Fitting Clincher Problems!!!

mr-ed
mr-ed Posts: 130
edited December 2007 in Workshop
Ok, I've been struggling to get a new set of tires onto my wheels. I think its because they are new and stiff/ thick winter ones, basically as I get to the last bit and put it on the bits to each side slip off. I've tried jamming it with tire levers in different positions to ease the pressure but I can't seem to get them on. Anybody got any suggestions or a better technique?

Cheers.
www.shredordead.cc

Comments

  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Buy one of these VAR levers:
    http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/cgi-bin/quiks ... YS42&and=1
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    Make sure the last bit you're putting on is next to the valve, and push the rest of the bead into the well in the centre of the rim to give yourself more slack. The reason for finishing at the valve is that you can't put that bit of the bead into the rim well.
  • mr-ed
    mr-ed Posts: 130
    Cheers for the replies.

    I found by putting a tire lever on the side which was already on eased the tire up enough to then with a second level put the tire on the other side, I think I was just being to gentle!

    Thanks.
    www.shredordead.cc
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Wow, tire manufacturers must really be keeping their tolerances tight from all the
    complaining that I have heard. I haven't used clinchers in years and from the sounds of things I won't be using them anytime in the near future. I will admitt to using Tufo
    tubular clinchers(along with regular tubies) and find them really easy to get on and
    off. I even rotate them front to back on a regular basis because it's easy. Works
    for me.

    Dennis Noward
  • Cajun
    Cajun Posts: 1,048
    edited December 2007
    aracer wrote:
    Make sure the last bit you're putting on is next to the valve, and push the rest of the bead into the well in the centre of the rim to give yourself more slack. The reason for finishing at the valve is that you can't put that bit of the bead into the rim well.

    I find that beginning at the valve works better for me; after the tyre has been installed on the rim (& the tube is uninflated) I press the valve deep into the rim a couple of times to re-seat the valve's reinforcement area to avoid pinching the tube in that area. I believe that manufactuers are producing tyres that are just a nano smaller than normal to help the tyre stay on the rim better....although I've never had a tyre, that was installed correctly, disengage from the rim...I haven't tried the VAR levers, but years ago, I had a wire-bead tyre that broke 3 nylon levers; took it to the LBS and they broke 2, but finally got it installed. I immediately purchased ELDI steel levers....now I can change an automobile tyre :)http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?i ... EL-2606-16 the 160mm may be too long & heavy for a seat bag, but they're guaranteed to get the job done :P
    Park Tools also has some steel levers....

    Merry Christmas to all.
    Cajun
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Hang onto those Tufo clinchers Dennis - they've stopped making them! IME wider tyres are easier to fit than narrow ones, and often sometimes there are certain rim and tyre combinations that are notoriously tricky - Michelins on Campagnolo rims, for example.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Hang onto those Tufo clinchers Dennis - they've stopped making them!

    Say it isn't so. I was just really getting the hang of them.

    Dennis Noward
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    dennisn wrote:
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Hang onto those Tufo clinchers Dennis - they've stopped making them!

    Say it isn't so. I was just really getting the hang of them.

    Dennis Noward

    There is a God. Just got an e-mail from Tufo saying they are only stopping the CX
    series tubie clincher. Mountain bike tire.

    Dennis Noward
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    Monty Dog wrote:
    there are certain rim and tyre combinations that are notoriously tricky - Michelins on Campagnolo rims, for example.


    strange, just put pro race 2's on my zonda's, no problem and no tyre levers!

    anyone fancy an arm wrestle? :lol:
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • Garybee
    Garybee Posts: 815
    a_n_t wrote:
    Monty Dog wrote:
    there are certain rim and tyre combinations that are notoriously tricky - Michelins on Campagnolo rims, for example.


    strange, just put pro race 2's on my zonda's, no problem and no tyre levers!

    anyone fancy an arm wrestle? :lol:

    Same combination, no problems either. Don't know what people are complaining about with this.
    Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    must be a load of pen pushers? :)
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • dave5n
    dave5n Posts: 3,307
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Hang onto those Tufo clinchers Dennis - they've stopped making them! IME wider tyres are easier to fit than narrow ones, and often sometimes there are certain rim and tyre combinations that are notoriously tricky - Michelins on Campagnolo rims, for example.

