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Message started by LostArtist on 08/07/09 at 09:33:07

Title: flat tire
Post by LostArtist on 08/07/09 at 09:33:07

Last night ran over a nail in my back tire, no wreck, just a pain getting the bike loaded into a pick up truck. so now the decisision is to patch the tire or get a new tire.

so it's like $70 for a patch if the tire is on the bike, but I could probably take it off and save $30 bucks or so, then I just have to put it back on myself, but that's a patch, the tire has 4600 miles on it now, for a new tire it's $84 bucks and $52 labor to put it on the rim then I'd have to put it on the bike so that's $137 for a new tire

how many miles do rear tires usually last? cause if it's close to being worn out at 4600 miles I'd rather get a new one. if I can patch/fix it, and go for another 5000 miles, I'd do that

this might also require the additional expense of getting a lift to use for another $100 bucks, but I think I can use my car jack, it's a bit awkward but it works.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/07/09 at 09:39:35

Look at the tread wear. At 4,600 miles I would say its time for some fresh meat back there as opposed to dropping more than 1/2 the $$$ for a new tire in a tire well past 1/2 of its life. Fixing it doesnt mean much patching. You could do it yourself. Get a new tube & put a patch( the best ones have a rubber "titty" with an aluminum cap wrapped around it, to make shoving it thru the hole possible. Once its in place, the aluminum comes off & the rubber gets cut off even with the surface of the tire.The patch is just to protect the tube from some little something hitting the hole the nail made. Wont protect near as well as a new tire would, but if it was a new tire, Id do it.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by runwyrlph on 08/07/09 at 09:47:37

first rear tire blew before 4000, second replaced after 6500 more - still had some tread

just depends on the tire

4500 is probably more than halfway or close to gone

regarding the lift - check the tech section for homemade bike stand - then can just use car jack

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/07/09 at 09:50:35

A come along & a piece of rope will get that thing off the ground, if you have an overhead joist or limb that will handle it. Quick, cheap & easy. How you tie on matters, or it will lean over.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by Sir mick on 08/07/09 at 10:14:25

I change tires one tire at seasons end,one year front the next year rear,I change them myself,always with a new tube.
If you have trouble breaking the bead let the air out and ride it around your yard (slowly),if that don't work take the wheel off and use your shop vise.easy job,once you have done it a few times.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/07/09 at 10:41:21

If that idea bothers you, 2 pieces of 2X4, a chunk of 4X4 or 2 short pieces of 2X4 stuck together & a piece of rope to tie the 2X's together makes a quick, easy bead breaker. Lay the wheel on one 2X, run a loop of rope around the end poking out, lay the chunk on the tire & , stand the other 2X on edge, run it thru the rope loop, adjusted so the boards start crushing down on the chunk laying on the tire so that it doesnt drive it into the rim, but down on the tire. Everything is still usable as boards & rope, except for the little block, so it really costs about nothing.
The "Ride it on flats" idea is something Id try, next time. What could be easier? But I rode a flat rear for a ways & it didnt come off the rim, but it was a pretty new tire. Maybe with some wear it would work out. IDK if Id drop the thing or not, but I can see this being an easy something to try.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by bill67 on 08/07/09 at 12:00:57

I always lay the wheel down and press down with my knees to break the bead.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/07/09 at 12:51:15

Ive had to work pretty hard to get the rear to break loose. I dont think my knees are heavy enough. Maybe I could get Atlas to come by & kneel on it..

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by verslagen1 on 08/07/09 at 13:33:55

$52 to install a tire is pretty expensive.
$30 plus $15 for a tube at my shop.

I've done the rear and it's a bee otch. Got it all together and found out I pinched the tube. So the shop ended up doing it anyway.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by EJID on 08/07/09 at 13:59:30

Any preference on tires amongst the people on here? My front has got some dry rot & I don't feel comfortable with it, the back can probably wait, but I need to do the front ASAP :o

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/07/09 at 14:24:08

If you put that tire on it & its been there long enough to dry rot, you bought too good of a tire. Digger buys tires that will wear out about the time they get old & saves $$ that way. What tire you want is based on your riding style & the miles per year. If you are a peg scraper & run lots of miles, spend the $$ & get something good. Several out there. Ill shaddup & let others name the names.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by PTRider on 08/07/09 at 17:07:19

Nail two 3' 2x8s together, add a handle, and you have a bike lift to go under the frame under the engine. Jack up the rear and you have the rear ready to remove the wheel. The routine is in the Clymer manual.
http://www.myacrobatpdf.com/2122/suzuki-ls-650-savage-86-a-04---service-manual-clymerpdf---the-.html There's some fiddling around to find the nuts for the belt guard, but it all goes off and back on easily. In any case, those prices are way too high...find a different shop. My local shop mounts a tire for $21; you do the removal and reinstall.

I just put Pirelli MT66 Route tires on my Savage and like them a lot. The 140/90-15 fits the rear. I bought a new rear tube with a 90° valve stem for easier inflation checks.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by runwyrlph on 08/07/09 at 18:52:21

332C2A2D30370636063E2C206B590 wrote:

Ive had to work pretty hard to get the rear to break loose. I dont think my knees are heavy enough. Maybe I could get Atlas to come by & kneel on it..

a trick i use : bumper jack between my car bumper and old tire (careful not to put jack base on rim) - something under the wheel to protect it - jack up - squeezes tire off bead voila!

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/07/09 at 21:12:39

We dont have a car with a bumper, its all plastic bodywork now. Ill just do my 2X4 trick, like I posted. But, If I still had one, Id give that a try.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by LostArtist on 08/07/09 at 21:38:12

Thanks for the lift advice :) that'll come in handy.

should I go to a special motorcycle store to get this done or just any tire place? I think just any tire place would be cheaper. still thinking about just patching and plugging it, it's in the perfect spot for a patch and plug, right in the middle of the tire. any opinions and patches and plugs? are they worth it? I plan on changing the whole tire soon (well, within 2000 miles which is about 2 months of riding it the way I am now) anyway, I should just bite the bullet and do it now huh? also I drive around 50-60 mph most of my commute to work with a little stint on the freeway at 65-70 mph and it's about 26 miles each way, if I was just driving around town I'd definately patch and plug it though.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/08/09 at 07:53:31

I dont think you can use a plug in a tire with a tube. IDK for sure, but wouldnt that Lump of the plug be a stressor on the tube? Besides, a plug is to keep air in,, & thats what the tube does. No plug..
If you want to do the work yourself, then maybe it makes sense ( dollars & cents, sense) but if that tire is sitting at 2/3 tread wear & its gonna cost you $30.00 labor, I'd say thats not the best deal for you. If you want to risk using a patched tube & do the work, then just be aware, patches dont always work out & a flat on the rear is no fun.

Others do their own tires & Ive given it a shot. The front isnt too bad, but if you dont know what you are doing, the rear is an absolute BEAR.
I recommend you buy a tire & tube & have someone install same. Next time, maybe you should give it a shot, but hang out & read & learn some more before you decide.
Call around & get some tire costs & installation costs. Some will go easy on installation if you buy the tire from them. TRy to make a deal.

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by LostArtist on 08/08/09 at 08:19:39

okay, going to get a new tire installed, a little pricey, 37.50 install plus $15 for the tube, plus $85 or so for the tire, best deal I can find. I don't think that's unreasonable, I'd feel better having someone who really knows what they are doing do it and I was going to have to do it in 2000 miles or so anyway, just a lil premature tire replacement, never hurt no one right :P

Title: Re: flat tire
Post by verslagen1 on 08/08/09 at 08:47:17

I agree [smiley=thumbsup.gif]