metzlers aren't making motorcycle tires any more.[?]  I know the one's I've run for 14 years aren't available. The Enduro guys are all going to perelli's.
Raymond.

Metzeler is still making MC tires.Never stopped,even the company was bought by PIRELLI.
The MC 4/5+6 are my favorits.
BTW.The former BARUM company who bought TRELLEBORG-Sweden,making very good quality knobbi tires callet MITAS.Excelent.MOTION PRO tire levers are very good.
Cheers,Speedy->>>>>


Helmut Clasen KTM
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Adventurer 02

[Rain Man]

Speedy,    thats interesting, maybe the guy down here in Bean town just dosen't sell them any more.  He sure dosen't list the Metzelers on his web site or flyers [?] I always liked the way they grabbed on mud slicked rocks, I got a set of Perellis now. soon as the ice and snow go away,will try them out !!
Raymond.

[hrbay]

Metzeler still make the Unicross in Brazil. It's a ringer for the old Moto-Cross/Enduro tire, appearance wise anyway.

GC