Tyre Changer & Balancer - Opinions please Org

Looking to invest in changing tyres myself. I'll do at least 2 changes this summer (fr & rear). Normally costs circa £30-40 for 2 loose wheels.

So there's this - http://bit.ly/11d2mKN & http://bit.ly/YZElsv.

Altogether about £80, looks small enough to keep in the shed. My questions are:

1. Good price or no?
2. Some say Michelin tyres don't often need balancing, so do I need both?
3. Are tyre changes difficult? Would this sort of thing be relatively easy to use? (for anyone who does their own tyre changes);
4. How easy or difficult is the balancer to use?
5. Am I likely to get value for money?
6. Is there some reason I should leave it to the professional?

Really, I'm aiming to learn how to do all these things so why not tyre changes, right? So thoughts on the products and my questions please.

[Wideboy]

prying the tyre off the rim is by far the most difficult bit, i underestimated how difficult it was when i started building my tyre changing devices and had to redo it all, i bought one of these to make it much simpler

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/manual-tyr...item27d1bfb9df

[DJ123]

Originally Posted by Runako

Looking to invest in changing tyres myself. I'll do at least 2 changes this summer (fr & rear). Normally costs circa £30-40 for 2 loose wheels.

So there's this - http://bit.ly/11d2mKN & http://bit.ly/YZElsv.

Altogether about £80, looks small enough to keep in the shed. My questions are:

1. Good price or no?
2. Some say Michelin tyres don't often need balancing, so do I need both?
3. Are tyre changes difficult? Would this sort of thing be relatively easy to use? (for anyone who does their own tyre changes);
4. How easy or difficult is the balancer to use?
5. Am I likely to get value for money?
6. Is there some reason I should leave it to the professional?

Really, I'm aiming to learn how to do all these things so why not tyre changes, right? So thoughts on the products and my questions please.

£30-£40 to fit tyres to a loose rim?!?! That's twice what it should be!!! £20 is the going rate aound here, that's for both

Originally Posted by Wideboy

prying the tyre off the rim is by far the most difficult bit, i underestimated how difficult it was when i started building my tyre changing devices and had to redo it all, i bought one of these to make it much simpler ...

Ok thanks for the reply. Really looking for opinions on this product. Or are you saying an additional tool would be needed?

The product is described as "Tyre Changer & Bead Breaker" so didn't anticipate needing any other tool. Anyone with experience of using something like this? Any thoughts on this product in relation to my questions?

Thanks

[Wideboy]

Originally Posted by daddyjob

£30-£40 to fit tyres to a loose rim?!?! That's twice what it should be!!! £20 is the going rate aound here, that's for both

It depends. Most tyre shops won't fit them because apparently they can't guaranty they'd be safe.. Really they just want you to buy tyre's from them, then garages will charge you stupid money

Originally Posted by daddyjob

£30-£40 to fit tyres to a loose rim?!?! That's twice what it should be!!! £20 is the going rate aound here, that's for both

I can get it done for £20 a pair unbalanced but have to take it somewhere. I don't own a car so when you work out the math its costs just as much if not more than £35 for a pair (best I've had) which includes balancing and is done on my doorstep by a mobile tyre guy.

[Wideboy]

Originally Posted by Runako

Ok thanks for the reply. Really looking for opinions on this product. Or are you saying an additional tool would be needed?

The product is described as "Tyre Changer & Bead Breaker" so didn't anticipate needing any other tool. Anyone with experience of using something like this? Any thoughts on this product in relation to my questions?

Thanks

its a bead breaker nothing more, you won't be able to get the tyre off the rim with it, just break the bead to get you choice of removal tool in behind the tyre

Originally Posted by Wideboy

its a bead breaker nothing more, you won't be able to get the tyre off the rim with it, just break the bead to get you choice of removal tool in behind the tyre

Ok, that's helpful. But then, why is it described as a Tyre Changer and Bead Breaker?

[Wideboy]

so that when you search for "tyre changer" that comes up same as when people sell R1's they put "not GSXR FIREBLADE" ect ect

Originally Posted by Wideboy

so that when you search for "tyre changer" that comes up same as when people sell R1's they put "not GSXR FIREBLADE" ect ect

I like the humorous comment, but it doesn't really answer this question.

When it comes to the description of the stuff I'm buying, I will roast anyone who sells me something that doesn't do what it says. Unless I'm misunderstanding the description I don't see why it would be described as a "Tyre Changer & Bead Breaker" if the product doesn't do both or provide the means to do both.

Based on the description I fully expect it to do both, my concern is for my own ability to use it properly or the difficulty of changing the tyres using it.

If there is a specific reason why you don't think this product will do the job by all means please say. Have you seen one of these before? (I've now emailed the seller to clarify).

Back to my original post, I'm considering purchasing these particular products so does anyone have a view on them.

Thanks