New Rear Tire!

[Firehawk068]

Yesterday's hour-long test-ride was just about the last miles I could get out of my old rear tire.

Michelin Pilot Road-2



Remove valve-core.



Since this is my first try at mounting tires myself, I wasn't sure what to expect.  For the price I paid for the tire changer, it beats paying someone $20 a pop to do them.
Plus I don't have to wait for them to do it.  

Breaking the beads was a piece of cake!



Mounted it on the machine easy enough.



I used this to make it slippery.



First side came off easy.



Second side came off just as easy.



New tire, ready to mount.



Lubed up the tire, and the first bead went on without any trouble.
This is about where I ran into a slight problem.
The "Rim-Clamps" would not hold the rim from spinning when I tried to get the second bead over the edge of the rim.
The design is just flat, painted metal, with nothing to actually grip the edge of the rim.



I have already thought about a solution for next time (before I do the front tire)
I'm going to screw some rubber pads onto the "Clamps", to help grip the rim better.

But I soldiered on, and made a couple attempts.
This is where I broke down and asked my wife to lend me a hand.  I had her hold the tire bar down on the bead, while I walked a couple pry-bars around the rim to pop the remainder of the bead on.
It went on fairly easy with an extra set of hands.

Tire all mounted, beads popped, and inflated to the proper pressure.
Ready to remove old wheel weights, and get a good scrubbing.



After a good cleaning, a blow-dry with my shop air,  and a break for lunch , I used this to balance it.



I have a few strips of these in my stash of drawers in the garage.



I found the heavy spot, and marked the rim exactly opposite.
I first guessed the weight, and put 1 ounce on.
It still wasn't quite enough, so I added another 1/4 ounce, and then another 1/4 ounce before it found the balance.



All mounted back on the bike.
Adjusted chain tension.
Tightened everything back up, with a fresh cotter-pin.



I didn't get to go for a test-ride, due to the fact I had some other projects around the house to finish, and it was starting to get windy with some light sprinkles.

On my initial visual inspection, it looks like I have slightly more chain clearance with this tire, than I did with the Michelin of the same size.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with the old tire? 

[andyoutandabout]

Alan, another comprehensive write-up and another comprehensively used-up rear tire.
Nice.
Andy

[Antonn3]

did you try looping a strap around one of the stand arms and one spoke of the rim... to help minimize the slipping?

[movenon]

Nice write up Alan. You got your moneys worth out of that old tire!  I also do my own tire changes mostly for convenience.  You do save money buying the tires on line and installing them your self plus YOU know that it is done correctly.  Did you put in angled valve stems?  I haven't done that yet but will on the next tire change. Good work Alan ! Now you have to wear out that brand new tire !  Something about a new tire, you hate to take it out on the road .
George

[Firehawk068]

did you try looping a strap around one of the stand arms and one spoke of the rim... to help minimize the slipping?

That is a great idea!
It didn't even cross my mind.

I have plenty of ratchet straps.

[Firehawk068]

Nice write up Alan. You got your moneys worth out of that old tire!  I also do my own tire changes mostly for convenience.  You do save money buying the tires on line and installing them your self plus YOU know that it is done correctly.  Did you put in angled valve stems?  I haven't done that yet but will on the next tire change. Good work Alan ! Now you have to wear out that brand new tire !  Something about a new tire, you hate to take it out on the road .
George

I haven't put 90-degree valve stems on yet. maybe next time.
I still need to do the front tire. It still has some life left in it, but I want to have a matched set on there.

I love the first ride with new tires! The bike just seems so much lighter, and more nimble for some reason.

[Firehawk068]

Alan, another comprehensive write-up and another comprehensively used-up rear tire.
Nice.
Andy

I'm trying to find my notes on the tire I just removed.
I think it was the replacement for the tire that I finished off in Gunnison 2012.
If it is, it lasted me quite a long time!  Almost 3 years 

[Firehawk068]

We'll see if this helps a little.

I sort-of copied the design of the "Mojo-Blocks" that are for sale for the tire changer, except I used some wood blocks that I cut from a unused solid-oak door.



Slid them down into the rim-clamp pockets, and drilled mounting holes.



Used some nuts and bolts from one of my stash boxes of misc. hardware (I have many).
I then used the smallest hole-saw that I have, and my cordless jig-saw to sculpt the shape into a proper "Rim Clamp" 



The guy that sells the "Mojo-Blocks" wants $30 for them, and they are made out of Delrin, or Nylon of some sort.
I'm not sure how my "Oak" ones will hold up, but they were free so I can't complain. 

[FJmonkey]

If it took you that long to burn through a rear tire then the Oak blocks will last you a lifetime. Good choice... 

[Derek Young]

Very nice work Alan. You sure do squeeze every bit of life out of a rear tire!

Next time try removing the weights and balancing the rim before you mount the new tire. mark the heavy spot with some masking tape, then line up the colored dot on the new tire with the masking tape and rebalance when it is mounted. You may find you need less weights to balance the wheel/tire this way. Also, if you keep the old weights, you can attach them with tape to figure out how many you need to use. That way you can just count the number you need and cut them off your strip of new weights and stick them on.

I'm a little jealous of your tire changer btw. I still use tire spoons while kneeling on the tire to change mine.

Derek

[yamaha fj rider]

Alan looks good. Cold beer and a tire changer. Don't be surprised when tires and people just start showing up.

Kurt

[Firehawk068]

Alan looks good. Cold beer and a tire changer. Don't be surprised when tires and people just start showing up.

Kurt

You forgot "Smoked meat" ..............LOL

Yup, I'm open for business. 

[FJmonkey]

Next time try removing the weights and balancing the rim before you mount the new tire. mark the heavy spot with some masking tape, then line up the colored dot on the new tire with the masking tape and rebalance when it is mounted. You may find you need less weights to balance the wheel/tire this way. Also, if you keep the old weights, you can attach them with tape to figure out how many you need to use. That way you can just count the number you need and cut them off your strip of new weights and stick them on.

The Conti Motions don't have a balance dot. I was doing the same thing till I switched to the Motions.

[fj1289]

Nicely done!

But you're going to need a snorkel to ride today ... 

[Firehawk068]

Next time try removing the weights and balancing the rim before you mount the new tire. mark the heavy spot with some masking tape, then line up the colored dot on the new tire with the masking tape and rebalance when it is mounted. You may find you need less weights to balance the wheel/tire this way. Also, if you keep the old weights, you can attach them with tape to figure out how many you need to use. That way you can just count the number you need and cut them off your strip of new weights and stick them on.

The Conti Motions don't have a balance dot. I was doing the same thing till I switched to the Motions.

Yeah, I looked for a dot when I mounted it. (I couldn't find one) 

Nicely done!

But you're going to need a snorkel to ride today ... 

Yeah, we've got rain forecasted for the next week and a half .