How to deal with tight tires on Zonda rims?

[Morten Reippuert Knudsen]

Michigan John <[email protected]> wrote:
> My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
> rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
> We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.

> Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?
> Any brands of tires that are looser.

Vittoria's tires and yellow michelin tire-levers

> How about Continental GP 4000?

Conti's are traditionally very tight.


--
Morten Reippuert Knudsen <http://blog.reippuert.dk>

Merlin Works CR-3/2.5 & Campagnolo Chorus 2007.

 

[Morten Reippuert Knudsen]

bfd <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Sep 19, 8:54 am, "Michigan John" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
> > rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
> > We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
> >
> > Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?
> For tools, you may want to check out a VAR tire lever, it pulls the
> tire over the rim. I've used them for years on many different types of
> rims and tires and have NEVER had any problems mounting. Check it out:

> http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.c...c=Tire-and-Tube&tc=Tire-Levers&item_id=VR-425

> I think Rivendell sells them too.

> > Any brands of tires that are looser.
> >
> Maybe the question should be what size tires are you using?
> 700x18/20/23? I use 700x25 and have no problem mounting. I like Avocet
> as they are a *true* 25mm wide (varies between 24-26mm in width), but
> those are almost impossible to find.

> Michelin 700x25 are supposely another tire that runs true in its
> width. Pumped up to 90-95psi, it provides a really comfortable ride
> with no lost of performance. Something to consider.

umm im very fond of my 25mm Pro2Race, It was a joy to decent from the
terible col mollard on those tires. lots of grip and a huge airchamber
to deal with the most dangerous decent of the alpes. (The first 10k of
the decent from Mollard to San st. Marianne is a lot slower than ex
Galliber-Lautrait but the road is terribible and there are lots of
uturns, an sturns).

--
Morten Reippuert Knudsen <http://blog.reippuert.dk>

Merlin Works CR-3/2.5 & Campagnolo Chorus 2007.

 

[Michigan John]

My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.

Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?
Any brands of tires that are looser.

How about Continental GP 4000?

 

[landotter]

On Sep 19, 10:54 am, "Michigan John" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
> rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
> We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
>
> Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?
> Any brands of tires that are looser.
>
> How about Continental GP 4000?

Carry a little hotel soap in your seat bag and use it to lube the edge
of the rim. Great for greasy hands, too!

 

[bfd]

On Sep 19, 8:54 am, "Michigan John" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
> rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
> We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
>
> Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?
For tools, you may want to check out a VAR tire lever, it pulls the
tire over the rim. I've used them for years on many different types of
rims and tires and have NEVER had any problems mounting. Check it out:

http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.c...c=Tire-and-Tube&tc=Tire-Levers&item_id=VR-425

I think Rivendell sells them too.

> Any brands of tires that are looser.
>
Maybe the question should be what size tires are you using?
700x18/20/23? I use 700x25 and have no problem mounting. I like Avocet
as they are a *true* 25mm wide (varies between 24-26mm in width), but
those are almost impossible to find.

Michelin 700x25 are supposely another tire that runs true in its
width. Pumped up to 90-95psi, it provides a really comfortable ride
with no lost of performance. Something to consider.

 

[Andrew Price]

On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:54:05 GMT, "Michigan John"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
>rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
>We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
>
>Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?

A Var tyre-lever for on the road:

<http://www.vartools.com/fr/fiche_produit.php?id=511&shop=&pro=>

and a Koolstop bead jack for the workshop:

<http://www.koolstop.com/Accessories/index.php#Anchor-without-3800>

Both of them work by pulling up on the tyre bead from an anchor point
on the other side of the rim, so there is no risk of pinching the
tube, which could happen if you try to use traditional levers to force
a recalcitrant tyre back on.

 

[* * Chas]

"bfd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sep 19, 8:54 am, "Michigan John" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on
these
> > rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for
me.
> > We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
> >
> > Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these
rims?
> For tools, you may want to check out a VAR tire lever, it pulls the
> tire over the rim. I've used them for years on many different types of
> rims and tires and have NEVER had any problems mounting. Check it out:
>
>
http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.c...c=Tire-and-Tube&tc=Tire-Levers&item_id=VR-425
>
> I think Rivendell sells them too.
>
> > Any brands of tires that are looser.
> >
> Maybe the question should be what size tires are you using?
> 700x18/20/23? I use 700x25 and have no problem mounting. I like Avocet
> as they are a *true* 25mm wide (varies between 24-26mm in width), but
> those are almost impossible to find.
>
> Michelin 700x25 are supposely another tire that runs true in its
> width. Pumped up to 90-95psi, it provides a really comfortable ride
> with no lost of performance. Something to consider.
>
How do these compare to the Crank Brothers Speed Lever. I found that the
Speed Lever is OK for loose fitting tires but tends to tear up the rubber
covering on the bead wire.

