Hi guys and gals. I have always done all maintenance to my bikes myself, except tires. I always felt that a dealer has the right tools for the job and his reputation would be on the line so he would have to do it right. Last year, however, I decided to give it a try myself. I ordered my new tires online at a fraction of the cost that my dealer would charge. I also ordered the Harbor Freight tire changing station. I started with the rear tire, and the dismount of the old tire was easy. But as I tried to mount the new tire and had that last little part of tire bead to mount, POP!!!!, I bent the rim, using their long pry bar. Furious, I called Harbor Freight and complained about what happened, and consequently got a full refund for the tool. Has anyone else used that tool with success? If not what do you use?

I'm very interested where this thread leads to. I have also thought long and hard recently about changing my own tires but was afraid of the balancing. After seeing that balancer at marcparnes.com from Hobie's post on the radar detector thread earlier today, I was that much closer to making my decision. But now....?? Don't wanna be bending rims.

I use a No-Mar tire changer and balancer. It's sweet even though it's a little spendy.

Wow!!! You bent the rim? I've changed quite a few tires with my H-F tire changer and no bent rims... Scratches yes, but no bent rims. I use a couple of tire irons rather than the big honker that comes with the tire changer.I find that the irons are easier to manage.

I use three tire irons I manage to balance between two hands and DO NOT torque the hell out of any of them. (Much easier to have one friend help, but I've done 7 tires in the last 7 months by myself -- the build it yourself station linked below really does work well). You gotta be a bit more gentle than that, or get yourself some short ones you can't generate that much leverage on. On the Carozzerria wheels especially, I'm careful enough to cut out a cardboard disc to fit around the hub and to use a little duct tape here and there to protect the wheel from inadvertant drops of the tire irons, etc.

Below is a great tutorial for the whole do it yourself process on the cheap. I built this station, but used rubber washing machine drain hose cut longitudinally to pad the top of the 14" rim used as the station base:

Guide To Changing Motorcycle Tires

Best trick I can recommend is to use K&L rim protectors (Motion Pro protectors are too soft and get torn up too easily). I use 4 on a rim (lubricated), which gives me plenty of room to maneuver the irons without forcing the crap outta any one. The other trick is to use a commercial tire mounting lubricant (1 gallon from NAPA Auto Parts cost me around $4.00). Here's the rim protectors:

K&L Nylon Rim Saver - Motorcycle USA Superstore

Here's an effective bead breaker, and they also sell adhesive backed balancing weights:

Bead Breaker :: Tire :: Tools :: Aerostich/RiderWearHouse Motorcycle Jackets, Suits, Clothing, & Gear

The Marc Parnes Balancer is the way to go, but get the one with the longer shaft (helps, e.g., when you also want to balance the whole rotating mass, including sprocket and cush drive -- matching light to heavy and then balancing overall). I just use a couple jack stands to put the balancer's ends on and balance the tire between them. Here's their site:

Motorcycle Wheel Balancer

+1 on HF changer and Marc Parnes unit.

I have only changed one tire with the HF changer, I can see that you can get lot's of leverage using the long bar. I think if you are careful you shouldn't have a problem. It was a bit of a pain to get that last part of the tire on. I used one of the 16" Motion Pro tire irons and some smaller ones.

I love the Marc Parnes balancer, but do get a longer shaft. That thing has the most smoothest fine bearings in it. Very sensitive measuring device.

That's pretty interesting. If I was Harbor Freight, I'd have told you to pound sand if you didn't know better than to put that kind of force on an aluminum rim. If its not going on with regular motorcycle tire irons, there's something wrong with the situation.

I've changed gosh..50 tires at least on my Harbor Freight setup. Gets easier every time.

First don't use the 4 ft. long bar for anything else but the bead breaker. I use standard 8" long tire irons. I used to have my wife help as a third hand but have since used a strap on one iron as the "beginning spot" tire iron.

I think what you did wrong was when you are trying to get that last part of the bead over, the bead on the opposite side must be in the center of the rim in the well. Then little force is necessary. Also I use silicone spray for lube.

Here's a link to using the Harbor Freight setup. As I said I don't use the long bar but everything else applies.

tirechange Photo Gallery by fred harmon at pbase.com

I've been mounting my own tire for the last 10 years, the only way to go. For me the trick to easy tire mounting is: good bead lubrication, use spoons only, I also use 3 spoons, and be sure to keep as much bead as possible down in the rim relief as you get to the last remaining bead to be spooned on.

Originally Posted by iXXion

That's pretty interesting. If I was Harbor Freight, I'd have told you to pound sand if you didn't know better than to put that kind of force on an aluminum rim. If its not going on with regular motorcycle tire irons, there's something wrong with the situation.

