tire irons

[ThomasMagna]

My rear tire still has a lot of tread left on it but has been plugged by the last owner. I am not to crazy about riding on a plugged tire especially at higher rates of speed. I want to know if you folks know of any inexpensive tire irons. I don't have a lot of money. What do you think of me changing my own tire then taking it in for ballancing? It's the rear.

Spring will be here soon. Can't wait to ride on a daily basis again.  Michigan winters are getting old.  

Thanks.

[Curtis_Valk]

I bought two short tire spoons at Northern Tool, but I remember thinking they were more $$ than I expected, can't remember the exact price (I think a little over $20 for two, but don't hold me to it).  I've got a HUGE vise I use to break the tire off the bead.  I took the rear off the rim last year and they worked well.  I used 1/2 clear polyflow tubing that I split down the side for rim protectors.

Changing the tire yourself is a viable option, depending on how convenient it is to get them balanced.  I get my tires from Eric Howell out in Van, Tx and his prices tire prices are close enough to internet (and he only charges $12 for mount and balance if you buy his tire) that I don't mind supporting the small-town guy.

Curtis

[ThomasMagna]

Thanks Curtis,

You have given me something else to think about. I hadn't thought of breaking the seal on the dang things. Don't have a big vice or is that vise. Well I don't have either. I might be able to make a

I'll look around for a tires near hear. I haven't found any that will be cheaper on the internet once I pay shipping and handling.

Here is another question. My front tire is still good, but I read someplace that both tires should be replaced at the same time. Any truth to the rumor?

Going to check on those irons now.

Thanks

[MagnaMan]

I purchased my tires online at Southwest Moto Tires www.swmototires.com and get great prices. Usually you'll get your tires in about a week. Then I take the tires to a local shop that charges a flat fee for mounting and balancing, whether you buy the tires from them or not. (Stealerships will charge you double usually if you don't buy the tires from them because they don't have the chance to rake you over the coals with the tire price.)

Allen (roboto65 on the forum) changes out all his tires himself. I don't know think he uses a vice, but you may want to email or private message him.

I think it's usually recommended that you replace both at the same time or maybe its just with the same brand. I read somewhere that Metzelers I run on my Magna are supposedly "tuned" to work together. In other words they don't recommend you mixing brands on the front and back.

[ThomasMagna]

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out right after I finish this.

I don't plan on changing tire brands. I am sticking with the Dunlop qualifiers. I know there are better tires out there and if you are correct about not mixing brands, I am doing the right thing.

Wish I could remember where I read that thing about not mixing new with old. If I got it from a tire web site, it is suspicious. If I find it I will post what I found out.
Thanks.

[Gloveberg]

I think its usually recommended that you replace both at the same time or maybe its just with the same brand. I read somewhere that Metzelers I run on my Magna are supposedly "tuned" to work together. .

Is that along the same lines as "Motorcycle specific oil"?

FWIW I ran a Metz rear and Dunlp front for quite a while until the front wore enough to warrant replacing and never had any kind of problem and would not hesitate to do it again.

[MagnaMan]

Yep. I'm sure that's from the same type of source as the motorcycle specific oil... the manufacturer!  

The "tuned" thing sounded cool, but since I've always replaced both tires at the same time mixing and matching was not an issue.

Thomas, you'll find that web sites tire prices include shipping (ground), so you can see right away if you're getting a better deal.

[ThomasMagna]

Jimmy and Jesse,

Thanks for the info. Ya, I figured that I might not need the same brand tires front and rear. Real world experience is better than any advertising or hoax.

I haven't gotten around to checking tire prices exactly. I haven't been to a tire specific site yet. Will have to look into that free shipping. I have a hard time even going to the local Honda dealer. I think it is under new management but old thoughts and feelings die hard. It might be okay now. Called them yesterday and was on hold so long that I hung up. Figured that they had enough business without me.

Great site, this one, and great folks. If I ever have a chance to scoot down there I will try to meet some of you folks. Would like to find the old homesteads in both Lufkin and College Station.

[Gloveberg]

Jimmy and Jesse,

Will have to look into that free shipping. .

I think he meant that they include the shipping price quote on the webpage, not that they'll ship for free  

From www.ronayers.com I came up with $91 for a stock Dunlop rear including shipping and from Southwest Motot Tires $103 for the same tire including shipping.

