Help me, Please --- I can not change these dang tires!

Hello All,

After the latest bike theft, I got a nice hybrid and a couple of old bikes to "play with".

One of the old bikes came from e-bay and was just US $41. It is a Fuji Roubaix GPX from about 1991.
The guy told me there were wheelset issues and I have greased up the barings front and back.

BUT --- he sent damn racing tires, 3 sets of the stuff. Fancy colors and 700c x 23cm and I can not
get the things on and off the rim without taking a whole day. I broke one of my wheel tools !!

I hate to not use these real fancy "Wolber racing" rims, but I need to be able to change a tire
without using up all my vacation to do it.

Why is it so hard???

What should I do?

--
Regards, Joe

Mon, 04 Aug 2003 21:19:37 GMT, <J5AXa.12778$On2.762395@twister.tampabay.rr.com>, Joe Potter
<none@home.org> wrote:

>Why is it so hard???
>
>What should I do?

Get a quote from a bike shop. They'll either hate themselves afterward or you'll have a renewed
incentive to pull out all the stops and use every trick in the FAQ. Try spitting. Saliva is a good
lubricant.
--
zk

Zoot Katz wrote:

> Mon, 04 Aug 2003 21:19:37 GMT, <J5AXa.12778$On2.762395@twister.tampabay.rr.com>, Joe Potter
> <none@home.org> wrote:
>
>>Why is it so hard???
>>
>>What should I do?
>
> Get a quote from a bike shop. They'll either hate themselves afterward or you'll have a renewed
> incentive to pull out all the stops and use every trick in the FAQ. Try spitting. Saliva is a good
> lubricant.

Ha! Good one.

I got a road bike from around 1980 and one from around 1990 to play with myself. I refuse to let the
LBS know I can not even change a dang tire!

Well, I have got it done one or twice, but I can not see me changing this stuff out on the road.

--
Regards, Joe

Steve McDonald wrote:

>
> Are you sure you're not mixing 27-inch tires and 700mm rims?
>
> Steve McDonald

My very old 1980's (?) Nishiki road bike has 27" tires and they are very easy to change.

My 1999 Cannondale H500 hybrid has 700c "street tires" that are also very easy to work with.

I never have a flat with either one.

My Fuji 1991 road bike came with 700c racing rims and racing tires by Michelin. They are 700x23c
Axial Carbon High density. Damn pretty things they are. I did get them on the thing a couple of
times, but the rim tape got all fouled up and I only got to do 3 or 4 blocks before a flat. I have
yet to complete one ride. I am just a flat making machine!

One of the tires ( I got 6 when I bought it) is a 700x25c that I can get on and off a tad better
than the 700x23c. I guess I'll throw all these pretty racing tires away and get something I can work
with, unless someone has an idea on how normal folks can use these tires.

Oh, to answer your question --- the bike is 700c all right.

--
Regards, Joe

Steve McDonald wrote:

>
> Are you sure you're not mixing 27-inch tires and 700mm rims?
>
> Steve McDonald

No. I have 700c rims and the tires are 700x23c.

--
Regards, Joe

Steve McDonald wrote:

>
> Are you sure you're not mixing 27-inch tires and 700mm rims?
>
> Steve McDonald

My very old 1980's (?) Nishiki road bike has 27" tires and they are very easy to change.

My 1999 Cannondale H500 hybrid has 700c "street tires" that are also very easy to work with.

I never have a flat with either one.

My Fuji 1991 road bike came with 700c racing rims and racing tires by Michelin. They are 700x23c
Axial Carbon High density. Damn pretty things they are. I did get them on the thing a couple of
times, but the rim tape got all fouled up and I only got to do 3 or 4 blocks before a flat. I have
yet to complete one ride. I am just a flat making machine!

One of the tires ( I got 6 when I bought it) is a 700x25c that I can get on and off a tad better
than the 700x23c. I guess I'll throw all these pretty racing tires away and get something I can work
with, unless someone has an idea on how normal folks can use these tires.

Oh, to answer your question --- the bike is 700c all right.

--
Regards, Joe

I have (or had, since I threw them away in disgust) a pair of cheap Alex rims. I had to use
screwdrivers to pry the tire onto the rim....obviously it's diameter was just a tad too big. I
thought all bike wheels would be that way until I changed a tube on some Velocities, I didn't even
need tire tools for that one.

