How much to get tyres fitted?

[spotcom]

G'day

I see there's specials on the Pirelli Dragon Supercorsas at MCA - $460 for the set.

Question is - how much, on average, do people charge to fit & balance a set of tyres? :confused1:

I'm thinking about buying a set now, but may not get them fitted for a few weeks yet.

[scott]

mcas will do it free if you buy them there and take your rims in.

[Johnny]

Roughly about $35 per tyre mate. Thats if you take rims in on own too, removal and fitting to and from bike would be extra.

[VINNIE]

mcas will do it free if you buy them there and take your rims in.

100% right :ayyy:

[jace]

mcas will do it free if you buy them there and take your rims in.

Yeh! good luck,they scratched my rear wheel & it took them over an hour to fit my mates rear tyre....:hatter: not to mention the poor customer service (very rude)...

Never again....:cursing:

[scott]

mcas will do it free if you buy them there and take your rims in.
and so does action..

which store did you go to jace?

[stetto]

Action just down the road from MCA do it $40 fitted just book it in and leave ur bike with them, ideal if u dont have stands

[wade193]

Action at parra took just over 2 hours to change my tyres, then tried to charge me more than they quoted me. Shit customer service. I will never be back.

[Captain]

Personally I like to support my mechanic.

[Cedric]

Anyone got any experience in fitting tyres themselves? It's be great to be able to do it by yourself, but I've heard it's a bit of an embuggerance..

[Wiccad]

On alloy rims you need a tyre changing jig at minimum, even that requires a lot of elbow work. Using leavers on alloys is asking for trouble. If your changing tyres regularly as you would slicks on a track/race bike then they are worth it. For road bikes your better off paying to get it done.

[Johnny]

Anyone got any experience in fitting tyres themselves? It's be great to be able to do it by yourself, but I've heard it's a bit of an embuggerance..
Been doing it for years.

Breaking the bead is the hard bit, but you learn how to make this bit easier with time. When tyre fitted , balancing is easy enough too. Wheel with axle on stand, spun round atleast three revolutions, where ever it stops is the heaviest point, so weight goes opposite it.
Been working for a while as a tyre fitter and wheel aligner, and despite been given a lifeline, seems that wont last, almost certain it wont as they have adds in paper looking for workers, guess who goes ?


On alloy rims you need a tyre changing jig at minimum, even that requires a lot of elbow work. Using leavers on alloys is asking for trouble. If your changing tyres regularly as you would slicks on a track/race bike then they are worth it. For road bikes your better off paying to get it done.
Rubbish ! Can change a tyre by hand, in no more than 15 minutes each, and if your worried about scraching your rim, then all you need do is stick in a bit of carpet under lever.. Machines just make it so much easier though.


edit, no, I wont be doing your rims :p

[Captain]

.... balancing is easy enough too. Wheel with axle on stand, spun round atleast three revolutions, where ever it stops is the heaviest point, so weight goes opposite it.


How much weight? How do you know you have it right?

Have seen that done, but have never been totally impressed. Just looks too simple, I've been so conditioned by machines and flashing lights ....

[nelsonwise]

SPM does PP for $475 and 2CT for $525 (if they have stock). http://www.spmotorcycles.com.au/
they are in Caringbah, definitely worth the trip.

oh also make sure you spend the extra $75-85 and get the suspension adjusted. i am not a technical person but it damn felt good after the adjustment. :mod_smilie_rockwoot

[Wiccad]

Been doing it for years.

Breaking the bead is the hard bit, but you learn how to make this bit easier with time. When tyre fitted , balancing is easy enough too. Wheel with axle on stand, spun round atleast three revolutions, where ever it stops is the heaviest point, so weight goes opposite it.
Been working for a while as a tyre fitter and wheel aligner, and despite been given a lifeline, seems that wont last, almost certain it wont as they have adds in paper looking for workers, guess who goes ?


Rubbish ! Can change a tyre by hand, in no more than 15 minutes each, and if your worried about scraching your rim, then all you need do is stick in a bit of carpet under lever.. Machines just make it so much easier though.


edit, no, I wont be doing your rims :p

I've seen so many alloy wheels get messed up track side by people using leavers that its not funny. Granted on older models like your J series it's less of an issue as the wheels are a lot thicker at the rim than todays bikes are. Point being you have been trained to do this, most have not.

As for Balancing, yeah easily done at home. Tyres should have their balance checked at least once in their life span at around 50% wear. And whenever any punctures get repaired. The weights are easy to get from any car tyre shop and come off with metho. I've black flagged bikes for dodgy wheel balancing before today, pretty easy to spot too. Use a set of car stands for balancing if you don't have the proper stand, this can't be done on the bike as the brake and dust seal drag interferes with the balancing process.

