Ordering Tires On Line

[charlie b]

I've bought mine from Revzilla and never got a tire more than 2yrs old.  That was a Pirelli.  The Shinkos I get are never more than a year old.

Popular size a difference?  Don't know.  Mine are the 16" wheels so I think they are probably less popular than most.

Really doesn't matter much to me as a tire will not last a full year for me. 

[Gliderjohn]

I do not mount my own tires. I buy from a local Honda/Kaw dealer. Just a bit higher in price usually but mounts and balances for $15 a wheel! Plus I really try to support local dealers of all sort to what extent that I can.
GliderJohn

[MGrego]

If some of you are ordering tires online, where do you take them to be mounted and balanced ?  Do they charge more to mount and balance for tires that weren't purchased there ?  As a business owner I can see how this scenario might be awkward.

[rocker59]

If some of you are ordering tires online, where do you take them to be mounted and balanced ?  Do they charge more to mount and balance for tires that weren't purchased there ?  As a business owner I can see how this scenario might be awkward.

There are three parts to a dealership:  Sales.  Parts.  Service. 

Sure, some dealerships might turn away easy money for the service department because the parts department didn't make any. 

Anyway, I have either the local Honda store, or the local BMW dealer mount mine.  Been doing it that way for years.

Just call up your local shop and ask for the carry in rate.  Don't ask them to pull the wheels off the bike.  Most dealers will balk at that, not having ever seen a Guzzi before.

[RayB]

Well, I ordered my tires online from Bike Bandit. They were delivered from Western Motorsports near Ft. Wayne got here 2 days after ordering. The tires were manufactured 5 months ago...not too bad.
Lowest price around to walk in with wheels and tires and get them mounted and balanced was $55 per wheel.

As planned, l'll be mounting them myself.

[Triple Jim]

I've never received any tire more than one year old from American Motorcycle Tire.   
http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/

I just bought a pair of Bridestone BT45s for the Ninja 250 from them.  They had the best price I could find of any place that had both sizes in stock so I could make the free shipping minimum.  I'll post the date codes when they get here.

Just for reference, the bike has a Kenda on the front now, and it always skids, rather than doing a "stoppie".  I expect that bike will do a stoppie with BT45s.  I had my daughter practice some extreme stops Saturday, and when I saw what was happening, I decided to put known good tires on it.

[MGrego]

There are three parts to a dealership:  Sales.  Parts.  Service. 

Sure, some dealerships might turn away easy money for the service department because the parts department didn't make any. 

Anyway, I have either the local Honda store, or the local BMW dealer mount mine.  Been doing it that way for years.

Just call up your local shop and ask for the carry in rate.  Don't ask them to pull the wheels off the bike.  Most dealers will balk at that, not having ever seen a Guzzi before.

Thanks for the tip, I'll give this a try next time --

[Dilliw]

If some of you are ordering tires online, where do you take them to be mounted and balanced ?  Do they charge more to mount and balance for tires that weren't purchased there ?  As a business owner I can see how this scenario might be awkward.

Motorcycle Superstore has a list of preferred installers on the website.  You can put in your information to see who is near you:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/preferredinstaller.aspx

Once you choose a dealer you can click the link for "more information" and it will show you the various rates that they charge.  If you don't want to use Motorcycle Superstore (opinions above varied) I'm sure you could contact them to see if it would be the same pricing from another tire supplier.  I use this setup to have the tires direct shipped to the dealer near me.  He contacts me when they arrive and then schedules for me a ride in/ride out appointment.  Pretty easy.

Alternatively when I lived at a prior address I would just call the dealer, he would order the tires (Dennis Kirk), and then he would schedule the appointment.  I paid less in labor but more for the tire plus he charged sales tax on the tire.  I know I'm supposed to pay that on online orders but....

You can save money by carrying in your wheels but I like having my tires mounted for me while I drink coffee, bs, and look at all the pretty helmets, accessories and stuff.

[Huzo]

All good as long as the bike shop is still there when you need it !

[Perazzimx14]

If some of you are ordering tires online, where do you take them to be mounted and balanced ?

I take them to my basement and use the NoMar. Best thing is I work for beer.

[pyoungbl]

This thread got me wondering about the three tires I just got from Motorcycle Superstore (online).  Two Shinko 705s; date code 4915 and 0116, and one Michelin Pilot Active date code 4815.  In other words, probably newer than what my dealer would have in stock......if I had a dealer.

