sticker shock

[Nightengale]

I just got some new tires off the web. i stopped by a dealership, near one of the companies i do work for, and figured i would check to see what they would charge to install the tires. i was told $100.00 for the back, and $80.00 for the front, for a grand total of $180.00 to put on my tires. i was in shock. is this normal, or what? So now i have decided that i will be doing it myself.

[bikerphil]

I checked at a local stealership today, to see what they would charge to put my new tires on my bike, and the guy told me it would be $180.00 to put the tires on my bike. Is this normal ? Seemed outrageous to me. So now i think i will be doing it myself.

Do it yourself, you just need a couple of screwdrivers and some liquid laundry soap. Get some stick on weights and balance yourself. JMHO

[natemoen]

Max I have ever seen was was around $35 per tire.

[ViperRon]

Remember once you have slid the tire on to clean all the soap off the tire lip and the rim. I have seen people mount tires with soap balance them and then when they dump the clutch the tire spins on the rim and its out of balance.

[Courtney]

And I found super easy way to not scar up the rims. When the wife or SO has finished with the plastic bottle of laundry detergent, cut some of it up into strips to put between the rim and your "tar arn" (tire iron) when you are reefing up on the bead to get it over the rim. It is good exercise and takes me 3 tire irons to get 'er done. That was with kenda Challengers about 3-4 yrs ago. Took awhile, but I was really satisfied that I did it myself.

http://www.clarity.net/adam/tire-changing.html

Remember, you might need one of those ratcheting tie-downs to put around the circumference of the tire when you want to put air into it afterwards. This squeezes the tire down around the rim to allow the intial air to get in and inflate it.

[soccer4m]

way too much

That is way too much. Call a local motorcycle shop and prices should be around 30 each, for mounting and balancing. The local guys also like beer or soda, and if you bring a 6pack the job can get done wayyy quicker. I like the dusty, small old shops. Good for bike info too if the workers have been around awhile. Anyway, call a few up and they should give you a price on the phone for the mounting and balancing. Some dealers crank up the prices when they know they cannot sell you a tire at a high price...........good luck, Mike in Sun Diego

[bikerphil]

They make special tire mounting lubricants which would probably be best to use. I use that All liquid laundry soap in the blue bottle, that stuff is super tacky when it dries in about 10 minutes, no worries about the tire spinning. I also like to use a rag soaked with mineral spirits on the tire tread to remove any mold release compound, this makes the tire nice and tacky for fast break in period.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

+1

They make special tire mounting lubricants which would probably be best to use. I use that All liquid laundry soap in the blue bottle, that stuff is super tacky when it dries in about 10 minutes, no worries about the tire spinning. I also like to use a rag soaked with mineral spirits on the tire tread to remove any mold release compound, this makes the tire nice and tacky for fast break in period.

+1 Phil, I use Dawn dish soap and water to install handle bar grips and it dries like glue

[bikerphil]

Yep, I've mounted 150K+ miles worth of tires this way and never had a problem, YMMV

[crazy steve]

I just got some new tires off the web. i stopped by a dealership, near one of the companies i do work for, and figured i would check to see what they would charge to install the tires. i was told $100.00 for the back, and $80.00 for the front, for a grand total of $180.00 to put on my tires. i was in shock. is this normal, or what? So now i have decided that i will be doing it myself.

Was that price with or without the wheels on the bike? If off the bike, way too much....

[Shockman54]

this is a quicker, more fun way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-FEkBcepII

just don't use as much starting fluid.

[Cuda 69]

I paid $65. total at local bike shop.Drove it in ,drove it out. If you don't want to do it,check around for prices.

[Dragon Tamer]

I do them myself, easy after the first one or two. I use only tire lube, it is cheap and easy to get. Dish soap is quite alkaline and can pit and corrode aluminum wheels. Actual "tahr arons" with sleeved shanks are also easy to obtain and a set costs less than what even a reasonably priced shop will charge you change a tire. Balancing has never been a problem at all as long as you pay attention the tire stem location mark on the new tire.

[Courtney]

I do them myself, easy after the first one or two. I use only tire lube, it is cheap and easy to get. Dish soap is quite alkaline and can pit and corrode aluminum wheels. Actual "tahr arons" with sleeved shanks are also easy to obtain and a set costs less than what even a reasonably priced shop will charge you change a tire. Balancing has never been a problem at all as long as you pay attention the tire stem location mark on the new tire.

Sleeved shanks?? What a great idea! Never seen them before, but would sure save dicking around with a rim protector. Wonder if I could use plasti-dip on mine????

[natemoen]

Sleeved shanks?? What a great idea! Never seen them before, but would sure save dicking around with a rim protector. Wonder if I could use plasti-dip on mine????

Or put some garden hose over the shank.