[foggy95]

So my new Dunlop K70's are arriving today, to replace the original stock Avons on my 2012 C5. Doing this for aesthetic reasons only, those modern, low profile Avons just don't look 'right' to me.

My question is: can I reuse the original tubes with the new tires? Staying same size diameter, but the K70's appear 'fatter'. (Going with 19x3.25 front, 18 x 4.00 rear.)

The bike has only 325 miles on it so tires and tubes are 'as new'.

I'm taking a shot at changing them myself, have ordered a nice 3 piece tire iron kit as well, and have a couple old automobile tire irons lying around somewhere as well.

Thanks for any tips/advice - will post pics of finished bike!

[rvcycleguy]

I would replace the tubes whenever I replace the tires.  Since you are doing the job yourself, you might pinch a tube while installing, so it would be nice to have a spare on hand. 

[Ducati Scotty]

+1.  Replace tubes and rim strips whenever you change tires.  With the money you spent on tires and the labor involved, it's poor economy to try to save on these relatively inexpensive items.  And always keep a spare tube around

Scott

[barenekd]

 Very seldom replace tubes, unless they have some obvious gonna-be defects. I do powder them well when I change them though. I went though 4 sets of tires on mine before it crashed. The tubes were fine. I have never, in 50 years of riding, changed tehm with every tire change. Total waste of money. A new tube won't stop a nail any better than an old one!
The only flats I've had were from nails, etc, or hitting sharp rocks at great speed on an enduro run! Never from just a tube failure.
Bare

[Ducati Scotty]

Thanks for the info Bare.  I will say this though, the stock tubes were very stiff and inelastic when I changed my tires after three years.  I suspect good quality tubes would have looked much better but there was no wa I was reusing these.

Scott

[shamelin]

One piece of advice- grab some dishwashing liquid, mix about 1 part liquid to 2 parts water, and liberally apply it to the sidewall of the tire when you're getting the tire off the rim and putting the tire back on.  The extra lubrication makes the job a lot easier.  Even then, it was still a bear to swap out my tires, so good luck to you foggy95!

[hortoncode3]

It it were me, I would change em. RE isn't known for using highest quality stuff on the initial build. Tubes are cheap..replace em.

[foggy95]

Thanks for the responses guys, I wimped out after all and had the local cycle center changes the tires. (I took the wheels off myself, one at a time of course, and drove them over in my car - they're only a couple miles away...)

Anyway, got the whole job done in two hours or so, I'm impressed by how easy the wheel removal is on these bikes - especially the rear. I expected to ahve to mess with the chain and the snails and all that - not so! Very clever design.

The tires look great, very period looking and fill the fender space better. The rear especially is bigger (and taller). Only drawback is now I cannot spin the rear wheel when the bike is on the center stand .. that's easily remedied by using a board under the center stand feet. I guess my overall gearing will be a little taller, that's probably a good thing. Can't road test now, storm coming this way.

[REpozer]

First it was the synthetic fork oil Nazis,..
 then it was the chain Nazis,....

  Now the inner tube Nazis? 

I bet the Honda Rebel folks are out riding.

[Ducati Scotty]

I bet the Honda Rebel folks are out riding.

What fun is that?  Oh, wait a minute...

[High On Octane]

I replaced the tubes and rim strips on my bike when I did a recent tire change.  Then again, the tires and tubes were at least 20 years old.       I've done it both ways, just depends on what the tube looks like once you get it out.

Scottie

[foggy95]

With the somewhat taller tires, now the side stand is a bit short. Maybe the side stand from a G5 would be taller, I'll do a search, that's probably been discussed before. I used to be able to 'flat foot' the bike, not so much now .... picked up at least an inch in seat height ...

[GreenMachine]

I've done it both ways too...Found fixing the rim tape and sprocket tightness more important..Those Heavy duty Enfield Tubes are beefy.... a

[foggy95]

Pic of new K70's, if this works:

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f175/jwhvw/008_zpsd7fb04e5.jpg

[GSS]

Looks great! The OEM RE tubes are really good quality and I reused mine as well......nothing to fear with only 325 miles on the bike.