Changing your own tyres?

[cornishsv]

Who here changes there own tyres? I got a new front tyre to go on and was thinking of getting the tools to do it myself and for future changes

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah, it isn't too bad. Pop the beads off in the vice (or with a bit of 4x2 under the back bumper of the van), then change with levers. Pop back on with compressor, balance using spindle across axle stands.

[Wideboy]

yeah i do my own, easy peasy. I use an alloy mate bar to make it easier but don't skimp on the leavers, cheap ones won't last 5 mins.

[wideguy]

Not always as easy as they make it sound, and it's only easy if you go about it right. Best to have someone with experience walk you through it the first time.

[NTECUK]

Given i have a car tyre changer I still de mount the front with a lever as i think its freindly to the rim.

[embee]

I've only done a few tubeless radials, always used to do the tubed crossplies on my older bikes.
It does get easier with practice but you need decent tools really. Watch plenty of youtube how-to clips, very useful.

Some brands of radials are much easier to fit than others according to those who do them regularly. Metzelers aren't too bad I've found. I have a couple of pairs of rim protectors, you can't have too many, sometimes it's easier to pop another in place than move one which is trapped under the tyre.

Agree about the irons (levers), good ones are a must.

Breaking the bead can be difficult if you don't have a proper arrangement, either a proper bead-breaker or alternative set-up. I did do it in a woodwork vice once but it isn't ideal by a long way. Get proper tyre soap for refitting new tyres, cheap enough and last for years if kept in a closed container. Soap, weights and valves all on ebay.

I made myself a balancing jig and a spindle with tapered bushings for different bearing sizes. It's very easy to balance once you have a proper jig, I use plasticene to get the balance and then weigh it on digital kitchen scales, then simply halve it and use equal weights each side of the rim. Accuracy depends on precision of the spindle and the friction (I used shielded bearings to support the spindle rather than sealed, 2 small bearings each end that the spindle sits in acting as rollers).

[cornishsv]

Chears for all the advice guys. Started watching YouTube videos for pointers and putting a tools list together.