Changing My Own Motorcycle Tires

I've never changed a motorcycle tire

It's always felt daunting, like many other maintenance jobs, and I've heard again and again that it's a pain in the ass. Well the good news is this: They weren't lying! It is indeed a pain in the ass :)

But it's also something that should get much easier with practice and I want to know how to do it the hard way before investing in a tire changing machine down the road. I also reflected on how many times I've changed a bicycle tire and decided that it's really the same thing, just with a bit more muscle required.

To learn the process while I wait for my new tires to arrive I grabbed an old tire I saved from the last change and got to work.

Reflecting on my ignorance

As I was shopping for a new set of motorcycle tires I realized that I have little to no idea what tires I've had on the bike in the 10 years I've owned it. The only set I can name are the tires currently on the bike (50/50 on-road/off-road Dunlop Trailmax Mission tires).

So I went through old photos from the day I got the bike to now, zooming in to read the writing on tire sidewalls. I've always just waited for the dealership to tell me I need new tires and then chose whatever they suggested.

And it's exactly this lack of engagement, knowledge, and intimacy with my motorcycle that I've been working hard to change over the last year or so (since around the time of this post).

The Zen of Vehicle Maintenance

I love these words from a video titled, "Reliable" Does NOT Mean Maintenance Free:

"Learning to maintain your own vehicle changes something in you. It turns a car from a disposable appliance into something more - a machine you understand and something you’re connected to.

"Every bolt you turn, every problem you solve, every time you step back and say, ‘I fixed that.’ That’s value you cannot measure in dollars."

– DriveMedia

My 2015 BMW F700GS tire history

So, here's what I found from my photographic deep dive:

2015-2017: Michelin Akakee 3

These are the tires that came on the bike when I purchased it new in 2015. They saw me through my first motorcycle road trip to Canada (Boston to Montreal) as well as a motorcycle camping trip in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with my friend Jigger and a 16-day motorcycle trip down South through Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama.

2017-2023: Metzeler Tourance Next

I put these tires on the bike right before my 5,000 mile road trip across the USA. I can't (at least thus far) find any evidence that I had more than one set of these tires. After my cross-country trip I lost interest in motorcycling for a while so wasn't doing much riding each year. I think I made one set of these tires last for 6 years!

Though by the end of another Canadian motorcycle road trip with two good friends in 2023 – this time up to Toronto and around Algonquin Provincial Park – the tires had developed significant flat spots and were more than ready to be replaced.

2023-2024: Dunlop Trailmax Mission

This is the first set of tires that I intentionally researched and decided to put on the bike. And, ironically, it's the first set that I'm not entirely happy with and am now changing out for something else. Hence the desire to finally learn how to change my own tires at home.

While I really like the look of these tires, and they perform great in the limited off-road riding I've done, I'm experiencing a significant instability/wobble issue at highway speeds which is quite unsettling. I've tried many things to solve the problem, but at the end of the day it just seems to be the nature of this tire for some people (or at least on some bikes).

2025-TBD: Metzeler Tourance (the original version, not the Next version)

I just purchased these tires to replace the Dunlop Trailmax Missions. These tires have come stock on several BMW GS models over the years so should perform well and provide a good balance of on-road performance and mild off-road riding.

Putting my new skills to the test

After a few days of waiting, my new tires were delivered and I could get to work swapping the front and rear (for real this time, not just for practice). It went much better than my first change thanks to having some experience and being able to look up more tips after gaining some context.

After installing the tires I was able to seat the beads using my 6-gallon pancake air compressor (with the valve cores removed for maximum airflow). Then I balanced each wheel using a balancing stand I got on Amazon.

Once again, it feels great to gain a new skill and to become more self-reliant and in-tune with my motorcycle. To have one more regular maintenance task that I don't need to run to the dealership or a local shop for.

If you've never done any work on your bike I would highly recommend picking one thing to learn. An engine oil change is a good starting point. It's easier than you think and you'll start to develop a whole new appreciation for your machine.