how hard is it to change a front tire 16"

[boo]

My GT has about 11,000+ miles on it.
I replaced the rear tire at about 8,000+ because
of a puncture.
Before the summer is over, "2016", I will probably
want to put a new tire on the front.
Just wondering how hard it would be to do myself
with tire irons?.

[Mr. Paul]

I think it would be a hundred dollars worth of effort on your part versus spending 25 bucks to have a professional do it. Plus there is the issue of balancing the tire. Hope that helps.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I think it would be a hundred dollars worth of effort on your part versus spending 25 bucks to have a professional do it. Plus there is the issue of balancing the tire. Hope that helps.

Not to mention the air leaking nicks to the wheel rim or the tire bead.
Maybe dismount and take it to the dealer. ?
Stig

[CROSSBOLT]

As far as balance is concerned, a tube of BB's will take care of that. Don't forget to loosen the pinch bolt before you try to unscrew the axle!

You will probably have to buy the tire from the guy who has the machine to dismount/mount the old/new tire.

Karl

[pipster326]

I just replaced the front and rear on my DT300i. I took it to a shop and paid $100 for both. Unless you have all the proper equipment, I would let the dealer or scooter shop do it. Especially to have it properly balanced.

  -Rich


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[Mr. Paul]

My local tire guy charges me 25 bucks to mount and balance a tire if I bring it to him on the rim. Thats the way to go IMHO.

[chaz35]

I changed tires on People 50 2T with 16" wheels some time ago, very difficult to do IMO.  I have a lot of experience changeing tires on karts, minibikes, and now scooters.  There is trick:  pop the tire over the wheel on each side leaving the wheel in the middle.  Then it's easy to take the wheel out of the middle.

If you try to pop both sides of the tire over the same side, very hard to do.  You will probably damage the bead on the tire and chip up the paint on the wheel.

I have about $50 in good tire irons, and use plastic sheets cut from 5 gal oil bottles to protect the rims.  Cheers

http://www.motionpro.com/product/08-0007

[jeeves]

Changed the tires on my Agility city 125, front tire was not that hard to do.
Used rim protectors, they worked fine.
Most difficult part was to slip the tire on (didn't have tire rim lubricant, used dishwaser soap). 
Luckily close to my house I have a gas station, so filling the tire until it popped on was not a problem. Used dyna bead to balance it, 2oz per tire.
The rear was more difficult, mostly because you need to take off the exhasust, right hand swingarm, move the shock and a few other things. The rear need some time and effort until it popped on.

[Kymsec99]

Changed a tyre on a Honda 185 Benly years ago, with 2 knives and forks (eating ones) ! Not too hard, did take it easy to prevent damage. Didn't know about balancing but did put it on with correct direction. Was in my young ignorant days, guess I was lucky!

[Tromper]

I'm a wimp.
Unless I'm really pressed for time, or feeling lazy, I'll pull the wheel myself then hook up with one of a couple local outfits who'll swap the tire on and balance it for $30 per tire.
Check around any forums that go local (ADV Rider has a local section for example) and ask around a bit.
Someone will hook ya up.  If that fails maybe check Craigslist, or see who your local installers are on the motorcycle superstore site.

Cheers
Tromper

[Redk]

Well worth it to hire the properly equipped tire guy to do the work if you can spring for that extra money !
redk

[hypophthalmus]

I generally try to do everything I can myself. If you're the same way, there's no reason you can't do this.

It was definitely an exercise in frustration the first time. I did chew up the paint a little on the rims  (don't try using newspaper as a rim protector), although I'm not having any trouble with it holding air so far. Now tire changes are still a bit annoying, but not nearly as bad.

Professionals aren't immune from damaging things (I've heard plenty reports of them damaging the paint on the rims). And I wouldn't expect them to take as much time getting the balance right.

The equipment, including a balancing stand, ended up being about the same as paying someone to do it. But now subsequent changes will be cheaper.

If you don't have access to a compressor, I was able to seal the bead with a tow strap and a bicycle floor pump.

[MJR]

When I was working at a local Jeep dealer I would just take the wheels off my Burgman 650 and take them to work. There I would use the tire changer machine, so easy, and after that take them to the local motorcycle shop for a spin balance. Now that I no longer work there the last time I bought tire irons and rim protectors but the radials on the Burgman are far to hard to do by hand. I managed to get the front off and the rear I ended up cutting off but putting them back on ultimately took them to a shop for install. Now if I could just find a used tire changer machine for a decent price.

[Redk]

lol

I had a Coates, 2540 or 2520 model, I think it was...  can't recall anymore...
it was for car tires, probably would not have worked on bikes.
Anyways, better to go visit a friend working a service station somewhere during late hours than own a machine.
All my beer drinkin offroad buddies were using it regularly. leaving empties behind, and tires...
Yah, I'd sooner pay to have it done.
Good to have a couple, or three decent irons at home, though.  :-)
redk