Peter Y.

[Wayne Orwig]

If some of you are ordering tires online, where do you take them to be mounted and balanced ?  Do they charge more to mount and balance for tires that weren't purchased there ?  As a business owner I can see how this scenario might be awkward.

I do my own.
Many dealers have the 'B team' people doing tires. They seldom know what they are doing, or care, and often screw it up. I got tired of that and started doing my own.
Plus I suspect that buying online and mounting my own saves me over $300 a year.

I have a simple Harbor Freight changer in the garage. Or I just change them on the side of the road when traveling.

[RayB]

And that contraption next to your wheel on the ground is? (assuming a bead breaker but is it home made?)

[kingoffleece]

If that's not the exact one I've seen similar.  Aerostitch sells them.

[Wayne Orwig]

And that contraption next to your wheel on the ground is? (assuming a bead breaker but is it home made?)

That is a Pro Lev'r Tire Wizard, I think it was called. I used it for many years to change tires, and now I carry it in the trailer.
It breaks the bead, pushes the tire off of the rim. Pries and then pushes the new tire on the rim. It even came with a rim lock.
Sadly they went out of business. I wish someone at a machine shop would make them again.
I got mine. Nobody is getting it.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Many dealers have the 'B team' people doing tires. They seldom know what they are doing, or care, and often screw it up. I got tired of that and started doing my own.

What Wayne says.
I, too, have a HF, but it *loves* to eat your wheels. I modded it so nothing but Delrin touches the rim. Saw a picture of the Mojo Lever, and modified the HF to work like that. I highly recommend the Mojo lever..

[charlie b]

Yep, I used to let the local shop do mine as well.  They were only $35 a wheel.  But, one time they let the washer from the valve stem drop off and get between tube and rim.  Caused a flat on a day I could not afford the time.

I will get an HF tire changer after I move.  Right now it is the old way, c-clamp, irons and a ratchet strap. 

I love that little gadget Wayne has.  Wayne, could you by chance take some good photos of each of the pieces, with a ruler next to them?  I may have to try to make some.

[Zinfan]

I too learned to do my own.  I have a Cycle Hill tire changer that works well.  I started with a HF mini changer but it wasn't really up to the job when mounting some stiff sidewall tires for my scooter.  The MP3 scooter I had was the reason I learned to do my own.  The model I had comes with a 12" diameter rear wheel and the scooter is pretty heavy so I was getting 2500 miles per tire (this isn't all that unusual per other owners of 12" rear MP3's) and that would only last me 4 months at the most.  The final nail was taking my scoot into the dealer for a tire change and getting charged over $250 for the rear wheel change including the cost of the tire.  When I went to pick up the bike I found the "C" team guy trying to put my bike back together by looking at another MP3 from the showroom.  I had to point out a missing piece laying on the floor and the ride home afterward was nerve wracking and stupid of me to even do since I had zero confidence the job was done correctly.  As soon as I got home I took the whole rear wheel off and re-did the assembly at which point I discovered I had been given a low cost Chinese tire instead of the premium German one I had paid for.  Got my money back from that and never looked back after researching how to do it myself. 

[maquette]

 :1: on    http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/ Good prices, quick service and nothing old in my experience.

[old as dirt 2]

I too learned to do my own.  I have a Cycle Hill tire changer that works well.  I started with a HF mini changer but it wasn't really up to the job when mounting some stiff sidewall tires for my scooter.  The MP3 scooter I had was the reason I learned to do my own.  The model I had comes with a 12" diameter rear wheel and the scooter is pretty heavy so I was getting 2500 miles per tire (this isn't all that unusual per other owners of 12" rear MP3's) and that would only last me 4 months at the most.  The final nail was taking my scoot into the dealer for a tire change and getting charged over $250 for the rear wheel change including the cost of the tire.  When I went to pick up the bike I found the "C" team guy trying to put my bike back together by looking at another MP3 from the showroom.  I had to point out a missing piece laying on the floor and the ride home afterward was nerve wracking and stupid of me to even do since I had zero confidence the job was done correctly.  As soon as I got home I took the whole rear wheel off and re-did the assembly at which point I discovered I had been given a low cost Chinese tire instead of the premium German one I had paid for.  Got my money back from that and never looked back after researching how to do it myself.

