How hard is changing tires at home?

[slunkmonky]

I bought my '06 with 32xx miles on it and now have 6712. The tread doesn't look bad but the tires are obviously the same ones put on in '06 when it was built because they are more brown than black and the sidewalls have some dry-lake-bed style cracks in them. It stopped holding 33 psi and comes down to 25 now. I had one flat but luckily was able to pump it up and slowly drive home.

My level of technical proficiency is that I've changed about 50 bicycle tires in the last 60 days. I'm the manager of a pedi-cab (bicycle taxi/bike rickshaw) shop and I wrench on pedicabs a few days a week. I just have never done a scooter/motorcycle tire before.

When I was in the army we would change humvee tires. It was like, a 4 man job, but yeah, I did a few of those in my time. Anybody have any tips. I really, really really don't want to get it half done and have to tow the whole mess to a shop lol.

In general my scooter has been ok. I just had a $660 repair job though. My idle started going crazy and it would never come down from 4000 rpms. My broke ass had to ride it once or twice like that, including into the shop. From sitting at stop signs with the brake on and the engine pushing forward I put some burns on my belt and they basically did a CVT job in addition to fixing my idle issue which was from a crack that opened up and was letter air in, like running unrestricted I guess.

Or they just ripped me off I dont know. Feels better with the new CVT parts though so I think it was worth the money. I figure if I have a new cvt more or less now I don't have to worry about it for a while so the engine it about the only think of cost I have to worry about and it runs fine.

But with the bill for that on my credit card, I just want to buy tires and do it myself if possible. Tips please!

[Urbestfriend]

Recommended Air Impact Wrench and an air compressor with
high enough volume to pop the bead back onto the rim.  I remove
and install my wheels only.  A Local Tire Shop changes my tires
for me.

[MotoRandy123]

 Tire changes are tough. My local shop charges $100 if you don't buy the tire from them.
They also charge about $50 more per tire than you can get mail order. So if you try it
yourself then have them do it, it will cost you $200! I had a Honda Elite and couldn't
get the rim off the bike and paid the $100 so I asked them when I picked it up "How
did you get it off?" They said "That's a secret!". I never went back to that shop...

 I know some tires are difficult to break the beads. On motorcycles the tubeless ones are
more difficult. The rear is tough to get to. You have to remove the muffler and shocks and
swing arm. Myself, being cheap, and having lots of tools, I would give it a try. All you loose
is money if you can't get it done...

[slunkmonky]

I think I'm going to give it a try. I watched a long utube vid and a guy showed each step. Looked possible. I can use my workplace and have all manner of tools there and also if I work there I run the chance that people pop in and say "oh, I can help with this." Labor for a six pack of lonestar.

Also, I just called my local scooter shop. The breakdown was:
$127 rear tire
$93 Front
$84 labor
After tax $323

Or:

Same tires online
$160
Tire irons & shipping = $200
Bead Breaker $70
Valve stems $5
Total $275

That leaves $48 for buying more tools, or to invest in having the shop do it if I turn out to be incapable. If it works out I'll buy a car bead breaker and start doing those too. Probably easier to do a car. I'm sure this will save me thousands over the years if I keep at it. Next tire change would only cost tires as i'd have the tools so that would be half price compared to using the shop.

[Urbestfriend]

Urbestfriend recommended a TIRE Shop,  not a SCOOTER shop.
They get me the Michelin tire I need for $87.00 and mount it for me. 
However I do recall I removed the old tire myself.   They've
fixed a flat and mounted for me for $5 or $10.........
You can surely find a local shop that does lawn tractor, car and truck tires.

[Peters]

Find a c-clamp big enough to fit around your tire to break the bead. A couple of tire spoons and some soapy water and you'll have it off and the new one back on.  Of course I make it sound easy. It's not. Motorcycle tires and not nearly as flexible as bicycle tires. You have to work the bead into the grove on the wheel so you can work around to the opposite side. If you don't have it in that grove you'll never get it on. Same thing goes for removing the old tire. You don't need a high volume of air to get the tire to seal because of the tight nature of motorcycle tires. However, you will need to go way above the operating pressure of your tire to get the bead to seat. Make sure you use plenty of soapy water on the bead. I had to take mine to about 60-65 PSI to get both beads to seat.