Anyone else mount their own tires?

[jeffcoslacker]

I do. I kinda enjoy it. Reminds me of being a kid, fixing my bike. It's really not that difficult, long as you have the technique down. I just put two new 404's on my friend's old Maxim...saved him $60 for mount and balance...

Which brings me to another question...have you ever actually felt a balance shake in a bike tire? I haven't, despite that I don't have them balanced...ever...

I'll tell you one thing I learned from working with automotive tires for so long...there is always a very prominent mark, usually a large white dot or cirle on the sidewall of a new tire. Clock that to match the valve stem position, and they will rarely if ever show any balance symptoms...

On the front after mounting it and replacing the wheel, you can just spin it several times and see where it stops. A real heavy spot will land at the bottom over and over...if there's a weight on the wheel, pull it off and put it opposite of the spot that kept going to the bottom and try it again...most likely it'll be fine now...

I've done this for as long as I've had bikes, and it always works. Of course if you ride a sportbike at 140 mph, I'd suggest you have a shop mount and balance your skins...

[richtazz]

I used to mount my own dirt bike tires, but not steet bike tires. Every bike I've owned has had alloy rims, and I don't want to mar them up.

[MOSSMAN50]

Never mounted tires on a street bike. I used to mount tires on tractor trailers though. The way we did it was with ether to get it to seal. Is that how you do your bike tires?

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by MOSSMAN50

Never mounted tires on a street bike. I used to mount tires on tractor trailers though. The way we did it was with ether to get it to seal. Is that how you do your bike tires?

No...with new tires they will readily bead up on a cycle rim...

I used to have to do that with Bobcat tires though...

[mxracer111]

60 bucks dang that shop is costly, where i work we charge 10 to mount and 10 to balance. yes the tires do have those dots but it is recomended they be balanced. ive seen some where we had to move the dot opposite of the valve stem, usually bent rims or they have 2 rim locks (older bikes). always check your bearings and make sure the rim is clean if your gonna do your own tires, remember you only have 2 tires under you not 4 so make sure your sure of your work and ride fast

[Steel]

HAvent yet, but its something i'm considering when i get the SV. I figure at $200 a tire, i'll need to save myself some money by doing it myself. Bike tires are usually so high tech that they are almost perfectly balanced from the factory, and as long as your wheel isn't screwed up, it shouldnt be a problem.