Where to buy tires online?

[ajayhawkfan]

Every 3000 miles I have been buying tries and having them installed at Engle,s for my GSA. It is getting quite expensive. I am looking for a reputable online tire company. Any recommendations?

[JaySoy]

I have used all of these and they are all good:

http://www.swmototires.com/ (free ground shipping with 2 tires)
http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/ (sometimes cheaper and makes up for free shipping at SW)
http://denniskirk.com/jsp/common/Frontpage.jsp (free shipping over $100. I buy my Kendas from here and they are the cheapest)

Seriously 3,000 miles though! Dang. Lay off the throttle.

[Savage]

rockymtnatv
bikebandit
chapparal
r the main ones i use

[safiri]

http://www.swmototires.com/ (free ground shipping with 2 tires)

Two thumbs up. Quick turnaround on shipping.

BTW, if you want a quick lesson on changing tires let me know. Hayden and I learned the hard way ... figuring it out ourselves! Your rims will require a bit more care in terms of not scratching them (I don't care about scratches on my motorcycle rims).

The hard part on your bike will be balancing (if you want to do that ...), as the rear is a single side swingarm design. In the back of BMW ON there is at least one advert for a bolt on device that allows the use of what I use to balance "normal" rims. (Bearing'ed pipe through rim, supported between 5 gallon buckets.) I also have a static balancer that might work ... it is a cone on which you would lay the rim horizontally. A larger version of what is called a mower blade balancer.

Here is a thread from July that I just remembered:
http://www.rideforum.net/viewtopic.php? ... ance#p2856

Balancer I have that might work:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=91939

Adapter that might work with your rear tire:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=41210

[JaySoy]

If you guys end up having a tire changing party, I'll stop by and watch! I've done it a few times, and it SUCKS! I'm always up to learning new techniques.

(and to get close to a 1200GSA)

[ajayhawkfan]

Thanks for the advice on where to get tires.

I also appreciate the offer to show me how to change and balance the tires. When there is not a pressing need to get it done I will take you up on it and supply the adult beverages.

I received name from another GS rider of someone who will come to the house, remove the wheels, take them to his shop to mount and balance and then return to to my house and put them back on the bike. This is suppose to be all done while I am at work and done a lot cheaper then at Engles. We will see.

[Savage]

For me, putting new tires on is easy - removing the old ones can be a bear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFhqQxux ... re=related

I have yet to check my tires to see if they're balanced, but when I do I'm going to give this a try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2AuivYzaBs

[katbeanz]

Hi Eddie, I like americanmototire, fast shipping and good prices. You can shame Dennis Kirk into beating anyone else's price by $1 or something, but it's enough of a hassle I usually don't bother.

[slimtrader]

I've used http://www.ronayers.com/ and have been pleased with the price and fast shipping.

[Hank Moody]

I just bought a new front tire, a Dunlop 606. I got it from Letko and paid $76.07 plus tax. The prices online for the same tire ranged from $65.95-$95.99. So don't forget about the local guy.

Savage thanks for the link to the tire changing video. I did a little searching on You Tube and I really like this series of tire changing videos. This guy makes it look soo easy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw0B2gIw ... re=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTatadVN ... re=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjJXE73r ... re=related


Some eye candy! I wonder if she could handle box turtle road????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h2fhd_O ... re=related

[ajayhawkfan]

Thanks all, I purchased from swmototires. I hope they arrive today so I can ride this weekend. If they don't arrive, I'll be bow hunting so the weekend would not be a total loss.

[Savage]

I think they make it look easy because they don't run their tires very long so they're still nice and soft. When I took off my 140 tire it wouldn't budge. I was afraid I was going to bend the rim before it would pop off. Got out the dremel and cut through the cable bead. Made it alot easier, and then the new soft tires went on easy compared to the old ones.
I don't have any complaints with my new front d606

[safiri]

I think they make it look easy because they don't run their tires very long so they're still nice and soft. When I took off my 140 tire it wouldn't budge. I was afraid I was going to bend the rim before it would pop off. Got out the dremel and cut through the cable bead. Made it alot easier, and then the new soft tires went on easy compared to the old ones.
I don't have any complaints with my new front d606

In the summer I leave the bike outside in the sun for a bit before changing the tires. The heat makes the rubber a lot more pliable.

In the winter I let out a lot of air (down to 10 psi or so) and then ride CAREFULLY for a few miles to get the rubber good and warm. The tire needs to be squishy to flex a lot. Just don't hammer the throttle (spin the tire on the rim if'n you don't have rim locks) or take turns very fast (roll a bead).

[safiri]

This guy makes it look soo easy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw0B2gIw ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTatadVN ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjJXE73r ... re=related

Excellent series of videos.

[ozmoexc]

Rocky Mt. is very good!Got a set of low priced shinko's for my R100g/s .About 1/3 of Metzler.Happy with them so far,but can't coment aboout milage yet.Very good handling,but a little noisey.Two for 104$.Later Ozmoexc...

[Savage]

The thing you have to watch for with them is the year they were made. They must not move them near as quick as BB or MCS. I recently bought a pr from them and found this out.

[stimmer6253472]

Change the tires yourself. This way when you are alone in the middle of nowhere you know how to do it. I got a rear flat all by myself on my Adventure this summer about a mile south of the Rio Grande Reservoir in Colorado. Anyone that knows the area knows that there you are about 30 miles from a cell signal and 40 miles to Creede, Co. It was raining and cold and getting dark. Knowing I had all of the tools, patches and expertise was a major stress saver. Instead of hiking out I simply had a 30 minute set back (no one drove by while I was stopped). I use a tire changing stand at home which is a BIG help. Yeah you don't have that on the road but once you have done it several times you get the idea and can get it done anywhere without the stand. Having dirt bikes that I ride regularly helps keep me in practice since they seem to need new tires more often.
BTW
3k miles does not seem like a lot. I assume you run the TKC's? I used to as well and even though I liked them I would never get over 5k miles. I am on my second set of Mefo's and the first one I got almost 8k miles and it was in better shape when I replaced it than my TKC's normally. So I went with another one. So far about 3k miles and still looks to be in great shape. So I run the TKC up front and the Mefo in the rear now.
Jim

[ozarksrider]

I've been buying mine from Motorcycle Superstore, not sure if they are the greatest on price or not. FWIW I bought a set of TKC80s from Engles and I dont think there was much difference in price. I took them home and mounted them myself.

Those Mefo's look interesting, the TKC's are great but don't last.

Mounting/dismounting tires isn't a big deal after you have done a few. It's even easier if you aren't worried about scratching your rims. Use lots of soap and practice the technique; you'll be fine.