    Not just Michelins - Cntis on Campag are a beast.
  • juggler
    juggler Posts: 262
    it may be the wheels that are the problem and not the tyres. On my best bike i have Bontrager x-Lites and tyres go on easily with minor finger pressure. On my commuter bike the same tyres are a complete pain to get on the rims. A crank brothers speed lever gets them on, but it still really difficult. Not the thing you want to be stuck by the side of the road in the cold and wet cursing trying to get the tyres back on.
    Not sure what the conclusion is - maybe the wheels (Ambrosio) are slightly larger ... does not sound likely to me. So it may be an expensive option, but upgrading the wheels may solve the problem. Otherwise try a speed lever of the lever suggested earlier which seems to work in a similar way.
  • JWSurrey
    JWSurrey Posts: 1,173
    dennisn wrote:
    There is a God. Just got an e-mail from Tufo saying they are only stopping the CX
    series tubie clincher. Mountain bike tire.

    Dennis Noward
    Dennis/Monty, these tub. clinchers sound like fun.
    How do you find them in comparison to standard road clinchers?
    I've always been curious about tubs, but never dared bother - The old myth about a lifetime of puncture repairs and sewing!

    What sort of conditions do you use them/not use them in?

    Wow - MTBs with tubs - they must be getting robust!
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    JWSurrey wrote:
    dennisn wrote:
    There is a God. Just got an e-mail from Tufo saying they are only stopping the CX
    series tubie clincher. Mountain bike tire.

    Dennis Noward
    Dennis/Monty, these tub. clinchers sound like fun.
    How do you find them in comparison to standard road clinchers?
    I've always been curious about tubs, but never dared bother - The old myth about a lifetime of puncture repairs and sewing!

    What sort of conditions do you use them/not use them in?

    Wow - MTBs with tubs - they must be getting robust!

    Well, I like tubular clinchers. They go on and off easier than regular clinchers. Will hold
    much higner pressures(up to 200 psi). They stay on the rim longer when you have a flat.
    No need for rim strips on the wheel. They are the same tire as their tubular cousins but
    have a strip on them to hold onto the rim bead. No glue needed. Lots of different models
    from inexpensive trainers to top of the line racing tires. Even cyclocross. No tools
    required to put them on or take them off, just hands. They ride and wear just fine.
    Since nothing is perfect I would say the only real drawback to them is that they can
    only be repaired with Tufo's version of "fix a flat". A sort of "slime" that works very,
    well as I can attest to, although I get very few flats with them. You will need to carry
    a spare but this gives people the impression that you're running real tubulars and you
    will be considered "way too cool". Well, lets not go that far. See the Tufo website
    for more info.

    Dennis Noward
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    The only advantage in your list which I can see is a real advantage is staying on the rim longer when you have a flat. The rest are either not an advantage at all over normal clinchers (higher pressure) or insignificant (no toolr require, no rimstrip required) compared to the issue of having to carry a whole spare tyre and not being able to fix flats easily.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    aracer wrote:
    The only advantage in your list which I can see is a real advantage is staying on the rim longer when you have a flat. The rest are either not an advantage at all over normal clinchers (higher pressure) or insignificant (no toolr require, no rimstrip required) compared to the issue of having to carry a whole spare tyre and not being able to fix flats easily.

    All I can say is that carrying a spare is no big deal, as I have carried spare tubies all my life. Peice of cake.
    As for not being able to fix flats easily, I find the Tufo "slime" works really well on small punctures. Add the fact that as I get older(almost 60) I have a bit more disposable
    income than my younger counterparts and 35 dollars or so per tire is not too much.
    Plus I don't race anymore so see no need for high dollar, lightweight, paper thin, racing
    rubber so I stick to Tufo lower end models and they give me good mileage and wear.

    Dennis Noward

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