Cannot fit tyre

AlanS107 said:

I find it impossible to fit a tyre without using tyre levers. Unfortunately, more often than not, this pinches the inner tube and causes a puncture. How do other people manage to change tyres? The fit is so tight that I have not got strong enough hands to do the fitting.

Is it possible to buy looser tyres? If so, which make or size? Or is there some some of fitting or other technique that would help.

My tyre size is 700 x 18 - 32c

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Alan.

Do you use cloth rim strips? Cloth rim strips are thick and may make it more difficult to change. Try some of the thinner vinyl rim strips and see if that helps.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=12621&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

Some wheels and tires are just tight. I had an Araya set of rims on an older MTB and it was nearly impossible to take a tire off change a flat and put it back on. I broke several tire tools with that set of rims, may they rest in peace.

AlanS107 said:

I find it impossible to fit a tyre without using tyre levers. Unfortunately, more often than not, this pinches the inner tube and causes a puncture. How do other people manage to change tyres? The fit is so tight that I have not got strong enough hands to do the fitting.

Is it possible to buy looser tyres? If so, which make or size? Or is there some some of fitting or other technique that would help.

My tyre size is 700 x 18 - 32c

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Alan.

Installing tires doesn't need to be a test of hand strength. Rather than struggle, I use tire levers all the time without pinching the tube. Get the plastic levers, with the thin, hooked ends that go easily over the rim. Just be careful not to pinch the tube under the rim when you insert the lever....look and see what you're doing and you shouldn't have a problem.

AlanS107 said:

I find it impossible to fit a tyre without using tyre levers. Unfortunately, more often than not, this pinches the inner tube and causes a puncture. How do other people manage to change tyres? The fit is so tight that I have not got strong enough hands to do the fitting.

Is it possible to buy looser tyres? If so, which make or size? Or is there some some of fitting or other technique that would help.

My tyre size is 700 x 18 - 32c

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Alan.

I think you mean your tube is 700 x 18-32? One other factor is wire bead vs kevlar bead. Michelin pro races have never needed a lever for me to put them on, can do it in less than a minute. Taking them off requires a small lever to get the bead outside the rim lip, but once that is started it's a snap. I will mention that some rim are inherently tougher to mount a tire on than others.

Inflate the tube to about 5-10 Lbs before you stuff it into the Tire, that will prevent pinch flats, and check that the Tube is inside the Tire after you squeeze it onto the rim by looking between the Rim and Tire wall...you should be OK...

OCRoadie came up with a good tip, if you're on the road, blow the tube up with your mouth before fitting it to save Co2....I've tried it several times and it works...

Do you have a Tire lever??

Incidentally, I find it's really easy to get the Tires on and off Ksyrium SL's...I don't need a lever...I'm wondering if it's because I have loose Tires? Or they've become stretched? Anyone else experienced this on these wheels??

AlanS107 said:

I find it impossible to fit a tyre without using tyre levers. Unfortunately, more often than not, this pinches the inner tube and causes a puncture. How do other people manage to change tyres? The fit is so tight that I have not got strong enough hands to do the fitting.

Is it possible to buy looser tyres? If so, which make or size? Or is there some some of fitting or other technique that would help.

My tyre size is 700 x 18 - 32c

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Alan.

I agree that a small amount of air in the tube tends to prevent folding and pinching the tube when mounting the tire. I always use the plastic/nylon tire irons. I also lube the bead and the rim edge of the last portion of the tire that has to go on to the wheel. I'm refering to the "difficult part" where
the tire is tough to fit over the rim (usually about a 1 foot long section of tire and rim. Use a mixture of 4 parts dish washing detergent to 1 part water. DO NOT USE A LARGE AMOUNT OF THIS LIQUID! Rub just a little on the bead and rim edge with a small squeezed out piece of cloth, or just your wet finger tip. (again to minimize the amount of liquid). Avoid leaving the inside of the wheel wet as this will rust the spoke nipples and cause problems.

p38lightning said:

I agree that a small amount of air in the tube tends to prevent folding and pinching the tube when mounting the tire. I always use the plastic/nylon tire irons. I also lube the bead and the rim edge of the last portion of the tire that has to go on to the wheel. I'm refering to the "difficult part" where
the tire is tough to fit over the rim (usually about a 1 foot long section of tire and rim. Use a mixture of 4 parts dish washing detergent to 1 part water. DO NOT USE A LARGE AMOUNT OF THIS LIQUID! Rub just a little on the bead and rim edge with a small squeezed out piece of cloth, or just your wet finger tip. (again to minimize the amount of liquid). Avoid leaving the inside of the wheel wet as this will rust the spoke nipples and cause problems.

Ditto on all above plus just use your thumbs if , possible levers are the very last resort :- you can buy special tyre lub for fitting car and motorcycle tyres ( motocross with lock bolts being the worse ) and I would have thought any tyre shop would sell you a small quantity if you ask nicely - you should be able to dilute this about 2:1 and still have it work fine ( used to be in the trade ) and I´ve never seen it cause anything to rust .

AlanS107 said:

I find it impossible to fit a tyre without using tyre levers. Unfortunately, more often than not, this pinches the inner tube and causes a puncture. How do other people manage to change tyres? The fit is so tight that I have not got strong enough hands to do the fitting.

Is it possible to buy looser tyres? If so, which make or size? Or is there some some of fitting or other technique that would help.

My tyre size is 700 x 18 - 32c

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Alan.

hi alan,
i've changed a lot of tyres and tubes over the years, in my workshop at my leisure, and on the side of the road in the rain.
i have used a variety of road rims and tyres/tubes ranging from mavic, ambrosia, araya and now velocity.
some have been tight and the kevlar beaded ones loose.
i have never had to resort to levers.
i think its more manual technique than mechanical leverage.
on the last bit of the tyre you're trying to mount use both your palms in a rolling action rather than your thumbs. you will spread the load over a larger area i've recollections of tearing my thumbs before started rolling my tyres on with my palms. also it as the other guys say its beneficial to seat the tube by inflating and then deflating it slightly. it seats better in the tube.

Well, I don't have much to add here, except to say I have also had a similar problem fitting new tires to my rims.

I recently bought some new tires, and spent almost an entire afternoon getting them on my rims. I got one on, but I just couldn't get the other to fit. I couldn't even do it with tire levers. Eventually, I gave up and took the tire and rim back to the bike shop - the guy there put it on with his hands in about 10 seconds. I felt like an idiot - he said I must have loosened it up for him.

And the moral of this story is......I believe people when they say all tires can be fitted without levers - it's just a matter of learning the correct technique (which I still don't have).

I used to be in your position but now I can change anything. I remember snapping leavers on tires that I change with my fingers now. The last little bit you just roll over, don't try to push it on. Its hard to explain but sorta bend the tire and roll it up with your fingers or palms rather than pushing the edge of the tire. Look - I know this is poorly worded but I am not that good at explaining. If I think of a better way to say it then I will let you know.

New tires o on easier if they are nice and warm.

A technique that works for me with new tires; put tire on rim without the tube, use levers to get it over the rim, leave tire on rim overnight. Next day put tube in and it is much easier to put tire back on by hand. Tire seems to stretch overnight.

Just roll the last few inches like a burrito or a big spliff with the palm of your hands. Levers are not needed other than to start it to get it off the rim.