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Stole the title from Chy over in a tire thread in the vault.

Anyway , any of y'all got any recommendations on TIRE IRONS , cause im getting tired of paying someone for someting I can do myself and in less time. I used to work at a tire shop years ago and also worked with A/C tires so why not..

I use these.

When I changed my own I used the same as moe and get a set of these:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/9/205/29625/ITEM/Motion-Pro-Rim-Protectors.aspx

Had one of these, bolted to some 2x4 so I could move around:

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-tire-changer-69686.html

Your local bike shop will have what ya need.

Well, finally got my tire today and got her all changed out. Man that was a PITA! Tried using a C-clap to break the bead but no luck , too small. Long story had to make my own and took a lot longer than expected but its DONE!

It gets easier. You can use three tire irons to bread the bead. Actually breaking is, with the three iron method, more moving the bead than breaking the bead.
Google a youtube vid about the procedure if interested!

Bead breakers can be made from a 2x4, and a door hindge.
Cut about 2 feet off of the board. Then screw the cut off piece to the longer one at about a third of the way from one end, using the hinged as a connector, so that it closes toward the short end. The simply use the short end under the bumper of a truck and the the hindged on piece on the side of the tire you are trying to break down.

I have seen some thing similar to this:

http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/beadbreaker.html

I just made one similar to the one in the article that Chy posted in the Vault.

What did you do about balancing the wheel?

balancing +1???

I didn't, just said screw it, rode over to Kennasaw the next day thru Little River Canyon and some other twisties and slab. Had it on a little over 1K so far. No issues, seems to be tracking well, no vibration, so.....

Interesting. Are you going to track the life of this tire to see if there is a significant difference? I would be interested to know because I am planning on a tire changing station in my shop.

Here's an interesting and low tech bead breaking technique:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UPaCV_uCi78

I only ever balanced 1 tire in my many years of riding, never found a reason to. I just line the circle up with the valve stem. In the past I didn't even do that.

I personally would not argue against balancing a tire, even if it only takes 7g's to balance it.

Yeah I plan tracking, always do, I was at roughly 24,900 when I put it on, around 26,200 right now. No issues.

Ian, I didn't even have a dot to line up with the steam, so just kinda winged it on that to.

Ken, not saying I was against it, but that night I changed it out I was getting my butt kicked by it. But I had to get it finished cause I had to travel for work the next day. I never had TIME to balance it and haven't had any issues so i didn't bother to pull it back of to address balancing.

I know, I know, I was actually palnning on it, just ran out of time. I really like and want to do everything the "proper" way but just didn't happen this time. Seems like it's doing fine, I may get a wild hair up my butt and pull it back off this weekend.

Marc Parnes

http://www.amazon.com/Balancer-Motorcycl...+wheel+balancer

Had something like this...put it on a set of 2x4 to make clearance for the wheel. Worked fine for my sport bike when I took it to the track

Here is how to do it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVqvtssF9rk

I don't care who balances or who doesn't, I just found it a waste of time on my bikes. I find chain lube a waste of time too though.

I feel kind of lucky then.

My local auto shop mounted the tires for $10 a piece.
And a local bike shop balanced the tires for $15 a piece.
Neither took 30 minutes each.

Somethings I would certainly rather do myself.
But this isn't really one of them.

One more thought on balancing...the smaller diameter the wheel, the heavier the tire, & the faster the speed, the more apparent the issue becomes.

For example, I have a small high performance 2T scooter that will run 55+ MPH (GPS) on the flats. After balancing the wheels, that sucker runs far smoother above 45 MPH...especially the rear wheel, which has a 130/90-10 tire...

I don't feel any vibration at all or I would balance mine too.

Dynabeads

Yeah, Keith and Chad mentioned them to me before. I haven't tried them as of yet but not opposed to that idea either. But since we're speaking about them can they be reused from one tire to the next? Just wondering.

I invested in the "beads".
In the process of polishing my rims, I removed my weights, knowing I would use the "beads".

Took about a half hour to install due to the right angle valve stem. oh ya, that's each tire.
If your changing tires, then they can be added beforehand, bag and all(the bag disintegrates).

My Report:
They(the beads) are noticeable at low speeds(0-30 mph).
You can feel'em moving around as you accelerate.
Once you're at speed, the buzzing from the handlebars(closest explanation of the feeling) disappears.
Every time you change speed on the quick side. I can feel'em moving around, rebalancing.
Coming out of a turn(and sometimes into a turn)I can feel a front tire buzz. Like the beads are moving to the sidewalls trying to rebalance.

The rear tire, I feel nothing. Looks good. No weird wear.
The front tire also shows no odd ball wear.

My recommendation is not to invest in the "beads".

If I were to do it over.

I'd have the tires spin(or dynamically) balanced.

I'm dealing with it now because 90% my driving is local, plus I do not want to remove the tires, have the beads removed and rebalanced(dynamically).


NOW. If you drive a Semi Trailer. They generally use 3lbs of "beads or more(how much lead can you put on a semi rim?)
They work great for that purpose(steady speeds,300lb tires).

I'm trying them (dynabeads) now too. Got a new tire while visiting Keith. I also notice them at low speeds (I have them only in the front)I don't notice them at any other time (shifting and such)I like the look of the rim without the weights and the physics of it all make sense.
Well, I'll see what I decide when it's time to change the tire or is it tyre because I bought it in Canada?

My Report:
They(the beads) are noticeable at low speeds(0-30 mph).
You can feel'em moving around as you accelerate.
Once you're at speed, the buzzing from the handlebars(closest explanation of the feeling) disappears.
Every time you change speed on the quick side. I can feel'em moving around, rebalancing.
Coming out of a turn(and sometimes into a turn)I can feel a front tire buzz. Like the beads are moving to the sidewalls trying to rebalance.

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I use the ceramic beads. 1 Oz. per 12 LBS of tire/tube weight. Apart from a very slight transitional buzz at 27-30 MPH under acceleration, I hardly notice, nor have I experienced any of your observations. I do have Ricor Interminaters (Sp?) installed and maintain fork preload on the high side of spec. Or maybe it's just me. At any rate 7000 miles and no complaints yet.
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I too use the Intiminators with zero weight oil.

I'm always interested in trying the newest sliced bread products that would upgrade the bike wether it be for performance or safety.

The "beads" were not one of my best moves in my opinion.

Again I say spin balancing is the way to go.