Tyres that fit Campag Khamsin rims

IanLD

Have had two major ordeals out on the road when I've punctured and been unable to remove or replace the tyres by hand.

First time needed a lift home, and the second took over half an hour cursing and swearing as the tyre levers kept slipping.

I originally had Vittoria Zafiro tyres mounted, but threw them away after being completely unable to remove them out on the road.

Now have Vittoria Rubino Pro, but still find these a nightmare to mount and remove.

Any better matches of tyre to these wheels? I'm looking for something that can be mounted and removed without levers.

Smokin Joe

I've found Vittooria Rubino's to be a nightmare on Campag rims. Michelin Pro Race and Vredestein Fortezza go on much more easily. Avoid rigid tyres and go for folders, they are much less of a hassle to mount.

campagsarge

Second what Smokin' Joe says. Stay away from Conti's. I have the scars on my knuckles to prove it!

IanLD

Are all Campag rims as bad? Pity I've got two Rubino Pros, two Diamente Pros and one Corsa CX just now

All are folding, but if Vittoria and Campag is a combination that doesn't work then I'll try Michelin out.

Monty Dog

Also use a wider tyre, a 25mm carcass is more flexible.

acorn_user

Had a time trying to mount some tyres on a Matrix rim last night. This was one of the nicer Matrix rims too. I suppose I am a believer in the awkward rims theory too now.

JamesB

Try Krylions and Rubinos at 25mm, both fit on my second wheel pair of Fulcrum 5s (= campag rim sizes)

Buy some VAR levers (SJSC) they are good

Do thumb strengthening exercises

Once fitted I found that second time they were easier

James

aracer

What rim tape have you got on. The perennial favourite Velox is distinctly thick and does make tyre mounting more difficult - get some Conti adhesive rim tape instead, which is much thinner http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/p ... ncy&id=GBP

The other trick is to use the right technique - are you getting all of the tyre bead sitting in the well of the rim apart from where you're trying to get it off, in order to give yourself more slack? It helps to remove the tyre next to the valve, since at this point you can't get the bead sitting in the well anyway.

IanLD

Rim tape is the moulded plastic that the wheels came with. Doesn't seem to be very thick.

I've fitted various other tyres to other rims and have been able to do it by hand, so I'm happy enough with my technique. Given the hole in the side of my thumb, it wasn't for lack of trying to get the tyres on!

After puncturing again :evil: I still had a problem getting the tyres (folding Rubino Pro) off and back on to the rim. Tyre lever felt as if it would snap with the effort required.

From previous posts, it seems that Pro Race 2 or Vredestein is the way to go with these wheels.

dennisn

If you like you can avoid pretty much all of these clincher fit problems by switching
to "Tufo" tubular clinchers. No need for rim tape, I think they ride as well as regular
tubulars, they can be put on and taken off the rim without tools much easier than standard clinchers,
no glueing, they stay on the rim and allow you to maintain control when you have a flat, they are tubeless so no pinch flats, they are rated for much higher tire pressures than standard clinchers, they fit on standard clincher rims, and the sealant Tufo sells actually works. Drawbacks, since they are "tubulars", so to speak, you must carry a spare and since they have no tube they can only be "fixed" with Tufo sealant.
I have been riding them for some time now and they suit me just fine.

Dennis Noward

Toledo, Ohio

cooper.michael1

I have some italian FiR rims, they are an absolute pain in the arse! I can get the tyre on ok but it then takes an hour an two sore thumbs to get them seated correctly in the bead.

It like the tyre is slightly too small....tried 3 different tyres, vredestein, conti and schwable...the later of the three barely go on at all.

Do all italian manufacturers make rims like this....really good quality but just slightly too big. My mavics are great, 5 mins the change a tyre, ill never buy another italian wheel.

IanLD

Punctured again today (average about 70 miles between punctures at the moment :evil: ) and was changing the tube at the road side. Had new tube in and was in the process of trying to lever the Vittoria Rubino Pro back on when a couple of cyclists stopped.

One of them took the wheel and somehow managed to make the tyre go on by hand. Only took a couple of seconds and he didn't have any blood pouring from torn apart thumbs.

So it can be done! I'll need to check my technique.

In case they are reading, many thanks for your help on the A77 this morning a few miles south of Newton Mearns.

aracer

I imagine he probably used the technique I suggested on the other thread going on here, but which nobody seems to understand. Push the bead of the tyre into the well of the rim all the way round the rim. This gives you the slack you need to take the tyre off. Then grab hold of the tyre NEXT TO THE VALVE and lift it off over the edge of the rim. It is very crucial to lift the tyre next to the valve, since this give you the required extra slack, since if you lift the tyre anywhere else then the valve stops that bit of the tyre sitting in the well in the centre of the rim. If you lift at the valve, then the entire bead all the way round the rest of the rim sits in the well in the middle.

IanLD

He was putting the tyre back on and it was the last part of the tyre opposite the valve that needed put back in place.

I was well impressed!

Don't know about how he would try to take the tyre off - hopefully I can wait for more than 70 miles before trying again!