Anyone here change their own bike tires and tubes?

What kind of rubber were you putting on? I've never had problems with most brands. Now I use Maxxiss IT and they have really stiff sidewalls that make it pretty difficult. 4 tire irons and sometimes the use of a paint peeling heat gun do the trick.

I don't mind it in the summer when you can leave the tire in the driveway for a half hour to warm it up......

Pain in the ass on a winter day, though......

Tire spoons are the only way to do this on a regular basis. On Transworldmotocross.com there was a pretty good three part video clip to changing tires. Practice is the only way around it. I used to loathe it, now I can do it in minutes. Fronts in a couple of minutes. Rears are a pain. They take 10-15.

Leave the tires in the sun. Three levers are better then two. Small bites.

I don't mind changing the tires on my bike, but my son's little bike is a pain in the ass!

I have a buddy that does it for a case of beer per tire, I am pretty sure he has not bought beer in years. If bud light went on sale I would buy case's at a time. I will ride on a slick before I will do it myself.

Hmmm.. I dont mind doing it. I can do them pretty fast. Done lots over the years. Main thing is, use lots of soapy water, or WD 40. And, like someone said, take small bites, and make sure the bead is into the rim indentation.

If you want to get sick, watch the TWMX video with the guy from Bridgestone showing how to change a tire.

[quote="volcati":26anakr8]I hadn't done it in a long while...I've done the tube deal but after riding for a while when the tires was hot and easy to pull on.

Change out my front and rear tires this weekend...Jesus...I forgot what a bitch that is with just the tire levers. I told my dad I'm done with this shit...I'll just pay the $20 and save my knuckles and back. Plus...I ruined one front tube in the process.[/quote:26anakr8]

WD40 is your friend.

Last time I used wd-40 I slipped and put the tire iron through my hand. Last time I did that...

Tubes? Yeah. That's as far as I go. Changing tires is the one and only thing on my bikes I do not do (anymore). It ain't worth the $7 I'd "save".

My brand new 1990 YZ250 had less than an hour on it when it had its first flat. I ended up ripping the bead on the 19 in. rear. Too poor to pay $12.50 to have it done for me at the time as I had just spent all my money on a new bike. Needless to say after not riding it for a few weeks I got a new tire and paid to have it installed. Was probably ten years before I actually attempted another. I'm actually not too bad at it, but still only do it while at the track!!

you should not be allowed to ride a dirt bike until you can change a tire.

Why is this in Non-Moto ?

[quote:xmljwgey]Why is this in Non-Moto ?[/quote:xmljwgey]

because nobody in moto changes their tires? lmao

[quote="volcati":2eoiqp4f]That TWMX video is good.

http://transworldmotocross.com/video.js ... typeID=660[/quote:2eoiqp4f]


But completely inaccurate. It needs:


1. Two ratty flat blade screwdrivers instead of 3 tire irons and whatever the heck that new gadget "bead buddy" is.

2. No mechanix gloves.

3. The tire changed on either a work bench full of other tools or on the dimly lit, greasy floor of the garage, when the tire's a nice, balmy 30 degrees F.

4. Soap that dries before you can slide the tire on.

5. Show the three re-tries to fix the pinch flats created from the ratty screwdrivers.

6. A drunk rider trying to get the tire on at 11:30 pm the night before the ride.

7. An old tire that hasn't been off the rim for 3 engine rebuilds.

I'm an electrician, so what I use is wire lube. Super slick , works way better than wd40.

I used to do my own...but like someone said earlier....for 20 bucks, someone else can have the joy.Same as a oil change on my viechle. I can't see myself getting under there anymore if it's only 35 bucks to take it in. (Unless it's summer and I got nothing on the go). But that's not too often.

I like to use a tire specific lube if I have it . If not I use soapy water. I found that WD40 leaves a residue that causes the tire to slip on the rim even with the rim lock as tight as you can get it.

Wire lube, thats a great idea. I didnt even think of that. We have TONS of it at the plant where I work.

No foolin'! Try to get the stem in the hole on a 10" wheel. You'll be bloodied for sure.

Always remember to put a little air in the tube to get it out of the way before mounting the final bead. Fewer pinches that way.

I'll take you guys' twenty bucks all day at the track. The only ones I hate are the 10" Starcross..........or any 10" make that. Put the tube in the tire and lube it up with WD. Start with just enough air in the tube to hold it's shape. Oh, and small bites.

I about flipped out the other day when I put a new tube in my son's 20" bicycle with Zero tools. Just pulled the tire off the rim. Now if only mx tires were like that.

I'm going to fund my Loretta's trip by changing tires for old lazy impatient pussys!

No doubt. 10" tires are a pain in the rear. I change the tires on my sons' bikes. 10", 12", and 14" wheels suck. I need longer tire irons to get better leverage. I need a third iron too since I always end up using a screwdriver.

Oh, and how did this end up in non-moto?

Damn...I thought everyone changed thier own tires....I use windex...its easier to clean up than wd-40.

I buy my tires at the race track and they get installed for free. $10 a tire if I don't buy them there, am using some take-offs for practice, or switching to rains.

Breaking the bead on slicks is a bitch.

If the tire guy doesn't show, the track has a tire changing machine I can borrow to do it myself.

i just use some simple green. i always have it in a squirt bottle layin around. when it dries up actually lets the tire stick to the rim a lil bit too.