Just Got a call and the 27" Zilla's I ordered are in. Picking them up tomorrow.
I am on the fence as to whether to have them mount them @ $12 bucks a pop or try it on my own. What do you think? I don't have tire irons but like any red blooded man I have some Big F'n Screwdrivers.
Also I have the X2 alum rims. Scared I might ding them up.
What do you guys suggest.

 

if there a stiff wall tire like i think it's worth it to let them mount them and save alot of headaches and if they leak they have to fix them and not you.

 

I, like yourself, have the same set of 'Big F'n Screwdrivers', and many years ago, I used to "change" tires with similar precision devices. What I have learned (and why I stopped doing it long ago) is:

- Big F'n Screwdrivers do NOT play well with aluminum/magnesium, no matter how careful you are. Just prying the bead out can make divots in the wheels quite easily

- Big F'n Screwdrivers do NOT play well with tires, especially stiff ones (as I believe the 'zillas are). It seems like modern tire design has skimped a lot on the rubber on the back side of the bead and they RIP quite easily. Rips cause weakness and leaks! Plus, if you do get a rip or two that you are lucky enough to not leak, if you ever have to have the tire fixed by shop, the rips will most likely catch the separator pawl and really rip. Don't ask me how I know about that.....

If it isn't a strain, I'd let them mount them, I did on my very recently purchased set of STI Rims with 25" MudLite XTR's. It will be the best spent $48.00 on the project!

 

Got my Zillas last week after being on back-order for 4 weeks, I shelled out the coin for new wheels too and they came all mounted so I can't really offer any advice on the difficulty of mounting. Unfortunately the weather here has been miserable so I have not really had a chance to try them out...maybe this weekend.

Pics

 

I mounted zilla's on my buddy's arctic kitty with steel wheels and was pretty painless , but I'd be hesitant about doing it on aluminum wheels. My tire tools designed for the job still tend to mark and ding aluminum wheels. I now use a thick rubber flap between the irons and wheels to help, but I still have to be very gentle on aluminum. I'd pay to have it done if I didn't have the tools. I almost never use irons to put the new on.(with plenty of dish soap) Taking the old off is where you have to get rough with the tire and wheel in most of my experiences.

 

I would not do it myself. $12 is not unreasonable and MUCH easier with a tire machine.

 

I have plastic rim protectors for mounting tires and they work great. Got them off ebay with a set of tire irons cheap. Another cheap solution is taking a chunk of thick rubber hose and slitting it lengthwise. Slide it over the rim and use it when prying. If you use soapy water they can be almost fully mounted without any tools. I definitely would not use screwdrivers because that is how the beads get messed up quick.

 

Thanks for the advice guy's. I think I will let them mount them. 12 bucks is reasonable since other dealers around here want 25-30. If it saves me a couple hours and damage on the wheels then it's worth it.

I will post picks when I get them.

 

As an ex-automotive mechanic, I've mounted thousands of tires over the years. However, nowadays, for what it costs, I would not even consider doing it myself. Consider it part of the cost of buying new tires.

 

Well I went and picked them up today. THESE TIRES LOOK AWESOME

They were able to swap them over right away so I paid the $48 to mount them up.

I dont have any pics yet but I did get them put on the wheeler. I haven't checked the pressure in them but they definatly run short. 27s are more like 26 and change. Once I get some seat time I will know if I should have gone with the 28's. I only have an itybity 500 so I didn't want to lose all my power.

I will be flipping the tierod ends tomorrow morning if I can fit in some garage time. They look like they are going to rub.

I plan to take measurment of the front geometry so that the flip goes smoothly. Any tips from PPL that have flipped theirs.