Mark wrote: Lol Trikebldr, I was more incensed by this comment (I guess we don't have any DIY'ers on here!) than tire machines.... if I have to borrow a tool then I need to buy one. You seem to have a lot of tires,...Now lets be friends Lol,...
Yes, probably a bad choice of phrasing! From your other comments about buying a tool when you need to borrow one, we are probably alike! This is how I have acquired my entire collection of tools and equipment over the years. it's just that with so many various hobbies in my life I have tons of equipment and have learned to appreciate having the right tools to do my own work so I have total control over the quality.
Again, yes, I do find myself in a position, having recently picked up two Voyagers and a sidecar, to need to replace all of the tires due to age, mostly. I'm always leery of hitting the highways for 2000 miles or more on tires I know nothing about. So, all five will be replaced. Too bad, too, since all five have good tread, but their manufacture codes are too old for my liking.
BTW, I too have a set of tire spoons, including some 30" long ones for the more stubborn tires. I guess my objection to simply using some tire irons is how much I have to wrestle to keep the wheel on the ground while also prying with the spoons. To have it solidly held while I work on it was my initial focus on using a tire machine. Then I saw how easy it was to use one of the no-mar bars to remove and mount a tire. The local Honda shop has two manual machines and he let me try one to change some tires for him. So slick! I was hooked!
Of course we're friends! We have a common passion!