a nearby Honda dealer wants about $20 each per tire change. I'm wanting to get new tires for the DS. That's $80 alone just changing them. He said they do it by hand which got me thinking. They sell those tire changer deals in Rocky Mountain & other mail orders. Has anyone used one? Do they work? I mean for $80 I might as well have one around. It's not the hardwork of changing a tire I dread. I just worry about ruining the wheel or tire. Any advice?

 

Breaking the bead is most of the battle. When removing the tire just use a wide spoon so that you bend the rim and its a piece of cake. Oh yah, a little soap and water helps too.
I've been looking t the bead breaker myself, not sure about durability though.

 

I use a press to break the beads. I made some rings for 8,9,10 inch wheels, the rings just sit right on the bead and use the press to pop them off, works great. Then I use some pry bars with a plastic coating for taking the tires off of the wheels. It is much better then paying somebody else to do it.

 

I got a tire changer from a friend which he got online at harborfreight.com it can be mounted to the ground and comes with a bead breaker and long pry bar. the only thing is that since the atv rims are so deep and only 9 or 10 inches I had to modify the piece that holds the tire in place by cutting it with a grinder. They sell for around $35 plus shipping. It's alot better than paying the dealer $80 to change a set. I now do all my friends tires as well as go back and forth with the 2 sets of rears that I have depending on where I am riding. This way I didn't have to shell out for another set of rims.

 

let me ask? Does it make it an easy job? Does it keep from harming the wheels (soft aluminum) & tires?
Ever have a tire break a bead while riding or lose air pressure or anything?

 

cain73

is it this one?tire changer

 

If you have a trailer with crank style jack on it. Hook it up to your truck, through the tire under it, and crank down. Instant tire bead breaker. Used this method once broke down along side of the highway, and has been working for me ever since.

 

Josh made a tire changer. We got tired of paying 15 bucks a pop for a shop to do it. Ill try and put a picture of it up.

 

That's not the one I have here is where you can see the one that I got http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34542

i have heard the same thing about the bumper style jacks working well to break the bead but have never tried it. The changer I have has never damaged anything.