Anyone here change their own FJ tires?

[TheRadBaron]

I've been changing my own tires for as long as I've been riding motorcycles.  I'm pretty good at it, but I've only done skinny, tube-type tires.  Big, wide, Z-rated, tubeless tires are new territory. 
Is it practical to change these tires with my trusty old tire spoons?  My thought is to spoon them on myself, then take the wheels to the dealership to have them balanced.  I know the guys there pretty well, and I'm sure they'd do it for me.
I know that some people feel it should "be left to the professionals", but does anyone here spoon their own FJ tires? 

[Sanders46]

I do all my own just be sure to protect the rim .

[SkyFive]

I changed mine. Motion Pro tire spoons and rim protectors. I installed Dynabeads for tire balance, no complaints, they work as advertised.

[JCainFJ]

 The only problem you will have is breaking the bead on the old tires. Pay the price for a spin balance and you will be fine.

[Dads_FJ]

Change my own tires too, but I go the whole 9 yards and balance them with one of these:  http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-balancing-stand-98488.html

[racerman_27410]

yup.... been changing my own tires since i've owned the FJ.

rim protectors are a must as the low profile sidewalls can be very stiff and at least three spoons  four is better.

even better is this little jewel

http://www.nomartirechanger.com/

reviewed here

http://www.nomartirechanger.com/

a friend and i went in on the pro model and started changing all our friends tires for half of what the local shops were charging.... paid it off pretty quick 

[Brook]

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=5880.msg51475;topicseen#msg51475

[Brook]

..... misc gallery

[ddlewis]

I would not even think about paying what shops ask for tire change.  Spend a couple bucks to get set up and you're in business..

-- to the other advice I would add..
tire irons 15"-16" long.  not shorties
Store bought rim protectors are worth it over improvised
$12 gallon jug of RU-glyde.  way better than dishsoap
get or make some kind of bead breaker - http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=4271.0
Imo, you can balance good enough right on the axle - calipers tied back vs a balance stand.  have both.  can't tell the diff.

(this may be blasphemy to some, but I'm not so sure about necessity of balancing at all.  i used to do it religiously.  Then I didn't a few times and couldn't tell the difference.  now I'm hit or miss with it.  after reading around found out I'm not alone in this perception.  ymmv.  I still do it sometimes but don't sweat it if in a hurry)

[andyb]

I would not even think about paying what shops ask for tire change.  Spend a couple bucks to get set up and you're in business..

-- to the other advice I would add..
tire irons 15"-16" long.  not shorties
Store bought rim protectors are worth it over improvised
$12 gallon jug of RU-glyde.  way better than dishsoap
get or make some kind of bead breaker - http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=4271.0
Imo, you can balance good enough right on the axle - calipers tied back vs a balance stand.  have both.  can't tell the diff.

(this may be blasphemy to some, but I'm not so sure about necessity of balancing at all.  i used to do it religiously.  Then I didn't a few times and couldn't tell the difference.  now I'm hit or miss with it.  after reading around found out I'm not alone in this perception.  ymmv.  I still do it sometimes but don't sweat it if in a hurry)

I would advise against getting irons that long.  Easy to bend or crack a wheel.  Mine are probably 10" at most and do the job very well.  If things aren't going, it means something isn't right.   Wheels are pretty fragile things, if I can't do it with two irons and a well-placed knee, I stop, reasses, and try something slightly different.

Soapy water is for dishes, not for tires.  It's better than water, but only just, and is well worth getting some real lubricant.  In a pinch, you can use KY to get your rubber on (bwahahahahahahaha)... it dries tacky and is occasionally used by dragracers that have problems spinning the tire within the wheel (when they're too cheap to pony up for beadlock wheels).  I've heard of folks using WD40, but why not get the right stuff?  Hugely easier with the proper lube.

Temperature matters hugely.  Warm tires are laughably easy to change.

It's like any other job, the first time is nightmarishly hard, and it gets progressively easier the more you do it.  Having the right tools handy, and maybe someone with some experience for your first time, and you'll wonder why anyone pays for tire changes.

I also don't balance my tires, but if I notice a vibration or strangeness while I'm getting used to them, I'll go back and check their balance.  Hasn't really proven to be a problem yet for me.

[Dads_FJ]

I've been changing my own tires for as long as I've been riding motorcycles.  I'm pretty good at it, but I've only done skinny, tube-type tires.  Big, wide, Z-rated, tubeless tires are new territory. 
Is it practical to change these tires with my trusty old tire spoons?  My thought is to spoon them on myself, then take the wheels to the dealership to have them balanced.  I know the guys there pretty well, and I'm sure they'd do it for me.
I know that some people feel it should "be left to the professionals", but does anyone here spoon their own FJ tires? 

Also be aware of the dot painted on some new tires.  It represents (I believe... if I'm wrong I'm sure someone here will correct me), the heavy point of the tire and should be alligned with the valve stem.  .  Tires are directional too, look for arrows etc... to show the correct way they rotate.  I once had a professional tire shop install a tire backwards, that's one reason I do it myself now, QC...  Check the valve stem for aging too, some replace it everytime, not me though. I did however replace my front valve stem with a 90 degree type for easier checking/filling.

[SlowOldGuy]

Another thing to look for is making sure the bead seats uniformly all the way around. 

My last tire did not seat symetrically all the way around.  This caused it to vibrate at speed, even though it was spin balanced.  I noticed the problem, broke the bead and reseated the tire making sure it seated correctly.  Rebalancing the tire took half of the original weight.  No more vibration at speed!

Build a box out of 2x4s that will keep the brake rotors up off the floor while you're prying on the tire.  Also, when removing the old tire, break the bead on both sides then cut the sidewall radially about halfway between the bead and the tread.  Remove tread then peel the sidewalls off.  Much easier then prying off an old tire (as long as you're not trying to save the old tire, obviously), and prevents rim gouging during dismounting.

DavidR.

[racerman_27410]

(this may be blasphemy to some, but I'm not so sure about necessity of balancing at all.  i used to do it religiously.  Then I didn't a few times and couldn't tell the difference.  now I'm hit or miss with it.  after reading around found out I'm not alone in this perception.  ymmv.  I still do it sometimes but don't sweat it if in a hurry)

I'm with you Dan-0..... not sure balancing is necessary unless you run cheapo brand tires..... i used to worry about perfection... spending hours balancing everything and then one time the weights came off and i honestly couldnt tell any difference in the ride.   

SO i said the heck with it and balanced my bare rims one time pretty good and epoxied the weights on..... running Michelin tires i never have to add any weight but i do give the wheel a spin just to make sure nothing has changed or is wrong with the new tire.

i dont know about other brands but michelin tires dont have a heavy spot..... GOod shit right there brother!

KOokaloo!

[FJ Flyer]

Used tto change my tires witth spoons.  Got a Cycle Hill tire changer and never looked back.  Much easier.

But I will say, changing tthe tires on our pop-up kicked my ass.

[rktmanfj]

Used tto change my tires witth spoons.  Got a Cycle Hill tire changer and never looked back.  Much easier.

But I will say, changing tthe tires on our pop-up kicked my ass.

Hey, do you have a trailer hitch mount for the Cycle Hill changer?

I looked at one at the MotoGP, but they didn't have the hitch mounts ready yet, but surely they do by now.