Alright, so, the other day I had to deal with changing the tires on my motorcycle. First off, I noticed my tires were getting pretty worn down, and one of them was even starting to show some cracks. I figure any tire that’s been around for more than six years is probably due for a change anyway, and mine were definitely up there in age.
So, I started looking around for places that could do a tire change “near me.” I checked out a few local dealerships, and some specialized motorcycle repair shops. There were also a couple of tire retailers that said they could do it. I even found a few mobile services that would come to you, which is pretty neat. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to try doing it myself. I’m not a pro, but I thought, why not give it a shot? So, I got the tools and stuff I needed. I learned that you don’t really need a fancy machine, just some basic stuff like a bead breaker and some tire spoons.
First thing I did was get the bike up on its center stand. Then I let all the air out of the tires. After that, I had to break the bead, which is basically getting the edge of the tire to unseat from the rim. That was a bit of a struggle, but I got it eventually using the bead breaker I bought.
Next, I used the tire irons to carefully pry the tire off the rim, bit by bit. I made sure to use rim guards so I wouldn’t scratch up the rims. Getting the first tire off was a bit of a pain, but I figured it out.
Putting the new tire on was a similar process, just in reverse. I used the tire irons to work the new tire onto the rim, making sure the bead seated properly. Then I pumped the tire back up to the right pressure, put the wheel back on the bike, and that was it. I did the same thing for the other tire, and it actually went a little smoother the second time around.
I know that not all tire shops can handle motorcycle tires, so I was glad I figured it out. It wasn’t super easy, but it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be either.
Here are a few things I learned along the way:
- Make sure you have the right tools before you start.
- Take your time and be careful not to damage the rims.
- It’s probably a good idea to watch some videos or read up on how to do it before you start.
- It’s definitely doable, even if you’re not a mechanic.
Overall, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I saved some money, learned something new, and got to spend some quality time with my bike. If you’re thinking about changing your own motorcycle tires, I say go for it. Just do your research and be prepared to put in a little elbow grease.
