tire change cost

[redwing]

The local BMW dealer tells me to change the tires cost one hour ($85.00) of labor plus possible extra cost ($20.00) for valve stems and balance. A local motorcycle shop quoted a cost of one and a half hour and said the balance was not needed. The shop claimed mounting the tires in the same position as the tires that came off balanced the tires.???

Is an hour a right amount of time to mount and balance?

Is a new motorcycle tire balanced like a car tire?

Cycle Gear said if I brought them the tires and rims ...twenty dollars per wheel....

I searched the forum and found 506 hits for "tire change." Checked the first 2 pages and didn't find cost information.

Robert

[roger l]

A local motorcycle dealer, not a BMW dealer, will remove the old tire and remount a new tire for $22.00. The wheel needs to be off the bike. That same dealer can not balance the rear wheel from the R1200R because the hole in the rim is to large to fit his balancer. I have a Mark Parnes balancer so I can balance the tire wheel assembly myself. My local BMW dealer quoted me $56.00 to mount and balance a new tire if the rim was off the bike. His price was lower if I bought the tire from him. Yes, you will need to have the final assembly balanced. Both my front and rear tires needed over 1/2 ounce of weight per assembly to get them balanced. The tires are Michelin PR 3's.

Roger L

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

I agree with Roger that balancing is the proper thing to do. On a trip a couple of years ago, I bought a PR2 tire from Cycle Gear in Albuquerque and had them mount it. I pulled the wheel in front of a vacant store next door to the CG shop and the guy mounted and balanced. Did a fine job. This was when I had an F800ST. I just lifted the bike while a nice guy visiting the store slid a milk crate under the bike. Like this:





All this said, I recommend changing your own tires and doing your own balance. Over the long haul, you'll save a bunch of dough.

[parkec]

I would look around if I were you...

Our Cyle Gear closed and fled town. Good prices, but whose their for you when you have a question? Problem?

I have bought tires from my local Bike shop, as well as my local BMW Dealer...both at a discount.

The local bike shop sells their tires at retail w/ free install, balance, valve stem.
My BMW Dealer discounts the tires than adds back labor, valve stem.

Results...the dealer is about $5-10 more...




Bottom line I would ask around.

[BigEasy]

The local BMW dealer tells me to change the tires cost one hour ($85.00) of labor plus possible extra cost ($20.00) for valve stems and balance. A local motorcycle shop quoted a cost of one and a half hour and said the balance was not needed. The shop claimed mounting the tires in the same position as the tires that came off balanced the tires.???

Is an hour a right amount of time to mount and balance?

Is a new motorcycle tire balanced like a car tire?

Cycle Gear said if I brought them the tires and rims ...twenty dollars per wheel....

I searched the forum and found 506 hits for "tire change." Checked the first 2 pages and didn't find cost information.

Robert

When you say an hour to mount and balance what exactly does that include? Wheel removal from bike, mount balance and reinstall for both front and rear? If so I'd say that could be done in a shop by a competent tech. In my part of the world most shops charge a flat fee for the service, not shop rate labor. The charge is obviously more if they R&R the wheel from the bike but carry in prices vary from $25.00-50.00 per wheel inclusive of balancing.

Balancing is done quite similar to automobile tires. Some shops static balance like Roger does with his Parnes balancer, some shops do spin balancing, some of us use Dyna Beads (kind of like starting an oil thread to ask about those).

Changing your own does provide a level of self satisfaction on some levels. In my case it's a self sufficiency thing. I own multiple bikes so it just cuts down on overall maintenance costs. Time also comes into my evaluation as the closest dealer of any brand to me is 45 minutes away. If I only owned one bike the money wouldn't be that big of a deal in my over all scheme.

[Woland]

My last time I had both tires swapped out on the bike by a competent tech in under an hour, including wheel removal, balancing and a quick test ride. Didn't time it but it was definitely under one hour. They usually charge a flat fee though.

[Acpantera]

The cost of tire replacement is what edged me toward buying a "no-mar" tire machine. I have used it for my bike as well as my two sons bikes and all of our four wheeled vehicles too. It works well on just about any tire with an aspect ratio of 55 or more. For the 750 bucks that I paid for it (pro jr model) over 4 years ago it has paid for it self a couple a times over (had a couple of cash customers too).

[Railbender]

I get my tires mounted at my local Honda dealer, super nice family run business. Mounting and balancing I think is up to $25 if I bring just the wheel, that includes old tire disposal if you buy the tire from them. For the R bike rear wheel I bring my hub adapter so they can balance it. I also buy my tires there since their discount price, including tax, is better than any on-line price I've found.

[redwing]

I called a BMW Dealer in Dallas or maybe Plano and got a quote like the first one from the Louisiana Dealer...an hour... but said he (Dallas) could meet or beat any internet deal. The Louisiana Dealer did match the internet price but will charge me tax....9%
Since most dealers ask one hour labor and buying over the internet lets me bypass the tax for now ....Think I'll buy internet and let the dealer mount the tires. Also most internet sights offer free shipping.
It's a turn-key deal...I bring the bike to them and they return it to me with new and balanced tires.

Bob ain't stoppin' ... seems like you would need some special gear to change a tire...especially to not chew up the rim up...??

