Tires Self Service Yes or No

50CC Cape Cod · Post by **50CC Cape Cod** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:04 pm

Well am getting more comfortable working on the scoot and have picked out replacement tires. Doing the work also gives a sense of accomplishment but not sure if tires are something to get involved with. Never done before but thought that removing the wheels did not look that complicated. Also if get that done not sure if should attempt to mount new tires myself and only have a shop balance them. Harbor Freight has a mini tire changer which looks like it would be easier than tire irons etc. Also the local shops quoted $50 - $80
a wheel. So any thoughts welcome. Better to just bring in scooter with new tires and let them do everything or only some of the tire service. What do you think. Has anyone used the HF mini tire changer etc. This site has been a big plus so I value your input.
Thanks.

DanielPerrin · Post by **DanielPerrin** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:26 pm

Here are some threads about the Harbor Freight tire changer, and other tools that members used to change tires:

http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic10771 Harbor Freight tire changer
topic17399.html Tire mount lube and Harbor Freight tire changer
topic19872.html Where to get tire mounted; tools that others have used

I have a large vise that works well for breaking the bead, as well as a bead breaker for motorcycle tires. One of those and some tire irons let me get the tires off.

There are some threads here that say you will usually get a decent price if you remove the tire/rim and take that to a shop, with your tires to replace. Lots of the labor cost comes from removing the rim from the scooter. I can do my own work, but I wouldn't mind spending $20 or so to have someone else use their professional tools to save me the time and make sure that it's done by someone with more experience than me.

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 3:52 am

I did my own using the Harbor Freight changer. It does work, but it will also scratch the paint off of the edges of your wheels. It was a tough job, but I'll do it again next time to save the money. If you search around using the Google for Harbor Freight tire changer, or mini tire changer, you should find some videos of people changing tires using the changer. As for removing the wheels from your scooter, that's actually not difficult. For the rear wheel, you have to drop the exhaust first. For the front, really nothing special taking it off. I also removed the brake disk from my front wheel while I was working on wrestling the tires off and on - I didn't want to damage the disk.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 3:13 pm

Getting the wheels off the scooter is pretty easy. I have a 1/2" breaker bar from HF that made breaking the nut on the rear wheel a breeze.

This is the video that was very helpful to me. It shows using the HF mini tire changer on a wider tire than a scooter's tire so it makes it look easier than ours.
The bead breaker that comes with the HF tire changer worked perfectly for me.

Getting the tire off the rim using the tire changer was pretty easy. I already have some scratches on my rims from previous tire changes using tire spoons and the MotionPro tire tool so I wasn't too worried about that. I did try to keep some plastic from a milk jug between the bar and the rim but it didn't last; even using zip-ties.
Getting the new tire on the rim isn't so easy, even with the HF mini tire changer. The tire size on the Buddy makes the sidewalls really stiff.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 4:59 pm

Yeah, we actually had the biggest problem getting the new tires onto the rims. If there had been a shop open on the day we were working on it, we would have taken it in for the final mount. Since there wasn't a shop open, my partner wrestled with it until she finally got it. I think she ultimately wound up using a couple of screwdrivers to wrangle it in rather than the tire changer. I'm not sure I could ever get them on myself. I'm just not as strong as I used to be and even when I was strong, it was only as strong as sub 5 foot woman can be. Which is to say, not very.

50CC Cape Cod · Post by **50CC Cape Cod** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 6:20 pm

The postings have been helpful. I have the 12v impact HF wrench so thought that would make the rear nut easy like the variator nut was. The tires are little larger than the Buddy since the Kymco takes 12" but since will be the Shinko wide whites 1 1/4" mounting may be best to be done at a shop so the rims & ww don't get chewed up. Can settle for some satisfaction just removing & replacing wheels. The shops make it sound a lot more complicated and expensive than it has to be. Do the tires usually need a balance as well?

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:39 am

50CC Cape Cod wrote: Do the tires usually need a balance as well?

I've never balanced a scooter tire and I'm on my 6th rear tire and 3rd front. I have only replaced them due to mileage; not an out-of-balance issue.
Some use DynaBeads but I've never felt the need and most of my riding is 50+ BMPH.