Just my opinion but as long as it's reasonable they I would just pull the wheel off and take it and the new tire to a shop and let them mount and balance.  My local dealer charges I think $15 to mount and balance if you bring in the wheel.  I know sometimes people can find smaller independent shops that do a good job and are pretty cheap.  For me pulling the wheels off ain't that big of a deal so paying them $15 to mount and balance is cheap enoung to keep me from screwing up a wheel  

[MagnaMan]

My local dealer charges I think $15 to mount and balance if you bring in the wheel.  I know sometimes people can find smaller independent shops that do a good job and are pretty cheap.  For me pulling the wheels off ain't that big of a deal so paying them $15 to mount and balance is cheap enoung to keep me from screwing up a wheel  

I think $15 is worth the hassle. My local dealership charges something like $25 if you buy the tires from them and nearly $50 if you don't. And that's with you pulling the tires off yourself.

That's why I found another shop that will do it for about $12.

[ThomasMagna]

MagnaMan,

Things are worse than I thought at the stealership. Told me that mounting and ballancing was 45 bucks if I buy the tire from them. The tire price is okay. I didn't ask about me buying my own and them do it. I'll have to sit down and call a mess of places. There are a lot of little places in the smaller burgs around here.

Gloveberg, I could easily have misled myself on the shipping just hoping it would be free. The tire from them is $85 and that is about as good as I can find. so far. I might be biting off my nose to spite my face, but I might be inclined to buy someplace else.

Looks like there will be some riding weather coming up this week-end though I don't trust the weather folks too much. (It is the only job you can be wrong half the time and still keep.) If that is the case, I will take a tour of shops around here and and see what I can find and enjoy the chore. I'd rather ride than let my fingers do the walking.

Thanks much.

[Curtis_Valk]

Ya'll already settled the mixing tires thing, but I wanted to comment.  If it makes someone feel better to replace the tires as a set, with matched brands then go for it.  I'm not one of those folks.

My Magna has a Metzeler on the front and a Dunlop on the back, while my Valk has an Avon Venom R on front with a Dunlop Elite 3 on the back.  They both handle great!

Curtis

[ThomasMagna]

Curtis,

I see you picked Dunlop for the rear on each cycle. I guess I am curious as to why and how your came up with your combos. Trial and error?

As for my tires matching, I am all for it. Betty's tires are the only thing I own that matches, except for my gloves and half my socks.

[Curtis_Valk]

No rhyme or reason, Thomas.  Just circumstance mostly.  Here's the long and boring story.........

On the Magna:  I bought her in spring of '04 (she's a '99) with only 2500 miles and was concerned with the tires age.  I had heard good things about the Metzelers and the price was not bad so I put on a front and rear Metz.  One mistake was going with the 150 rear instead of the 180.  I did not particularly like the quick turn-in especially at low speeds, but I kind of got used to them.  Several times when the pavement was "sweaty" from humid conditions, the rear tire slipped on me when I didn't think it should have.  Last year at around 6000 miles, I got a puncture in the rear and a few hundred miles later, the repair (plug-patch installed by Honda Dealer) failed.  I put in a temporary mushroom head plug in on the road to get us home and went tire shopping for a rear Dunlop.  Since the front Metz. was almost new and had never felt like it was going to slip I kept it.

On the Valk:  I am on my third set of tires and had always run the Avon Venom R radials.  I had been curious about the new Dunlop Elite 3 tires for the Valk and when my rear wore out I went to get another one.  My dealer did not have an Avon (I should have called first) and the Elite 3 he did have on the shelf was quoted at $50 less than I had paid for the last Avon rear, so I decided to give it a try.  Since the rear tires wear out almost twice as fast as the front, I kept the front Avon to finish its useful life.  When it wears out, the Elite 3 rear will be close enough and I will replace them as a set (probably go back to the Avons) but only because both tires will be almost gone at the same time.

Bottom line is both bikes handle great even when pushed hard in the turns.  I would have immediately replaced the fronts regardless of mileage if the handling had been otherwise, but it was not necessary.

Curtis

[ThomasMagna]

Well Curtis, I didn't find it long nor boring. Interesting, in fact. Thanks for taking the time.

Betty had a plug in her rear tire when I got her middle of last summer. I put in a little over 4000 miles on it before it got cold and the plug is still holding. I am glad it held on so long. It just has to go so I can feel a little safer and ride a little harder. Have some trips coming up on her too. It is unbelievable what a great bike it is for being 24 years old.

I think what I get from this is: As long as the tire is the same size the brand won't matter too much, quality aside.