Home tire changing?

[firerider]

For those of you out there changing your own tires at home what kinda equipment are you using??

[StumpysWife]

Stumpy got a tire changer off ebay back in his street days.  I think it's the same as this one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=63699&item=4562011838&sspagename=WDVW

[firerider]

How easy was it to use?

[StumpysWife]

I don't know how easy it is, but it doesn't seem to take him very long to use it.  He can probably pipe up later and tell you.  I think the hardest part is breaking the bead on the old tire.  

Heather

[Jeff]

3 tire irons, 1 long and 2 shorties, and a 2x4 to break the bead.  Then  some soapy water...

Since I now have access to a rim clamp, I change them on it, but a few weeks back we had to go old-school one night at BHF as the tire guys left before the LP sportrider day.  That change took about an hour from removing the tires off the bike to having them back on.

[firerider]

Yeah, I have the tire irons, but man thats one hell of a workout. Looking for something a little easier for when I want to change them at home prior to going to the track, and I dont want to pay 30-40$ to have them changed at a shop.

[Jeff]

It's only a workout if you're riding on Dunlops...  They have extremely stiff sidewalls.  

[251am]

  I use the same unit as Stumpy- it's a harbor freight model that comes in two pieces. The base and the top. The top is kinda useless, the base is for breaking the bead. It takes practice and yeah, the first couple times it is a REAL workout. Need a couple of the plastic rim savers as well.

[bambam]

i have the harbor freight changer also. it takes alittle practice and the rim savers are a must have but it has paid for it's self several times over. i also have a balancer from a guy on the nesba board but can't remember his name.  search for "madd balanzer" . the 2 of these together cost me like 150 or so shipped to the door. they are awesome. not to mention the savings on doing your own tires you can mount the take off's that you sell to the street squids too. i get $50 a set on the bike and $30 a set off. not bad when you can do a set in about 45 min or so or less if off the bike. just make sure you get a decent compressor to set the bead when remounting them. i borrowed a friends cheapie and it sucked so i bought a 6hp 35 gal craftsman and it works like a champ.

[dylanfan53]

As stated, there's a learning curve to that piece of equipment, after which it becomes easy and worth the small investment.  Don't forget to get a bottle of tire lube though.

[Rich]

I have the Harbor Freight model too. It was only $35 for the base and $20 for the MC adaptor, but it still sucks.  I used it a few times, coated the clamps with rubberized spray and still hated it.

Then I got a Coats 220 on loan and it wasn't a flimsy POS like the HF model.  I'll have to give it back some day and could survive on the HF model.......but I usually just take my wheels to the shop and use their machine.

[kz2zx]

I've got the HF too.

The rim clamp for the top section is worth it, but will mark up your rims.  I use three irons, and agree Dunlop slicks suck to change.

I haven'tused it in months, since I get the tires mounted at the track when I buy them (and have spare wheels for the R6)