Stupid question - how do I get a new tyre fitted?

Domo · 21 Jul 2018 at 17:04

Spotted a screw in my rear tyre, luckily just before setting off on a long ride. This has never happened to me before, I mean, I've taken bikes to the garage to have worn tyres replaced but I can hardly ride this thing.

Assuming I need to find a mobile tyre fitter?

It's a Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa 180/60 zr17 so might be punchy on the wallet.

metamorphpwner · 21 Jul 2018 at 17:15

Mobile fitter or remove the wheel and take it to the garage. I normally take just the wheels as it can be slightly cheaper when fitting new tyres

Domo · 21 Jul 2018 at 17:16

Would love to have a go but I don't trust myself. Especially not the rear wheel. Will start phoning around. Thanks.

tom_e · 21 Jul 2018 at 17:33

Mobile fitters for bike tyres are very rare in my experience, it's worth learning how to drop the wheels out yourself pretty straight forward.

Domo · 21 Jul 2018 at 20:06

Just had a response from my Ducati dealer (this late on a Saturday :cool:

). They advised I ride it to a bike tyre fitter which is about 8 miles from where I am. Then if it deflates I can use my Ducati roadside assistance. Well miffed about this screw though, but I know it happens to us all.

TripleT · 21 Jul 2018 at 20:26

Gonna say, just ride it it'll be fine.

Done it many a times.

Snaggle · 21 Jul 2018 at 20:54

I always just take the wheels off and take them down .. as they charge £25 per wheel extra .

tom_e · 21 Jul 2018 at 20:57

Snaggle said:
I always just take the wheels off and take them down .. as they charge £25 per wheel extra .

Saves me £40 as well, considering I get my tyres for about £160 a set it's a worthwhile saving.

TripleT · 22 Jul 2018 at 09:12

Jesus mine's only £25 total to fit on the bike, not worth it for me. Nor can I be bothered / have the time!

Domo · 22 Jul 2018 at 09:30

TripleT said:
Jesus mine's only £25 total to fit on the bike, not worth it for me. Nor can I be bothered / have the time!

Agree! I'm purely in it for the ride. Not into tinkering and all the mechanical stuff. Have I done the bolts up right? Is the chain tension right? I just wouldn't trust myself - and like you say there's the time element.

Kreeeee · 22 Jul 2018 at 09:39

Domo said:
Agree! I'm purely in it for the ride. Not into tinkering and all the mechanical stuff. Have I done the bolts up right? Is the chain tension right? I just wouldn't trust myself - and like you say there's the time element.

Do you not adjust the chain?

The_Abyss · 22 Jul 2018 at 20:32

I think I've adjusted my chain maybe two - three times in the past six years. If it needs doing again it gets done at the service. This current one will last me around 17,000 miles / four years, so perhaps I should take a bit more care. I generally check it every five hundred miles or so, or every day when touring.

Freeman · 23 Jul 2018 at 09:05

Kreeeee said:
Do you not adjust the chain?

He probably gets it all done at the garage.

Chains don't need adjusting that often.

Kreeeee · 23 Jul 2018 at 10:49

Freeman said:
He probably gets it all done at the garage.

Chains don't need adjusting that often.

I guess it depends how much you ride. I do about 10,000 kms a year and need to adjust them at least once a year myself to keep it in spec.

I imagine most people don't care if it's out of spec, particularly if they don't ride much, and just let the garage do it once a year. Also bikes with low power output (well... torque) such as the Street Triple didn't need adjusting as much as my Tuono or MT-10.

I don't know how much difference it makes to chain life though as I've never kept a bike long enough to need the chain replacing. I think the longest was the Street Triple that I put 25,000km on in 2 years.

Freeman · 23 Jul 2018 at 10:55

Kreeeee said:
I imagine most people don't care if it's out of spec, particularly if they don't ride much, and just let the garage do it once a year. Also bikes with low power output (well... torque) such as the Street Triple didn't need adjusting as much as my Tuono or MT-10.

Yup. I do about the same mileage as you a year and only adjust once a year. If I didn't do my own maintenance it'd definitely be something I'd get done alongside an oil change once a year at a garage.

ttaskmaster · 23 Jul 2018 at 11:11

TripleT said:
Jesus mine's only £25 total to fit on the bike, not worth it for me. Nor can I be bothered / have the time!

Jesus, mine's only £10....!!