terribad16

Hey everyone, I've been shopping around on CL for an older road bike. I've found a lot of great ones in just a week, but most of them say they need new tires. I'm fine with that, but I was wondering how much getting new tires and getting them put on would cost total? I'm not looking for anything special, just tires that can handle a 7 mile round trip a few times a week, and maybe a 15-20 mile trip rarely. So how much would that cost?

thanks for the help

10 Wheels

Tires, Install them yourself.
https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...8_20000_400013

terribad16

Is that hard to do? I really know nothing about bikes. And I found a lbs that installs for $8, which is really cheap. but if it is easy I have no problem doing it myself

10 Wheels

There are two things that go with bike riding. Wind and flat tires.
You need to know how to change tires and tubes.

Machine Age

It's not hard to do and it's fun to know how to do it.

Here's my favorite tire. Also good in the 28mm width. You can also get a good Kenda tire for about 10 bucks on Amazon (and you'll need tubes too...would recommend presta valves):

https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ducts_id=13864

Here's a decent video on how to change a tire:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm-SvNPFR4E

terribad16

Hey well thanks for all the help and quick replies... I really appreciate it! I'll be posting pics as soon as I find the right bike

terribad16

Oh and are the tire levers necessary to remove the tire? Or is there something else you can use that would be around the house?

greyghost_6

I can't think of anything around the house. Some tires you can get off with your fingers, and some you need huge amount of force. It needs to not puncture the tube. Those blue park ones only cost like $3-4 for 3 might be good investment. If you don't have a bike shop around maybe you can get by with something hard plastic like the back end of a permanent marker? (and here come the flame posts )

terribad16

Haha well i was just wondering if they were even necessary. But fortunately I have a bike shop right down the street, so I can pick them up tomorrow!

marley mission

yep
there will be wind
you will flat

being prepared helps make it suck less

jimmuller 

Don't forget a good pump.

Eileen

Yes, as everyone has said, you can do it. I got my first flat less than a mile into my first ride on my first bicycle purchased as an adult. DH said "Awesome! You get to practice a roadside repair." It *was* awesome -- took the fear out of flat tires, and working on bikes in general.

atmdad

Yes, tire levers are pretty essential to get most tires off. I used to use a couple of flat head screwdrivers when I was a kid but I would not recommend them.

$8 bucks a pop to put a tire on? I guess that is reasonable, I wouldn't know, shop wrenches can't do everything for free. But I would suggest if you were to pay the money let them know you would like them to show you how to do it.

BassNotBass

That's pretty much what I charge but I will be more than happy to show anyone how to change a tube/tire if they're willing to learn.

Esteban32696

While $8 is a decent price,, like others said, you NEED to know how to do this,,,, sooner or later. I had 3 flats in one day on a lonely back road !

rootboy 

Besides, it's FUN working on bikes!

marley mission

funny thing when u pick up an old 10speed
tires are often the least of your issues
bikes often are listed as rtr
but havent been overhauled in many years (if ever)
my experience has been a great one since i have enjoyed all the bike mechanics i have learned
but it requires time, educating yourself, patience and tooling up
you can get lucky with an old bike and not have it act up for awhile but eventually it does and if you're not willing to learn the skills to maintain then get your wallet out at the LBS and be prepared to spend more than the bike is usually worth

Amesja

• Learning how to install a tire and fix a flat is basic bike maintenance 101 and every rider needs to know how to do this. Luckily it is not hard.
  
• You are going to need to buy a decent bike pump anyhow. Bike tires tend to not hold pressure very well over time. Checking tire pressure and pumping them up is an almost daily ritual -especially for the newer high-pressure tires on road bikes.
  
• Either buy your tires through a local bike shop (LBS) or do some research on how tires are sized BEFORE you attempt to buy one. Tire-sizing on bikes is really screwed up and getting the correct size is much more difficult that you would believe. Read Sheldon Browns tire-sizing article which will help you get the right tire for your bike. The trick is to check for the ISO/ESTRO number and realize that decimal sizing is not the same as fractional sizing. Believe it or not, 26x1.25 and 26x1-1/4 are not even close to the same tire and are not interchangeable.
  
• Amazon is good source for tires -especially decent low-cost value tires like the Kendas. Some sellers make it hard to order the right tire and don't even list the ISO number. Apparently they like getting returns and angry confused customers giving tires a bad rating. Amazon ratings are FULL of angry customers who didn't understand the tire sizing system and are still confused as to why a certain tire was "marked wrong."

terribad16

Well I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get the tires through my LBS, just so I can be sure I'm getting the right size. But the cheapest road tire they have is the Bontrager T1... I have Bontrager tires on my mtn. bike and they have held up well for almost a year. But I really don't know how realiable these road ones would be. So does anyone know if these tires are okay?

bigbossman 

The rounded back of a table spoon can do the trick.......but genuine tire levers are pretty cheap.

rhm

+1

Man, that's pretty quotable! But I'd add sweat. And grease-stained pant cuffs.

RobbieTunes

Necessary safety skill. You do not want to be stranded these days.
We're not always around to scare away the bad folks and the other normal people.

Takes minutes.
Saves money.
Connects you to the bike.

I'd learn to use a CO2 inflator, too.
They sure are handy.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

+1 I use spoons instead of tire levers when Tire Levers aren't handy. Works just as well for me.

marley mission

i should list all the stuff that is in my backpack - i will later - better safe then sorry imo (plus the extra weight only makes the workout that much more intnense imo)- my goal is to never have to make the pickup call to the wife

sauze

I've managed to pop a tube with a spoon, I'm still not positive how.