Yeah, i'm surprised Harbor Freight refunded the money too. No offense but the operator is more to blame than Harbor Freight is!

Lot's of good comments thus far. I agree with what's been said thus far.

Having changed about about a dozen tires now, I'll toss in my $0.02 as well.

1. You'll get better at it. My first tire change took me over two hours. Now I could do it in less than 30 minutes.

2. To help get the tire on/off, use soapy water as a lubricant . I brush it on liberally with a cheap paint brush.

3. Bead sealant is very helpful - helps to initially seat the tire and keep the bead sealed. I used to loose a couple PSI per month till I used this stuff

4. To protect the rim I use several 4" sections of garden hose, with a lengthwise slit. Whatever rim protector you use, tie string to it. This makes it much easier to fish out of a mounted tire.

5. Race teams can afford any tire balancer in the world, but guess what they use? A static balancing rod, like the ones discussed above.

6. When installing a tire the toughest part is that last little arc of rubber to be leveraged onto the tire. The trick is to shove a small wooden block between the tire and rim on the opposit (180 degree) side of the tire. This shoves the bead of tire into the center of the rim on the opposit side and gives you another inch on the side you're trying to leverage over. Use this same trick when initially removing a tire as well.

7. When leveraging the last little arc of tire onto a rim I use three tire irons. A long one holds down one side of the arc. This one gets tucked into my armpit. Another tire iron holds down the other side of the arc, usually held by the hand that has the long tire iron in the armpit. My free hand then uses a third tire iron to lever the last ar of rubber into place.

BTW, the idea that dealerships have the best quality work and expertise is a myth. One the dealerships want you to beleive. Some dealerships are first rate, exceptional. Others suck. The best MC mechanic in my area used to be at a dealership, no he works for himself.

I also use the NO-MAR tire changer. Yes they are expensive, but I have seen more expensive and best of all I do not have to worry about a scratch coming from the tire tools. I got a pretty good deal on mine since I ride with the local HSTA boys and girls.

I purchased the changer and have the stand for mounting in the garage as well as the bracket that hooks into the reciever of my truck so I can take it with me for those week long trips to the twisties just encase I toast a tire and have to replace it with a NEW one.

With the above items I also recieved a set of NO-MAR tire spoons-
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Shop...ar4BackBLK.jpg

A set of ther EXTRA Hands-
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Shop...XtraHands3.gif

As well as their Classic NO-MAR tire changer-
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Prod.../06Classic.gif

Hitch Mount-
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Prod...tLive_Over.gif
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Prod...HitchMount.gif

Garage Stand-
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Shop...ages/Stand.jpg

No-Mar MOUNT/DEMOUNT Bar-
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Shop...BarWinsets.jpg

A bottle of Tire Lube-
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Shop...s/TireLube.jpg

A jar of Tire Lube Paste-
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Shop...s/Tubolube.gif

You can view the videos for this changer at the following web address-
MOTORCYCLE TIRE CHANGER : Motorcycle Static Wheel Balancer and Tire Spoon by No Mar

My next purchase will be to get the balancer from him. Currently I just use the axle from the bike supported between two jack stands and have not had any problems yet. I just want something a little more dedicated as well as a little more accurate.

Balancer-
http://www.nomartirechanger.com/Prod...cerWebHero.jpg

If there were any interest in this changer I could talk to the guy that manufacturers this changer to see what kind of deal he would give us since he is local to me.

Originally Posted by PJNXX

Hi guys and gals. I have always done all maintenance to my bikes myself, except tires. I always felt that a dealer has the right tools for the job and his reputation would be on the line so he would have to do it right. Last year, however, I decided to give it a try myself. I ordered my new tires online at a fraction of the cost that my dealer would charge. I also ordered the Harbor Freight tire changing station. I started with the rear tire, and the dismount of the old tire was easy. But as I tried to mount the new tire and had that last little part of tire bead to mount, POP!!!!, I bent the rim, using their long pry bar. Furious, I called Harbor Freight and complained about what happened, and consequently got a full refund for the tool. Has anyone else used that tool with success? If not what do you use?

I kinda forgot you live on LI.
Frankies Tires in East Patchogue will swap out your motorcycle tires for $10.
They are at the corner of Dunton Ave and Montauk Hwy. Should take around 20 minutes. Save your money on all the fancy machinery.

I used to have my wife help as a third hand but have since used a strap on......

Sorry, couldn't resist.


Rather than using rim savers or 4in sections of hose I prefer a 2-1/2 foot section of hose. you don't have to move it each time you relocate the spoons.

That NO MAR changer is the coolest thing ever!!!!! What is the difference between a stiff side wall tire (Goldwing in the vids) and a regular MC tire?

Kinley