Are Tourance NEXTs a bugger to fit?

[Hamslay]

What's the deal with NEXTs???

Last summer, a BMW specialist and tyre fitter recommended on here scratched the rear rim fitting a new NEXT. He couldn't believe how stiff it was.

Needing a replacement tyre now, I've just taken the bike to my local bike tyre place, and after 20 minutes 2 people gave up getting the old tyre off. They said it's too stiff and they were worried about bending the rim trying to lever the tyre off!

So I'm now forced to drive the wheel a 2-hour round trip to my local BMW dealer as they seem to be the only people able to actually get a NEXT tyre on and off a GS. I've then got to get the rim repaired, and then drive the 2-hour trip back to the dealer to get the tyre refitted.

Are the NEXTs really that bad? I can't believe the hassle these are causing both me and two reputable fitters!!!

Can anyone recommend something a bit easier to fit for next time? I'm really happy with the handing and life of the NEXTs but I can't be dealing with this every time I need new tyres.

 

[Streetbike]

My local tyrefitter had no problem at all. No scratches no comments, certainly no complaints or grumbles from fitter and only £10.

 

[MKP]

Too Stiff

Had the same problem twice replaced the rear and on both occasions the tyre fitter had difficulties. The next does appear a bit stiff. One of the fitters stated that it was something to do with the size/profile. Had no problems with front only rear. As a mechanic I've had many tyres replaced and they do appear a little more troublesome than other and some tyre fitters moan more that others.

 

[tanneman]

I'm near you. Always used Bedford Wheels. Who is your local, Wollaston?

 

[Hamslay]

I'm near you. Always used Bedford Wheels. Who is your local, Wollaston?

Yep, I go to Wollaston. They just had the tyre off and in my hand in 5 minutes. I'll be refitting a new NEXT to the rim in a couple of weeks so I'll compare the fitting price from Bedford Wheels to that of Wollaston. I'd love to use independents for the price, but twice I've tried and I'm still suffering from the errors.

 

[tanneman]

They are £10 per loose wheel. Insist they balance front and rear.

 

[Hamslay]

They are £10 per loose wheel. Insist they balance front and rear.

Thanks mate. Are they OK if you supply the tyres yourself? I'd have thought they'd prefer to supply the tyre too and make an extra few quid.

 

[tanneman]

They are not bothered. Just let them know if you have tyre pressure sensors or not.

 

[agcstoat]

I had a set fitted last week at Micheldever Tyres, and they had no problems at all getting them on the rims.
Nice tyres, much more positive-steering than the Anakees they replaced, which felt a bit vague and wore out after less than 4000 miles.

 

[Hamslay]

OK. So I took the freshly painted rim to Bedford Wheels today to fit a new NEXT and .... they scratched the rim trying to fit it! In the end they gave up. It took 2 of them 15 minutes to wrestle the partly fitted tyre off the rim. They said they do loads of BMW wheels but never a NEXT. After today, I don't think they'd touch one. It took me literally hours to get the wheel repaired, and it's scratched again!

I drove the scratched rim and tyre to Wollaston and they fitted the tyre for £16 in 5 minutes.

So a big thumbs down to Metzeler, and a big thumbs up to Jack at Wollaston.

No more NEXTs for me!

 

[tanneman]

That's a bummer. Surprising that the Next is so difficult to fit. I think I'll stick to Michelin.

 

[Nick V]

OK. So I took the freshly painted rim to Bedford Wheels today to fit a new NEXT and .... they scratched the rim trying to fit it! In the end they gave up. It took 2 of them 15 minutes to wrestle the partly fitted tyre off the rim. They said they do loads of BMW wheels but never a NEXT. After today, I don't think they'd touch one. It took me literally hours to get the wheel repaired, and it's scratched again!

I drove the scratched rim and tyre to Wollaston and they fitted the tyre for £16 in 5 minutes.

So a big thumbs down to Metzeler, and a big thumbs up to Jack at Wollaston.

No more NEXTs for me!

I suspect your tyre fitter - Bedford Wheels - may be 'economizing' on maintenance of their hydraulic tyre-changer.
In the time I've had my LC, I've had two sets of Nexts on and off the rims, and at no stage did my tyre fitment centre struggle.

Your experience has proved that it's possible for at least one dealer to get a Tourance Next onto a rim in '5 minutes'. This is certainly consistent with my experience.
So why are you knocking the tyre?

 

[Hamslay]

So why are you knocking the tyre?

Because three independent fitters, two of them specifically recommended on these forums, were unable to fit or remove two different rear tyres. If one out of four fitters had trouble, I'd think they were inexperienced or had sub-standard equipment. When three out of four fitters are unable to fit the tyre, it makes me think it's time to find a different tyre. I'm more than happy with the performance of the NEXTs, but if the only person that can fit them is my dealer at £100 more per set than an independent fitter, and an hour's ride away, I'll find an alternative.

I didn't start the thread to knock the tyre. I started it to find if other people had experienced similar problems.