[lilninja]

Ive got a bracing machine that I bought off ebay, I use it to change from road tyres to slicks for Trackday's although somewhat of a fisical job it sure beats taking the wheels off taking them down to the mechanic, wasting a couple of hours whilst mechanic dicks around then charges you a fotune for what is a simple task then going home and putting your wheels on, all up costing you maybe $60 and half a day wasted, I can remove change and replace both tyres in an hour for nothing.

[spotcom]

Ive got a bracing machine that I bought off ebay

Do you have any pics of this, or any links to a similar machine to the one you've bought?

[binking]

Do you have any pics of this, or any links to a similar machine to the one you've bought?

Maybe something like this (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Motor-Cycle-Car-Tyre-Changer-Bead-Breaker-New_W0QQitemZ370143090967QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Mot orcycle_Parts_Accessories?hash=item370143090967&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318). I've been looking at these as well in an effort to save a few $$$ by changing tyres at home instead of at the bike shop. With the cost of a set of track tyres these days every little bit helps.

[jasonbw]

Not quite Blinking, go with this one here (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Multi-Tyre-Changer-and-Bead-Breaker-Rim-Edge-Clamps_W0QQitemZ370140792638QQihZ024QQcategoryZ320 53QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262)

The "clamps" only have rubber, so change that to garden hose or similar, the mount/demount tool is metal, make another and use Polyethylene (you can buy that as a 1m Rod), use an angle grinder to shape the ends similar to (use google to search for this) "Nomar tire change mount demount bar".

I sent photos to Lilninja of my setup - he might be good enough to post them up? It doesnt scratch rims - ever - and take seconds to break the bead and mount or demount a tyre, and no, Im not a professional mechanic or so, just a rider who wanted to do this himself and damn I'm happy with the result! Had this setup for two years and its saved me a fortune!

Plus.. it's easy to do !

[Zee]

How much weight? How do you know you have it right?

Have seen that done, but have never been totally impressed. Just looks too simple, I've been so conditioned by machines and flashing lights ....

By placing trial weights on the opposing heavy end of the tyre rim combo with a bit of tape (masking etc.). Once you obtain that see saw type balance (dead still), securely fasten the measured weight. This is called the static balance where only one plane is balanced (normally as close to centre as possible). I've found (9/10 times) that the rim is where the majority of the unbalance is to occur and thus using the exact counter mass in most times, in the exact same spot or a few degrees off (probably due to the tyre). Also, I used to line up the yellow dot/circle (sometimes red) with the inflation valve...dunno why...some say it the heavy spot in the tyre....I've never found out for sure but always done it cos was told so.

There are dedicated rotary balance machines for bike wheels but I figure if the above method is good enough for the racers...is beyond enough for me :ayyy:

[X27]

Hi Spotty, Fasers wollongong dont charge for fitting if you buy a tyre and bring the rim in.
I also have a closer local guy that changes my track tyre (rim off the bike) for $20 a rim.

[binking]

Hey Jase, I'd be interested to see your pics if thats cool. I'm assuming you have the set up in the eBay link? Only thing that turned me away from that one is it says up to 16.5" rims in the description. But if that's the one you have then I guess it works? I watched a guy on the Nomar website change a tyre in 21 secs. Now if only I can make it in 21 minutes I'll be happy :ayyy:

[jasonbw]

Ohhh yeah, you'll get used to it easy... exact same setup and from the same guy although it cost a LOT less 2 years ago by memory...

Have a mate who can metalwork you a new bar on standby - you'll need to make one to suit some polyethylene ends.

I'll see if I can dig up the photos, Lilninja??? do you have them?

Pop lilninja and myself a PM with your email address, if either of us find them we'll shoot them your way (Damiens a nice guy - he'd do that) :D

[binking]

Sweet Jase, thanks mate :)

[Yarnie]

Actions dont charge anything if you bring the rim in and buy the tyre off them.

[WET4URacing]

oh yarnie here we go again. are you ready for it.?

[stormr]

I checked out the Super Corsa specials last time I was at MCAS a few weeks ago. The front and rear tyres were all SC1 (soft) compound.
I run SC1 on the front and get at least 4 trackdays out of them and fit SC2 (medium) on the rear.
I generally only get 2 trackdays (depending on how many road kms I do) out of the SC2 rears. SC1 rear may be a bit soft for summer trackdays.

[joystick]

I know this is a little track orientated and I'd say most of you being track junkies know this already but for those who don't.

The Eastern Creek tyre mob charge $15 a wheel if you take the rims there. Sometimes they can be a little slow on heavy demand, like when it starts raining and everyone is rushing to get wets fitted.

Also Whites Racing Products will do free fitting on tyres bought from them and free swap overs on Bridgestone slicks/wets.

I too like to support my local Mechanic who has been doing road tyre changeovers for $20 a wheel for me and sometimes less for slicks. Not sure why the difference in price.

Yes this does involve using tools, bike stands and taking wheels off etc.