I didn't know you were a guzzi owner. good to see you over here. I still have my mp3 500 but added a 2013 norge to my barn last year. OAD

[Scud]

I, too, have a HF, but it *loves* to eat your wheels. I modded it so nothing but Delrin touches the rim. Saw a picture of the Mojo Lever, and modified the HF to work like that. I highly recommend the Mojo lever..

I also have the HF - with the Mojo Lever and Mojo Blocks. I would not use the HF unit without those accessories. Occasionally, I wish I had paid more and got the NoMar tire changer.

[Zinfan]

I didn't know you were a guzzi owner. good to see you over here. I still have my mp3 500 but added a 2013 norge to my barn last year. OAD

Hiyas OAD, glad to hear from you.  I sold my MP3 in January after 44,000 miles on it.  Fun times but it was not getting ridden that much anymore after I retired from work.  I have a '13 V7 Stone that I've set up pretty nicely and love it.  I'd say I'm in trouble if a nice priced Stelvio shows up around here but I kinda like having only the one bike.

[cruzziguzzi]

The last two sets of tires I ordered from a shop here in Arizona turned out to have been ordered on-line by the shop to fill my order.

Two different shops - same internet source. The internet guy's sticker was on all four of the tires.

Mounted them myself and made a simple static balancer in the shop. weights were adhesives in a general kit ordered online as well.


Todd.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Out in SoCal, I asked Mark Ethridge if he would put tires on the Mighty Scura. He said, "No.. make that Hell no. You can buy tires off the internet cheaper than I can get them." I said, OK, how much would you charge to put tires on that I bring in?" He said, " I'd give you 20 dollars to take them to this guy and have him do it. I *hate* dealing with tires." 
I get them off the net, and take them to Todd Egan where he undercharges me. Even he tries to get me to go somewhere else.
I think that's why you sometimes get a shop's tire monkey. The real mechanics don't want to fool with it.

[keener]

I buy my tires from Motorrade in Turner Valley Alberta  , these guys know how to service their customers ..
Phone them up pick out your tires... book it in... Ride your bike there on a Saturday or Sunday wait about an hour , have some lunch at their food truck "Moto Burrito" if needed..and ride on ..good work and easy peasy ..
He sells alot of tires because they offer good service and his prices are reasonable ..
you get what you pay for

[Chuck in Indiana]

you get what you pay for

No offense, but not always. I,too, have had installations screwed up by the tire monkey.

[Triple Jim]

I think that's why you sometimes get a shop's tire monkey. The real mechanics don't want to fool with it.

Right.  To pay a good mechanic his rate plus overhead to change a tire would probably mean it would cost $50 to $100 per tire.  I once bought new tires for my Dodge van at my local Sears Auto Center.  It was near the end of the day, and a lot of the guys had gone home, so the shop manager asked one of their best mechanics to install them.  He was obviously irritated, and he intentionally took his time and did an excellent job over the next  hour or more, I assumed so that the manager wouldn't ask him to mount tires again.  He wire brushed the rim seating areas, cleaned the studs and lubricated the threads, got the balance near perfect, and generally did the job like I would have done it myself.  That was the best tire mounting service I ever got.   

[Wayne Orwig]

I think that's why you sometimes get a shop's tire monkey. The real mechanics don't want to fool with it.

Yep, and that makes sense. A good mechanic at a busy shop can serve everyone better by using his skills inside a motor, or whatever.
But I work of beer, so my rates are much better.

BTW: I have the MoJo lever too. For the blocks, I just cleaned the metal ones up with a grinder and glued a layer of PET plastic to them.

[Dilliw]

Yep, and that makes sense. A good mechanic at a busy shop can serve everyone better by using his skills inside a motor, or whatever.
But I work of beer, so my rates are much better.

BTW: I have the MoJo lever too. For the blocks, I just cleaned the metal ones up with a grinder and glued a layer of PET plastic to them.

And cigars.   Don't forget the cigars!

[Tom H]

Out in SoCal, I asked Mark Ethridge if he would put tires on the Mighty Scura. He said, "No.. make that Hell no. You can buy tires off the internet cheaper than I can get them." I said, OK, how much would you charge to put tires on that I bring in?" He said, " I'd give you 20 dollars to take them to this guy and have him do it. I *hate* dealing with tires." 

Yep, that's Mark  Great guy on the bikes that need work.

Tom