I use a liberal dose of talc in the tire and make sure the tube is well
coated before installation. It helps a lot.

Chas.

 

[Luke]

In article <[email protected]>,
Michigan John <[email protected]> wrote:

> My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
> rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
> We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
>
> Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?
> Any brands of tires that are looser.
>
> How about Continental GP 4000?
>
>

Something the others haven't mentioned: use as thin a rim tape as
possible.

 

[bfd]

On Sep 19, 1:18 pm, "* * Chas" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "bfd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...> On Sep 19, 8:54 am, "Michigan John" <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> > > My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on
> these
> > > rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for
> me.
> > > We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
>
> > > Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these
> rims?
> > For tools, you may want to check out a VAR tire lever, it pulls the
> > tire over the rim. I've used them for years on many different types of
> > rims and tires and have NEVER had any problems mounting. Check it out:
>
> http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=64121433636&d=single&c=Tools...
>
> > I think Rivendell sells them too.
>
> > > Any brands of tires that are looser.
>
> > Maybe the question should be what size tires are you using?
> > 700x18/20/23? I use 700x25 and have no problem mounting. I like Avocet
> > as they are a *true* 25mm wide (varies between 24-26mm in width), but
> > those are almost impossible to find.
>
> > Michelin 700x25 are supposely another tire that runs true in its
> > width. Pumped up to 90-95psi, it provides a really comfortable ride
> > with no lost of performance. Something to consider.
>
> How do these compare to the Crank Brothers Speed Lever. I found that the
> Speed Lever is OK for loose fitting tires but tends to tear up the rubber
> covering on the bead wire.
>
> I use a liberal dose of talc in the tire and make sure the tube is well
> coated before installation. It helps a lot.
>
Don't know, never tried the Crank Brother lever. However, someone else
stated they've tried both and recommended the VAR lever for the road;
Crank Brother for the shop.

Because it is plastic, I've heard of other breaking the VAR lever when
its cold. That's never happened to me, but I take my time when I pull
the tire over the rim. Good Luck!

 

[[email protected]]

On Sep 19, 10:54 am, "Michigan John" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
> rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
> We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
>
> Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?
> Any brands of tires that are looser.
>
> How about Continental GP 4000?

Campagnolo rims are bad for tire mounting. Vento wheels from 1999 for
me. Continental tires, Ultragatorskin and Ultra 2000 and 3000 in 23
and 25c are terrible. Grand Prix 3000 also terrible. Vredestein
Fortezza Tricomp 23c terrible. Panaracer Stradius Pro 23c terrible.
Vittoria Open Corsa EVO CX 25c are not too bad. Not easy but much
better than above tires. As mentioned, bigger tires are usually
easier. Thinnest rim tape possible. But the problem with Vento
wheels is the spoke hole is huge so thin tape gets pushed through the
hole and you get cut tubes that way. I deflate my Vento wheels after
every ride to keep the tape lasting a bit longer.

 

[[email protected]]

On Sep 19, 10:54 am, "Michigan John" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
> rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
> We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
>
> Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?
> Any brands of tires that are looser.
>
> How about Continental GP 4000?

I got rid of the Campagnolo wheels my wife had a hard time with. Now
she rides Bontrager Race X Lite aeros (not the 24mm tall rim, the 30mm
one) and they are a piece of cake to mount almost any tires. The Campy
ones were always a pain even with all the good tricks Russell and
others metioned.

 

[Kenny]

Campy rims have always been harder to mount clincher tires onto. The
secret to not killing yourself in the ordeal is to not be too greedy
with the tire levers. Using 2 tire levers, place the first one under
the tire bead and pry the tire bead away from the rim lip. Insert the
second lever about an inch from the first one and pry away, now remove
the first lever and reinsert it to the right of the second lever also
at about an inch away. Repeat the full process until the tire is
unclinched. With this method I can get a Michillin tire off a Campy
rim in under 5 minutes.

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com]

On Sep 19, 9:54 am, "Michigan John" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> My lady friend has a set of Campy Zonda wheels. Tires are so tight on these
> rims that she can't change a tube by herself and it's dang tough for me.
> We've been told Zondas are notorious for this.
>
> Is there any special tool or technique to ease tire mounting on these rims?
> Any brands of tires that are looser.
>
> How about Continental GP 4000?

Vittoria Open Corsa...very soft. Cotton. Contis, altho I really like
their tires, are a man made fiber and stiffer than cotton tires.