Tire install prices

[RichVee4]

Just had a set of tires installed at Moto Source.  Prices have gone up to 35 per tire plus 4 tire disposal fee...  Totaling $78 for two tires. The No mar tire changer is sounding even better so I can do it myself.  Mentioned the $$ to the Mrs and got the thumbs up! 

[slmoto]

Just had a set of tires installed at Moto Source.  Prices have gone up to 35 per tire plus 4 tire disposal fee...  Totaling $78 for two tires. The No mar tire changer is sounding even better so I can do it myself.  Mentioned the $$ to the Mrs and got the thumbs up!

With a bazillion bikes between the two of you it seems like a no brainer.

[dub]

Go for it. $78 to mount a set of tires is too much. Not to mention the inconvenience of having to bring the wheels there while the shop is open.

[GreenMachine]

Been looking at tire lever "spoons."   Any recommendations of good ones for painted rims?   Rich and Co. always did a good job on mine, even buttering up edge.   Prices range from $22 - ~90.

Will be doing tire changes for a dirt bike with spokes, as well as, my street bike rims.  If there's a couple different sets people would recommend, I'm all ears.

Also, I suppose I need to get self-adhering lead balancing weights too and that waxing butter too. 

[dub]

For shop use, just get the long ones. https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/parts/motion-pro-extra-long-steel-tire-iron-p

[GreenMachine]

Excellent!   Thx Dub!

[RenoRider75]

A trick I learned when doing my motorcycle tires is to cut pieces out of an old milk jug (the plastic ones) and use that between the rim and the tire irons.  The plastic is extremely durable, so it won't break off inside the tire, but it's also smooth enough and just "cushiony" enough to prevent scratching up the rim.

Our Kawasakis have a thin ridge around the center of the rim that is perfect for clip-on weights (I assume some other bikes also have this, Sara's Ducati does not).  I've had the adhesive weights come off before, and I hate putting duck tape on my rims, so I use the clip-on weights instead.

https://www.amazon.com/50pcs-Wheel-Balancing-Weights-Motorcycle/dp/B00FZRL6OC

I thought about buying one of the manual tire changers from Harbor Freight; their static tire balancer works really well.

https://www.harborfreight.com/Manual-Tire-Changer-69686.html

The biggest problem with changing your own tires is that you will eventually get really good at it...  which means you can swap out for racing tires at the track.  But then you also need tire warmers.  But if you're getting tire warmers, you should do even more track days to justify the cost...  And then maybe it's time to look for ways to upgrade the suspension to take advantage of the stickier tires since you're doing more track days...

Before long, you have a motorcycle trailer with a dozen tires in it and a couple of ZX-10RR's in back.  Taking the bike to a shop to change the tires is so much cheaper than all of this.   

[dub]

The biggest problem with changing your own tires is that you will eventually get really good at it...  which means you can swap out for racing tires at the track.  But then you also need tire warmers.  But if you're getting tire warmers, you should do even more track days to justify the cost...  And then maybe it's time to look for ways to upgrade the suspension to take advantage of the stickier tires since you're doing more track days...

Before long, you have a motorcycle trailer with a dozen tires in it and a couple of ZX-10RR's in back.  Taking the bike to a shop to change the tires is so much cheaper than all of this.   

Too late. Don't forget you need a generator to power the tire warmers too.

[RedLeader]

The biggest problem with changing your own tires is that you will eventually get really good at it...  which means you can swap out for racing tires at the track.  But then you also need tire warmers.  But if you're getting tire warmers, you should do even more track days to justify the cost...  And then maybe it's time to look for ways to upgrade the suspension to take advantage of the stickier tires since you're doing more track days...

Before long, you have a motorcycle trailer with a dozen tires in it and a couple of ZX-10RR's in back.  Taking the bike to a shop to change the tires is so much cheaper than all of this.   

Too late. Don't forget you need a generator to power the tire warmers too.

If you just get one of the big diesel buses, you can just run the generator and plug into that.