Installing and balancing your own tires.

[Kyle]

Over in Canada this was discussed, but since I've been banned over there I figured we could start the discussion again.

I personally hate having to pay the ridiculous prices that shops charge to mount and balance tires. I've been looking into buying the stuff needed from HF and doing my own mount and balance from here on out. I'd even do a cheap price for anyone that wants to bring me the wheels and tires off the bike. It looks like most people just use the stick on weights and then duct tape over them to keep them on the rim. I think this looks like shit personally and would only do it as a last resort. The clamp on weights are available, but I also found the dyna bead stuff interesting.

Here's the link: http://www.innovativebalancing.com/index.php

Anyone have any experience with this stuff?

[FullSizeMike]

I run the beads as well as many others I've run into on 109's. Work fine for me. I've not been at the high speeds you see though. I ran it up to 120-130chasing a yellow miata, seemed smooth.

[Skidmark]

The only thing I don't like about that video is with the weight in the bottle alone, they pretty much only blip the power button. Even with the beads, blipping the power button would yield the same results.

[Hobie]

I've always mounted my own tires. In fact I just did a set last Thursday. I don't balance them and have never had a problem. A road racer buddy is the one who taught me to do it and said he quit bothering with balancing his tires years ago (and this was already 10 years back)

I've only done it on sportbikes with cast aluminum wheels. I've run the tires from new to bald topping them out in between without ever noticing any vibrations or anything.

Supposedly if you do balance your own tires static balancing is more accurate, but I don't have any proof. HF also has a cheap static balancer.

To change your own tires you'll need something to break the bead (HF bead breaker is about $35) some irons/spoons, soapy water, and technique.

You'll want the rounded "spoons" over the irons if you want to prevent scratches.
Like these, but you're going to want longer ones. Two can do it, sometimes three will make it easier.


You'll want these to protect the wheel.


Some tires are harder to put on than others. For whatever reason Bridgestones are a real bitch, but tires today are a helluva lot easier to get on/off than they were 10 years ago.

Leaving them out in the sun to soften up also helps a lot.

Don't forget, lubrication is key!

I should do a youtube instructional video, edit it down, I've watched a couple and most suck.

[T-TOPPS5.0]

[QUOTE=Hobie;357566] I don't balance them and have never had a problem. A road racer buddy is the one who taught me to do it and said he quit bothering with balancing his tires years ago (and this was already 10 years back)

I've only done it on sportbikes with cast aluminum wheels. I've run the tires from new to bald topping them out in between without ever noticing any vibrations or anything.

Supposedly if you do balance your own tires static balancing is more accurate, but I don't have any proof. HF also has a cheap static balancer.

To change your own tires you'll need something to break the bead (HF bead breaker is about $35) some irons/spoons, soapy water, and technique.QUOTE]

I have heard the same about not needing to balance your tires but have no personal experience. I have also heard the theory of static balancing is a lot more accurate.

Hobie, how fast have you gone on your tires without balancing them? This is not intended as a squid question, but rather because I ride to work daily and take the highway. So I was curious as to how your bike felt/feels with not balancing your tires.

[grove rat]

i have dynabeads on my nightster and it makes the ride noticeably smoother

i upgraded from the shitty HD dunlops to avon venoms front & rear, the place that mounted them used standard balancing weights. i rode from 635/military to 635/shiloh over to 2 wheel world to have the dynabeads put in(i could have installed them myself but i was lazy and they charged like 10-15 bucks) and the old weights taken off

after it was done i jumped back onto 635 heading south doing about the same speed(70-75) and i could instantly feel it was a lot smoother. it also behaves a lot better at higher speeds(85+) and wobbles a lot less too. i know since i have wire wheels it will never be as smooth as cast wheels but hopefully that changes when i finally sell the wires and get some cast wheels

[Hobie]

Hobie, how fast have you gone on your tires without balancing them? This is not intended as a squid question, but rather because I ride to work daily and take the highway. So I was curious as to how your bike felt/feels with not balancing your tires.

I've topped out all my personal bikes and I've been mounting my own tires for 10 years.

I did bring a set of bridgestones to ARH last fall because I was having hell with the front tire and scratched the wheel.

I prefer michelins, but I've run dunlops, bridgestones, and metzlers. Of course I think I've taken off just about everything including some Tomahawk retreads.

Bridgestones are the only tires now days that are a PITA that I've come across.

[T-TOPPS5.0]

Well, I bought a set of the tire irons and mounted my own this evening. It wasnt to bad. I didnt get a chance to test it on the highway, just around the block because I still had to tend to my horses. I guess I will find out how it feels on the highway in the morning.

However, instead of those blue rim protectors, I just made my own out of the cardboard from 12 packs of soda I had in the garage. My wheels are chrome and they didnt get a single scratch.