Posts
2535
Joined
4/15/2019
Location
League City, TX
US
Edited Date/Time
11/13/2022 4:40pm
This isn’t real technical but thought the right place to post.
Not sure about where you live but my neck of the woods, League City, Tx, big burb, Houston area getting a tire changed is an experience. Not a cheap one either.
Had two tires mounted yesterday, took the take off tires home with me. Cost me 90 bucks at a motorcycle repair shop not far from me. Would have been 95 if I paid with a credit card. They originally told me 35 each but that changed. I didn’t even bother to ask why it was more than they quoted, I’m sure they ran me up for tubes which I didn’t need.
And it wouldn’t have don any good to argue. Most places hit ya for 20 bucks a tube and tell you after the fact. I was glad to find a place that would do them along with they didn’t scratch my black rims.
Some places I called said they would do it but wouldn’t give me a price, they wanted to see what I had first, that kinda made me scratch my head. Several I called said they do not mount dirt bike tires.
I know the dealers are supposed to cut ya a break on mounting if you buy through them, but buying a tire from the dealers around me is not cheap and they want you to buy what they sell, not what I want.
Thought I would try a different place this time. Couple of years back Yamaha shop charged me 118 bucks to mount two tires, but they replaced tubes which I needed and rim locks.
Along with it costing a lot to mount a tire, in my case wasn’t easy to find a place other than a dealer.
It’s going to be a while before I need tire work done again. When I do, plan to be rigged up and change my own going forward. I used to do it years ago. Have no idea what happened to my tire irons etc. Amazon should have everything I need.
Anybody else feel a little pain getting tires mounted. I bet a lot of you guys mount your own.
Thanks, Billy
Not sure about where you live but my neck of the woods, League City, Tx, big burb, Houston area getting a tire changed is an experience. Not a cheap one either.
Had two tires mounted yesterday, took the take off tires home with me. Cost me 90 bucks at a motorcycle repair shop not far from me. Would have been 95 if I paid with a credit card. They originally told me 35 each but that changed. I didn’t even bother to ask why it was more than they quoted, I’m sure they ran me up for tubes which I didn’t need.
And it wouldn’t have don any good to argue. Most places hit ya for 20 bucks a tube and tell you after the fact. I was glad to find a place that would do them along with they didn’t scratch my black rims.
Some places I called said they would do it but wouldn’t give me a price, they wanted to see what I had first, that kinda made me scratch my head. Several I called said they do not mount dirt bike tires.
I know the dealers are supposed to cut ya a break on mounting if you buy through them, but buying a tire from the dealers around me is not cheap and they want you to buy what they sell, not what I want.
Thought I would try a different place this time. Couple of years back Yamaha shop charged me 118 bucks to mount two tires, but they replaced tubes which I needed and rim locks.
Along with it costing a lot to mount a tire, in my case wasn’t easy to find a place other than a dealer.
It’s going to be a while before I need tire work done again. When I do, plan to be rigged up and change my own going forward. I used to do it years ago. Have no idea what happened to my tire irons etc. Amazon should have everything I need.
Anybody else feel a little pain getting tires mounted. I bet a lot of you guys mount your own.
Thanks, Billy
A good tire changing stand helps but a 5 gallon plastic bucket works great.
I recently started putting the tube in the tire and pulling the valve stem through before starting to mount. It’s tricky to get the tire over the rim lock, but after a few times it’s not bad at all. Also, when removing a tire, I do one side completely, flip the wheel and pop the other side off too, then pull the rim out. (Doesn’t just pull right out, but it’s not bad)
I will look into the brand tools mentioned above. Will get a tire changing stand, put in my attic and drag it out when I need it.
Seems like I remember using baby powder to get the tubes to slide around and line up. I need to watch a few YouTube video’s.
I don’t mind spending money. What I can’t deal with is a place that says they won’t do it with changing tubes. But when I ask do you have tubes, they get this blank look on their face and say no we have to order them and it will take a few days to get them. Out the door I go!!!
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Nice tire stand, 3 spoons, bead buddy, corn starch and soap in a spray bottle.
Cost of getting set up properly sucks but it pays for itself quickly. New set of Hoosiers I just mounted were easier than the Dunlops I was used to, not all tires are the same. I haven't tried doing a bib mousse yet either. Good luck.
I worked for 4 years in a shop that had no tyre machine, no tools other than levers. I did, probably, a few thousand tyre changes, at (eventually) lightening quick speeds. Nowadays, I'm probably the slowest tyre changer on earth. I'll take a day or two, and numerous meals and beverages, to do one tyre. Even with having a good, but basic tyre changing stand, plenty of trick levers and a Baja No Pinch tool. One day, I'll get a Rabaconda, for my couple of Tyre changes each year
** OP : As to them running you up for tubes you didn't need , did they, or didn't they? A licensed workshop ( well, indeed a decent person) has the obligation to Not do dangerous work, to Not use / re-fit worn or damaged items. But, if they do, they should show you those parts / offer to return them to you. Tubes wear, tubes get damaged, before they split, valve stem areas rust, start to rip etc etc. If someone charges you more than quoted, they need to show why, and you need to be interested enough to know why. You may answer it was only $20.00 more than you were quoted, but you mentioned it, so 'only $20.00' being of no concern to you, isn't really the case, is it? Yes, I'm 'Auntie Bearing' you, but people need to know what's going on with their bike, and it's parts.
My gripe is, that I just spent 1500 with them a month ago. They want me to buy a 100 dollar tire for a discount, but won't give me the discount for spending 15 times that, bonkers mentality.
Six months ago, it was 20 no matter what.
I will no longer support this shop, and buy everything online and do my own tire changes.
I worked at a shop for a couple years, most don’t cut you a break anymore on mounting if you buy the tire there, they charge you full retail for a Dunlop, and $20-$30 for a paper thin bike master tube, and always leave you with some sweet racing stripes on your black wheels.
Now a 10 inch mini ktm wheel, them fuckers are nightmare material
It took me about 20 years of trying until I could finally change a tire reliably. Before that, it was 50/50 whether I'd pinch the tube.
I can't understand how anyone who rides with any kind of frequency pays these crazy prices to have tires swapped. I have changed thousands over the last 40 or so years. When I was young and broke I would literally swap between my "race tires" and "practice tires" week to week or even day to day. Nowadays, I will frequently do 8-10 tires in an hour or two every few weeks depending on who needs what done.
These guys have hit all the hi-lights. Watch many Jay Clark videos, always...always use baby powder in the tire and on the tube, and don't rush! It is all about TECHNIQUE and if you are having to force it or use your muscles you are doing it wrong.
Edit: okay I looked up the Baja no pinch tool. What the fuck. This should be in every garage. I’m so mad I didn’t buy one the first day it was released.
Its soooooo nice to not have to rely on a shop to change them. Not only do you save money, but time if you get good at it. My local shops would keep them for 2 days before I would get a call.
Pit Row
Dunlop tire change
I am mecanically inclined but not an expert.... Seriously it is not difficult to change a tire with a tube... Just put some air in it to avoid pinching (it is still easy even with air in the tube).
It is all in the technique and YouTube is super helpful for that
I prefer to change tires with the Baja No Pinch tool. I've yet to pinch a tube in 3 years of use and it just makes the whole process more simple.
Getting the technique down will take some practice and patience but it is worth it. Changing tires is one of my favorite things to do now and I take pride in leaving zero marks on black wheels.
Post a reply to: Paying to have a tire mounted for a dirt scooter ain’t cheap, think I’ll get rigged up to change my own.