Fulcrum wheels vs Conti 4000s tyres vs Me

tartan_army

This is the three way fight that has been ragging in my room the last two nights as I try to fit my new Conti 4000S tyres onto my new Fulcrum 3 wheels. I’ve got it down to about 20cm or so of one bead still not on the rim.

First new wheels and tyres upgrades and can’t believe the ball ache its been! Not going to have them on for my last of the season club 10 tonight it seems

Any extra tips beyond the usual? I’ve marked the breaking surface a little bit as have had to resort to using tyre levers unfortunately but their was going to be no other way.

Once I have ‘broken’ them and got them on for the first time will it be much easier from then on? i.e. when on the road with a puncture.

Otherwise should I just give up and anyone want to buy some nearly new but unused Conti 4000S tryes?!

Thanks

mrushton

Have you tried stretching the tyres. Take each tyre,stand on it and pull it up towards you. Have you got the tube seated into the well, ie the tyre that you are fitting is not trapping the tube. Are you using eg a Var lever that allows you to hook the tyre bead and pull it over the rim.

portuguese mike

I've just replaced my campag protons for a set of handbuilts for the exact same reason. i was having a hell of a job getting some gatorskins back on after punctures and just got fed up becuase it wasn't getting any easier.

What sort of tire levers are using because i found the wider park tools type much better than the narrower kind. Also, how used are your levers - neither i or my LBS could do it with out pretty much brand new levers which isn't exactly practical hence me getting new hoops.

BTW i did also try a VAR lever and found it only works if you've only got the last few cm do get over the rim otherwise it just pulled of more tyre from the rim.

bottom line is if its that hard in the comfort of your own home forget about it on the side of the road especially if, as happened to me, your caught in a downpour.

If you do get different tyres i found Vredestein Fortezzas went on way easier.

mossycp

Just to annoy you even further I can get mine on my Kysrium Elites with my fingers

If I can't get a tyre on a rim I normally resort to tyre levers to get them back on again. Run one tyre lever inside the rim pointing outwards from the hub effectively pushing the tyre on, the last little bit may require some effort to push but I've always managed it. You do have to be careful that you don't trap the inner but I've never had a problem doing it. The other alternative is to use both tyre levers inside the rim and run them opposite ways around the rim which is exactly what a Var lever will be doing. Don't try and lever the last 20cm over the rim all at once, you need to ease the edges over the rim bit by bit.

Definately make sure you can do it easily before you go out on the road.

tartan_army

Thanks for replies, not all exactly what I was wanting to hear...replacing the tyres and the likes!

Bought some new blue plastic Park Tools levers yesterday as only had metal ones and didn't want to go at the rims too hard with them obviously.

Not got a VAR lever, I remembered hearing about some fancier tyre lever but couldn't find when searching for it, guess thats it. Might get one see how it is. and will try the other tips such as using two levers coming at each other.

Tried stretching a little but was worried might damage the tyre as its only the bead not the actual rubber round the tyre i need to tstretch.

Was hoping to have them fitted (and have confidence in them) by 100 mile Spud Riley sportive on Sunday but even thats looking doubtful now

neilv

I have some campag wheels and conti tyres that are right sod to get back on but it seems to be getting easier each time so maybe a bit of stretching is best bet

magliaceleste

Campag Zondas here and GP4000S tyres - I'd say they were a fair bit easier then the Ultegra 6600 wheels I used to have. ..

But then either is easier than Michelin tubeless tyres on UST rims on my mountain bike!

leguape

Crank Bros Speed Lever is supposed to be the dog's according to a few people who have vigorously recommended it:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... ed%20Lever

Lagavulin

I've found a big difference with individual tyres.

A new standard GP4000 went onto my rear DT Swiss 1850 with ridiculous ease.
However, the front was a different matter. I destroyed my thumbs trying to mount the front. 2-3 weeks on and a tub of atrixo later my thumbs are starting to recover but I needed gloves and my Soma steel core levers to get the bugger on.

I've got a pair of G4000S' though. Will be interesting to see if these are are more difficult to mount that the standard 4000's.

DavidBelcher

Lagavulin wrote:

I've got a pair of G4000S' though. Will be interesting to see if these are are more difficult to mount that the standard 4000's.

From the original post, I'm wondering if it's the wheels not the tyres that are the problem; Fulcrum are a division of Campag, whose factory-built wheels have a reputation for being pigs to fit new tyres to.

David

JonNelmes

I have exactly the same set up (Fulcrum 3's and GP4000s) and could get both front and rear on with my fingers, but then have a mate of mine says he struggles to get any tyre onto his Fulcrum 1's.

Have you tried warming the tyres with a hair dryer?

tartan_army

Hair dryer idea sounds interesting, not tried that one before.

Well i have to admit, I gave up on the GP4000S (for the moment). Have gone out and bought some Gatorskins, which I hope should be a pretty tough puncture resistant tyre for winter. Then maybe resurrect the 4000S for next year, or when I feel like having another go.

See new post with my latest problem!

Thanks for everyones help

portuguese mike

leguape wrote:

Crank Bros Speed Lever is supposed to be the dog's according to a few people who have vigorously recommended it:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... ed%20Lever

i've got one and its totally useless for tires that are that difficult to get on - it just gets wedged between rim and bead with about 20cm of tyre left to fit.

Rudd

Campag wheels are always a complete nightmare when tyre fitting, I too have spent many hours struggling away. One handy hint is to dab some neat fairy liquid over the last bit of the rim, the extra lubrication helps! Also don't worry, once you've put them on they should be much easier to remove and replace if you get a p******.

arranandy

I had absolutely no problems getting Vitorria tyres on to my Fulcrum 3s but as for getting Conti GP4000s onto my previous Campag wheels now that was a completely different story.. Cue much swearing then when I eventually got the tyres on I had nipped the inner tube and had to take the blady things off again!!! :x Complete nightmare!!

tartan_army

Hope your knee is feeling better Andy.

As i say i';ve now fitted some Gatorskins which went on with a bit of effort but got on.

The other night I didn't nip the inner tube, at one point I positively lascerated one! Made a 5cm long gash in one somehow, that was at the point I didn;t really care about the tubes anymore and just wanted to get the wheels on so it hopefully loosened them up a bit for next time.

IanTrcp

Fulcrum rims not the easiest.

Some 4000s's easier to fit than others. All of them easier the 3rd/4th time after a few visits from the p*ncture fairy.

Combination of the two = endless pain and suffering!

arranandy

tartan_army wrote:

Hope your knee is feeling better Andy.

Knee is better, thanks. Although how it will be after next Saturday's Bealach nam Ba challenge remains to be seen!!!!