DIY tire change?

[Whisky]

What special tools do I need? Is it a big pita to do making it worth while getting them done.no

[cheesy]

Tire spoons, preferably three. Valve core remover. If you are doing tires with tubes, valve puller and talcum powder. Spray bottle with soapy water no matter what tires you’re doing. Rim protector if you are doing aluminum rims. Air compressor. Upper body strength.

[Whisky]

Thinking about buying another pair of rims and was wondering if grom rims are the same? I haven't been able to find any used rims for these China bikes but have found several off groms

[pete]

2 8' tyre levers and a bottle of dish wash...

If you need levers longer than 8"/200mm you
are doing something wrong..
the trick is to make sure the other side of the tyre
to where you are working is pushed down into the rim well
that gives more free tyre on the part you are working..

I do 4 to 6 tyre changes a year and have done for 20 odd years
that is all I have ever used...

One of those things where pactice is needed...
your first few will be a real pain in the ass..
I find the hard bit is getting the wheel out and back
in the bike..

..

[Whisky]

Thanks I will probably give it a try and if I cant get it done, I will take them to a shop.

[Hellkitty]

I installed two Maxxis tires on my Hellcat using a spoon kit I bought on Amazon, I got it done but it was a real pain. It came with rim protectors but the spoons slipped off a few times and I mananaged to put a few scratches on my rim.
I initially tried to do the zip tie method. Like this guy. He makes it look easy.
I think it would have worked for me but I couldnt find a good anchor point and I only had a couple of flimsy 2x4's. It did work good for breaking the beads though

[Whisky]

What about the cheap Harbor Freight manual tire changers? Anyone tried one? Probably waste of money, I'm guessing. Don't have a link.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by Whisky

What about the cheap Harbor Freight manual tire changers? Anyone tried one? Probably waste of money, I'm guessing. Don't have a link.

I have one and it works well. I also have a no scuff tool and it works well as well.


http://no-scufftiretool.com/

[pete]

Originally Posted by Hellkitty

I installed two Maxxis tires on my Hellcat using a spoon kit I bought on Amazon, I got it done but it was a real pain. It came with rim protectors but the spoons slipped off a few times and I mananaged to put a few scratches on my rim.
I initially tried to do the zip tie method. Like this guy. He makes it look easy.
I think it would have worked for me but I couldnt find a good anchor point and I only had a couple of flimsy 2x4's. It did work good for breaking the beads though

looks easy.. Now lets see him do that with tubed tyres..



..

[Whisky]

Originally Posted by ben2go

I have one and it works well. I also have a no scuff tool and it works well as well.


http://no-scufftiretool.com/

Will this work on a 12" rim though?

[kirbo7106]

Originally Posted by Whisky

Thinking about buying another pair of rims and was wondering if grom rims are the same? I haven't been able to find any used rims for these China bikes but have found several off groms

I was looking at picking up some Grom wheels also. I did find Tao Tao Hellcat wheels new from partskit.com. The front was $71 and the rear was $66.

Keep us posted on what you end up doing.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by Whisky

Will this work on a 12" rim though?

That is the moto tire changer on top of the car tire changer. One or the other works. I've seen pic posted in other forums of small wheels being on there. The clamps can pull in tight on the moto tire changer. Mine is the first gen version. I don't know about the newer versions. HF is up to three of four renditions of the original tire changers. If I can get out today, I'll measure it and see.

[GlennR]

Dual-sport tires have relatively soft sidewalls and are pretty easy to change.

[Barnone]

I do the tire changes with the short irons and soapy water and a couple 2x4s under the wheel. I thought about getting the HF tire changer but don't do enough tire changes to justify the purchase.

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by Whisky

Will this work on a 12" rim though?

I measured my tire changer. Mine will go down to an 8-inch rim. However, my version is an older one from back before HF discontinued them for several years. I don't know if the two newer versions will work. You can measure one in the store and see. You need 5.5 to 6 inches between the rim mount holes and the center.