Changing road bike tyres?

**marks** · 10th March 2014, 16:31

Hi

I've recently brought a sv1000n and need to put a new set of tires on it.
Given that the local bike shop wants $600 to supply (and I hope - fit) a set of conti road attack 2's and I can get a set from cycle treads for $500 I'm keen to find out how hard it is to change them myself.

I change my trail bike and trials bike(tubeliss) tires myself using a frame thingy I brought from torpedo7 which includes a bread breaker. I also have access to a grunty air compressor (which I needed to seat the bitch of a tubeliss trials tire)

Are road bike tires that much harder to change?
Or are they any more fragile (sidewalls etc)?

is static ballancing sufficient?

do any of the car tire places like Tony's etc fit bike tires?

**Hitcher** · 10th March 2014, 16:41

Sounds like you've got the whole business sorted. Fuck those rip-off artistes who do this sort of thing for a living. Don't ask for advice. Do it yourself.

**bogan** · 10th March 2014, 16:57

Originally Posted by marks

Hi

I've recently brought a sv1000n and need to put a new set of tires on it.
Given that the local bike shop wants $600 to supply (and I hope - fit) a set of conti road attack 2's and I can get a set from cycle treads for $500 I'm keen to find out how hard it is to change them myself.

I change my trail bike and trials bike(tubeliss) tires myself using a frame thingy I brought from torpedo7 which includes a bread breaker. I also have access to a grunty air compressor (which I needed to seat the bitch of a tubeliss trials tire)

Are road bike tires that much harder to change?
Or are they any more fragile (sidewalls etc)?

is static ballancing sufficient?

do any of the car tire places like Tony's etc fit bike tires?

Did the same a while back, been too long since I've done a dirt bike tyre to compare em, but obviously, much swearing and grunting required and three tyre spoons plus plastic rim protectors, and rags (tyre spoons get a bit of velocity up if they flick off). fragile is not a term I'd use to describe anything in the process

Static balancing should be sufficient enough.

Not sure if you could get car places to do the fitting, they don't do supply though, so doubtful they would have the gear to do fitting any cheaper than a bike shop.

**jellywrestler** · 10th March 2014, 17:05

Originally Posted by marks

Hi

I've recently brought a sv1000n and need to put a new set of tires on it.
Given that the local bike shop wants $600 to supply (and I hope - fit) a set of conti road attack 2's and I can get a set from cycle treads for $500 I'm keen to find out how hard it is to change them myself.

I change my trail bike and trials bike(tubeliss) tires myself using a frame thingy I brought from torpedo7 which includes a bread breaker. I also have access to a grunty air compressor (which I needed to seat the bitch of a tubeliss trials tire)

Are road bike tires that much harder to change?
Or are they any more fragile (sidewalls etc)?

is static ballancing sufficient?

do any of the car tire places like Tony's etc fit bike tires?

what are you going to do about the balancing dot?

**Akzle** · 10th March 2014, 17:53

what? You dont need to replace tyres.
Once youve worn the tread off, you have whats known as 'racing slicks', so you can actually go faster!

**Katman** · 10th March 2014, 18:03

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

what are you going to do about the balancing dot?

You'd be surprised how many people in bike shops don't seem to know what the little dot means.

**marks** · 10th March 2014, 18:47

Thanks for the prompt answers guys

Originally Posted by Katman

You'd be surprised how many people in bike shops don't seem to know what the little dot means.

whats the balancing dot?

I stuggle to get the directional arrow pointing in the right direction (easily fixed - if It points to the back I just rotate the tire 180 degrees and then it points to the front ...) now you are adding more complexity????

**pete376403** · 10th March 2014, 19:16

yellow or white spot on the tire side wall. Should go adjacent to the valve stem (unless you ride a KLR which vibrates like a dog shitting a length of chain in which case it doesnt matter)

**Wingnut** · 10th March 2014, 19:21

Have done plenty on the race bike. Piece of wees...

Have a look on youtube. There will be some tutorials on there no doubt

**jellywrestler** · 10th March 2014, 19:24

Originally Posted by marks

Thanks for the prompt answers guys

whats the balancing dot?

I stuggle to get the directional arrow pointing in the right direction (easily fixed - if It points to the back I just rotate the tire 180 degrees and then it points to the front ...) now you are adding more complexity????

if that's the skill level you have pay someone to do it, go see dave at Hi torque m/c in paraparaumu

**marks** · 10th March 2014, 20:12

Originally Posted by pete376403

yellow or white spot on the tire side wall. Should go adjacent to the valve stem (unless you ride a KLR which vibrates like a dog shitting a length of chain in which case it doesnt matter)

Hiya Pete

You be nice about klr's - although I admit to having changed 4 or 5 tires on the 3 klr's I've owned and neverbothered with spots or balancing - and never noticed one way or the other....

Wanna buy a mint klr?

Originally Posted by Wingnut

Have done plenty on the race bike. Piece of wees...

Have a look on youtube. There will be some tutorials on there no doubt

Good thought

do you statically balance race bike tires?

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

if that's the skill level you have pay someone to do it, go see Dave at Hi torque m/c in paraparaumu

my tire changing skill aint quite that bad although I have put tires on backwards before

It was Dave who quoted 'around' $600 for the conti's (presumably he just quoted me full retail). His pricing is normally pretty fair (I buy all my odd's and sod's from him)
I'd feel a bit of an arse getting a price for tires from him then turning up and asking hm to fit same sort of tires that I souced from somewhere else.

**jellywrestler** · 10th March 2014, 20:22

Originally Posted by marks

Hiya Pete

You be nice about klr's - although I admit to having changed 4 or 5 tires on the 3 klr's I've owned and neverbothered with spots or balancing - and never noticed one way or the other....

Wanna buy a mint klr?

Good thought

do you statically balance race bike tires?

my tire changing skill aint quite that bad although I have put tires on backwards before

It was Dave who quoted 'around' $600 for the conti's (presumably he just quoted me full retail). His pricing is normally pretty fair (I buy all my odd's and sod's from him)
I'd feel a bit of an arse getting a price for tires from him then turning up and asking hm to fit same sort of tires that I souced from somewhere else.

business is business, it'll either piss him off or he'll take the opportunity to regain the next sale.

**pete376403** · 10th March 2014, 20:22

Originally Posted by marks

Hiya Pete

You be nice about klr's - although I admit to having changed 4 or 5 tires on the 3 klr's I've owned and neverbothered with spots or balancing - and never noticed one way or the other....

Wanna buy a mint klr?
.

I would LOVE to have a mint KLR, especially with all the farkles you've got - 685, Rekluse, intact plastics, etc (especially the intact plastics) but sadly the budget wouldn't stretch. Also I kinda like the old mongrelly looking one I've got.

**AllanB** · 10th March 2014, 21:17

Breaking the bead to get it off is a effort.

google 'zip tie tyre change' on you tube - looks easier than spooning them on. View a few as there are some butcher examples of how to fuck your brake disks!