"Joe Potter" <none@home.org> wrote in message news:RlCXa.12830$On2.784170@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
> Steve McDonald wrote:
>
> >
> > Are you sure you're not mixing 27-inch tires and 700mm rims?
> >
> > Steve McDonald
>
> My very old 1980's (?) Nishiki road bike has 27" tires and they are very easy to change.
>
> My 1999 Cannondale H500 hybrid has 700c "street tires" that are also very easy to work with.
>
> I never have a flat with either one.
>
> My Fuji 1991 road bike came with 700c racing rims and racing tires by Michelin. They are 700x23c
> Axial Carbon High density. Damn pretty things they are. I did get them on the thing a couple of
> times, but the rim tape got all fouled up and I only got to do 3 or 4 blocks before a flat. I have
> yet to complete one ride. I am just a flat making machine!
>
> One of the tires ( I got 6 when I bought it) is a 700x25c that I can get
on
> and off a tad better than the 700x23c. I guess I'll throw all these pretty racing tires away and
> get something I can work with, unless someone has an idea on how normal folks can use these tires.
>
>
> Oh, to answer your question --- the bike is 700c all right.
>
> --
> Regards, Joe

D.Putnam wrote:

> I have (or had, since I threw them away in disgust) a pair of cheap Alex rims. I had to use
> screwdrivers to pry the tire onto the rim....obviously it's diameter was just a tad too big. I
> thought all bike wheels would be that way until I changed a tube on some Velocities, I didn't even
> need tire tools for that one.
>
>

Well, these Wolber racing rims are suppose to be good stuff. Perhaps the gods just hate to see me on
a road bike?

--
Regards, Joe

Is there a chance you have 27" rims and 700c tires? I remember my old Raleigh race bikes having 27"
rims. It wasn't until I got my team issue professional that 700c tires were standard. I'm not sure
but the 27" rims are a bit bigger than 700c. The ISO designation for 27" rims is 630mm, its 622 for
a 700c. "Joe Potter" <none@home.org> wrote in message
news:J5AXa.12778$On2.762395@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
> Hello All,
>
> After the latest bike theft, I got a nice hybrid and a couple of old bikes to "play with".
>
> One of the old bikes came from e-bay and was just US $41. It is a Fuji Roubaix GPX from about
> 1991. The guy told me there were wheelset issues
and
> I have greased up the barings front and back.
>
> BUT --- he sent damn racing tires, 3 sets of the stuff. Fancy colors and 700c x 23cm and I can not
> get the things on and off the rim without taking a whole day. I broke one of my wheel tools !!
>
> I hate to not use these real fancy "Wolber racing" rims, but I need to be able to change a tire
> without using up all my vacation to do it.
>
> Why is it so hard???
>
> What should I do?
>
> --
> Regards, Joe

Joe Potter <none@home.org> wrote in message news:<BsDXa.15726$K4.743808@twister.tampabay.rr.com>...
> D.Putnam wrote:
>
> > I have (or had, since I threw them away in disgust) a pair of cheap Alex rims. I had to use
> > screwdrivers to pry the tire onto the rim....obviously it's diameter was just a tad too big. I
> > thought all bike wheels would be that way until I changed a tube on some Velocities, I didn't
> > even need tire tools for that one.
> >
> >
>
>
>
> Well, these Wolber racing rims are suppose to be good stuff. Perhaps the gods just hate to see me
> on a road bike?

There is a tool, called a bead jack, that will help you get tight fitting tires on. I ordered one
for my wife who has arthritis and does not stand a chance to mount a tire with her bare hands.
Unfortunately, I can't give you any first hand information yet. Here is a link to one:
http://www.terrybicycles.com/BPA/7400000.lasso

Rivendell carries them too.

Regading getting the tires off, bunch the tire together so that much of it can drop into the center
of the rim...its smallest diameter. Then, lever off the loosest part. It is often best to try to
lever near the valve as the rim tape is often doubled in this area. If you tried to lever opposite
the doubled tape and tube valve flange, the pinched together part of the tire may not be able to
conform to the smallest rim diameter. I've used both fabric and plastic band rim tapes. Both are
fine, but I think the slickness of the plastic band makes it slightly easier to dismount tires.