I like the idea of buying a machine to mount the tire...I recently bought some clippers for cutting my hair...it's paid for itself...one length .....one hair....so easy and cheap.

Thanks for the info and response.

Robert

[NakedRider]

I use a no mar to mount and a marc parns to balance. I have my money back several times from both items...oh ya...I don't scratch the rims.

[redwing]

Did a search for a tire changer for motorcycle and the NoMar products I found are impressive. I agree that the equipment would quickly pay for itself at the six hundred price or even a bit more. In the search I also found this from avid rider...

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299597

It looks interesting....I'll likely still go to the dealer this time but it looks do-able.

Robert

[PhilSB]

Here's a link on "How to.."

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

It's not the link that I was trying to find but it may be of interest.
I din't change my own tyres, I'm too damned idle

Phil

[BigEasy]

Did a search for a tire changer for motorcycle and the NoMar products I found are impressive. I agree that the equipment would quickly pay for itself at the six hundred price or even a bit more. In the search I also found this from avid rider...

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299597

It looks interesting....I'll likely still go to the dealer this time but it looks do-able.

Robert

Search around here a little we have a couple of changer threads in our past. I have the Cycle Hill model made by No-Mar, a little cheaper with a few less features. Just be fore warned though, the back tire on the R12R is a bear to change: stiff side wall, large cross section, and almost non existant rim valley makes for a challenge. I think you'd have a large hill to climb trying the ratchet strap technique, FWIW

[Bamblys]

Today I changed my own tire!! No dings on the rim, everything went flawlessly.
I'm very proud of myself so here are some pic of my work.

[David R]

Snip


All this said, I recommend changing your own tires and doing your own balance. Over the long haul, you'll save a bunch of dough.

I have a blue Monty like that one in my shop.

Stop by, if you own an R, I will mount your tire for free once its off the bike.

David

[Lost Rider]

Awesome, nice work Bamblys.
That's quite the innovative bead breaker you made there, I like your handy work.


Today was new tire day for me too, my second favorite day in the life of the Roadster! New shoes!


Free mounting/balancing at my local Powersports store, just got to take the wheels off the bike and pay a few bucks for tire disposal. Internet prices + tax. Seems to be common at all the big Japanese shops out here.
Most BMW dealer's are RAPING people for what they charge to change tires IMO, I had both my tires off in less than 5 minutes. Took the kid at the shop 15 minutes to do both tires. 1 hour?.... RAPE!
$20 for $1 stems? RAPE!
That's not even taking into account BMW dealers for the most part charge full retail for tires.
I haven't changed mine since my wheels were powdercoated - in 2008.

[Bamblys]

My Yamaha dealer charges $75 for 2 tires but they can't balance our rear wheel. BMW quoted me $90.
It took me an hour to do one wheel with home made equipment and I was helping my wife with my baby daughter at the same time. I think it's very possible to do both wheels in an hour with my wooden bead breaker.
I still have to balance it but Marc Parnes is on a month long ride till monday. Balancing will have to wait.

[Lost Rider]

My Yamaha dealer charges $75 for 2 tires but they can't balance our rear wheel. BMW quoted me $90.
It took me an hour to do one wheel with home made equipment and I was helping my wife with my baby daughter at the same time. I think it's very possible to do both wheels in an hour with my wooden bead breaker.
I still have to balance it but Marc Parnes is on a month long ride till monday. Balancing will have to wait.

I think the competition is greater in Cali so we get better deals on tires and changing at least at non-BMW dealers. Are those prices for wheels off the bike?
There's 3 big Honda/yamaha/ktm/susuki/kawasaki dealers within 30 miles, they all off free install and balance if you buy their close to internet priced tires from them and pay $3 for disposal. Haven't changed a tire by hand on my R since I moved out here, though I still do on my Husaberg.
Great job with the DIY, you went about it easier than myself the first time with that well thought out and constructed bead breaker. I did mine the super ghetto way for many tires. The prices in Chicago drove me to DIY, I figured I have more time and a little sweat than money. The good part about DIY is the satisfaction, and experience to fix it your self with minimal tools for that one day you need it.
To me motorcycling and self-reliance go hand in hand for a number of reasons.

With the numbers from the dealer the OP redwing quoted it's easy to be motivated to DIY.

I'm hoping to be in Chicago in November on my bike, could meet up to say hi possibly.



My bead breaker, jump hard and you'll get it broken.



I have thousands of hotel key cards that work great for rim protection









At times like this, that experience can be very useful.

[Bamblys]

Yes sir! When you here in Chicago area let me know. We'll get together drink some beer.

If you come rolling in to Yamaha with your bike it's additional $30 per wheel to take them off. (It might be $35).

Another thing, I serviced my bike twice at that Countryside dealership and yesterday i found a wheel bolt stripped a bit. Also I know they torqued my wheel way above 60 N/meters. That can't be too good for you. I wonder what else they did that I haven't noticed yet???

[Bamblys]

I just did my front wheel. Without interruptions from my daughter or her mother it took me 30 min. Off the bike and back on the bike. And all I'm using is two 11.5" long tire irons, box I made out of 2X4 yesterday, a 2X4 screwed to the garage wall and some soap water.



I guess my hands are shaking so I cant get a clear picture