Is it possible to change tyres yourself?

[Red Herring]

I have to say I invested in an Abba bead breaker and a balancer stand years ago and they have saved me so much agro. It's not just the cost saving over the years, it's the convienience as well. I tend to buy sticky track tyres for my race bikes then when the shoulders are worn away put them on my road bikes to finish them off properly. It also saves you having to have multiple sets of wheels/discs for you bike if you can get up in the morning, look at the weather then fit the right tyres for the conditions.

PS. little tip with tyre levers, buy the slightly rounded ones and then slide a length of 1" water pipe over them (put it in hot water first to soften it up). Saves you dinging the rim and allows you to slide the lever around the rim rather than taking fresh bites.

Done that with some pipe thanks Herring. Is the front bead easier or harder to break than the rear?

YOU CHANGE THEM DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER???!!!!

I think easier except the discs need careful management. So harder in a way using a sidestand method but easier with say a g-clamp.

[Red Herring]

Rear tyres are definitely easier to change than the fronts, more flex due to the increased width. The Abba bead breaker is a screw/wind down type and is really easy to use. I generally work with two old sofa cushions, one to lie the wheel on, the other to kneel on. Saves you scratching the rims/discs on the garage floor, and my poor knees!

Yes the weather, if you are going out for a Sunday morning ride and it's raining it's so much more fun on the right tyres. I use Avon Pro-rains which are road legal.

V. useful thread folks, this is something I've been meaning to investigate for a while. I have a tyre place (run by a biker) 5 minutes walk from my house, but even so, there have been times where I'd like to fit a tyre late at night/early in the morning, on sunday etc. (one of the main appeals of DIY maintenance for me is not having to rely on others' availability).

I have just acquired a huge, very heavy workbench which has a very large, very heavy duty bench vice on it (lined with wood to prevent scrapes). I take it this would be okay for bead-breaking? Blue mentioned taking the discs off to avoid scratching them. I was always under the impression (although I can't remember where I got this so it could well be my imagination) that you weren't supposed to re-use disc mounting bolts (the same way you're not supposed to use caliper bolts). Is this correct or a product of my paranoid imagination? If the latter, I think I'll take them off.

Obligatory youtube funny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ev3A...eature=related

I've never heard that about the bolts before?! I removed the discs and for the front I've been told it's easier to take the calipers off (Not an SV) and will be re-using them. As long as they're torqued up ok I don't see any problem. If anyone knows any different please let us know. Changing tyres would get even more expensive then.

I'm glad I tried it but I don't think I'll be doing it again. Aches, cuts, and dirt.

Front is going to Essential rubber!

Can't wait to get on the new tyres now and get them scrubbed in to see if all the fuss I made was worth it.

[Red Herring]

You shouldn't really be taking the disc bolts in and out every time you change the tyres. They are lock tighted as standard and although I admit I don't replace it when I"ve changed discs I do make sure they are done up properly. Steel bolts into alloy wheels will wear the threads each time the bolts go in and out so best left alone if possible.

[yorkie_chris]

All I do is lay the wheel on another tyre, that way the discs dont touch anything.

[quote=Blue_SV650S;1325120- Use fairly liquid or tyre soap to do the lubing on the removal and fitting. (I am not convinced by what chunky said, as I have used fairy liquid for years and never had a tyre spinning problem - including track/race use!! ).
[/quote]


To be fair i originally heard about the Spinning rim issue from supermoto riders and if you have ever had the pleasure of fitting SM tyres you will know how loose they are on the rim compared to road tyres because of the fact they use innertubes so dont have to be that tight.

If you span a tyre with an innertube it would tear the valve out leaving you with a rapidly deflatting tyre and possibly a pretty certain crash.

I asked my local tyre place for some weights and a bit of soap. They are doing my van tyres too though.