Steve Shapiro shaps@thermacell.net

Steve Shapiro wrote:

> Joe Potter <none@home.org> wrote in message
> news:<BsDXa.15726$K4.743808@twister.tampabay.rr.com>...
>> D.Putnam wrote:
>>
>> > I have (or had, since I threw them away in disgust) a pair of cheap Alex rims. I had to use
>> > screwdrivers to pry the tire onto the rim....obviously it's diameter was just a tad too big. I
>> > thought all bike wheels would be that way until I changed a tube on some Velocities, I didn't
>> > even need tire tools for that one.
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> Well, these Wolber racing rims are suppose to be good stuff. Perhaps the gods just hate to see me
>> on a road bike?
>
> There is a tool, called a bead jack, that will help you get tight fitting tires on. I ordered one
> for my wife who has arthritis and does not stand a chance to mount a tire with her bare hands.
> Unfortunately, I can't give you any first hand information yet. Here is a link to one:
> http://www.terrybicycles.com/BPA/7400000.lasso
>
> Rivendell carries them too.
>
> Regading getting the tires off, bunch the tire together so that much of it can drop into the
> center of the rim...its smallest diameter. Then, lever off the loosest part. It is often best to
> try to lever near the valve as the rim tape is often doubled in this area. If you tried to lever
> opposite the doubled tape and tube valve flange, the pinched together part of the tire may not
> be able to conform to the smallest rim diameter. I've used both fabric and plastic band rim
> tapes. Both are fine, but I think the slickness of the plastic band makes it slightly easier to
> dismount tires.
>
> Steve Shapiro shaps@thermacell.net

Thanks for the tips.

I had at it again today. Armed with better rim tape, the correct size tube, and some baby powder ---
I got the job done!

It is raining again here in Orlando or I would go see if I can get 3 blocks from home on this bike
without a flat. But, I do know I can get the tires changed.

--
Regards, Joe

Joe Potter <none@home.org> wrote in news:4YUXa.13655$On2.906302@twister.tampabay.rr.com:

> Steve Shapiro wrote:
>
>> Joe Potter <none@home.org> wrote in message
>> news:<BsDXa.15726$K4.743808@twister.tampabay.rr.com>...
>>> D.Putnam wrote:
>>>
>>> > I have (or had, since I threw them away in disgust) a pair of cheap Alex rims. I had to use
>>> > screwdrivers to pry the tire onto the rim....obviously it's diameter was just a tad too big. I
>>> > thought all bike wheels would be that way until I changed a tube on some Velocities, I didn't
>>> > even need tire tools for that one.
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Well, these Wolber racing rims are suppose to be good stuff. Perhaps the gods just hate to see
>>> me on a road bike?
>>
>> There is a tool, called a bead jack, that will help you get tight fitting tires on. I ordered one
>> for my wife who has arthritis and does not stand a chance to mount a tire with her bare hands.
>> Unfortunately, I can't give you any first hand information yet. Here is a link to one:
>> http://www.terrybicycles.com/BPA/7400000.lasso
>>
>> Rivendell carries them too.
>>
>> Regading getting the tires off, bunch the tire together so that much of it can drop into the
>> center of the rim...its smallest diameter. Then, lever off the loosest part. It is often best to
>> try to lever near the valve as the rim tape is often doubled in this area. If you tried to lever
>> opposite the doubled tape and tube valve flange, the pinched together part of the tire may not
>> be able to conform to the smallest rim diameter. I've used both fabric and plastic band rim
>> tapes. Both are fine, but I think the slickness of the plastic band makes it slightly easier to
>> dismount tires.
>>
>> Steve Shapiro shaps@thermacell.net
>
>
> Thanks for the tips.
>
> I had at it again today. Armed with better rim tape, the correct size tube, and some baby powder
> --- I got the job done!
>
> It is raining again here in Orlando or I would go see if I can get 3 blocks from home on this bike
> without a flat. But, I do know I can get the tires changed.
>
>
>
Glad to hear you got it going. I use Carbons and they're my new fave tire.

Also try working the tire back and forth working from the valve stem around to the opposite side.
You want to try and work the tube away from the bead so that it's seated dead center in the tire.
This should make it a little easier to push that last section of bead over the rim.

It seems to me that certain brands of tires matched with certain brands of rims are tighter than
others. I suspect that all 700c tires aren't created equal.