Tubeless/Standard Tyre Fitting

steelo

I've just bought a pair of Bontrager ACX 26x2.2 Tyres for my DT 4.2D rims but I can't get them on!

I phoned the shop back and they advised to try 'stretching the bead a bit'. So I tried that, they still don't fit so I'll take them back tomorrow and exchange them for some Fire XC Pros (2.1's).

Are tubeless ready tyres notoriously difficult to fit?

As I am still using inner tubes should I stick to traditional tyres and if so how do you know which are which, tubeless ready or not?

Thanks.

Splasher

Tubeless ready tyres may be a little bit harder to fit, but my experience of Jones ACX 2.2s is that the sidewalls are so flexible they are really easy to fit with just thumbs.

You can tell tubeless ready tyres because they will say as much on the sidewall but I think only Bonty and Stans do them so far so you should be safe buying standard tyres. Obviously avoid anything that says UST

steelo

Well I don't know how you got them to fit with just your hands. I've managed to pull part of the underside of my thumb away from the nail trying to fit them. My Specialized resolution pro's and fast trak's fitted easy with just hands but the bonty's are something else!

As soon as I had once side of the tyre into the rim it would sit in the dead centre of the rim. Trying then to get the inner tube valve in place and fit the tube while trying to fit the other side of the tyre was a nightmare! I gave up after 20 minutes as the tips of fingers had gone numb from trying to grip the tread to pull the bead over the rim. Just not happening!

Hopefully the panaracers will fit easier. Maybe they were just a dodgy pair?

Splasher

Only ever fitted them to Mavic and WTB rims so maybe just not good with DT rims. Certainly doesn't sound right.

artillerydave

I think you need to get down to the gym!!

steelo

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect a tyre to slip onto a rim like frogspawn through a sieve.

I also know that 20 minutes of trying to blaspheme my way through turning my wheel into an egg-shape and ripping skin from the ends of my fingers (good grip on the tyre by the way!) means there is something not quite right somewhere along the line.

I would expect a 6ft guy weighing the best part of 16 stone in his late 20's not to struggle too much with getting a tyre on and off! Having said that - maybe I should have gone to the gym this afternoon?!?

Seriously though, has anyone had issues with getting a Bontrager ACX 2.2 tyre onto a DT Swiss 4.2D rim?

Splasher

steelo wrote:

I would expect a 6ft guy weighing the best part of 16 stone in his late 20's

artillerydave was right, you do need to get down to the gym!

fireheed

Try soaking the tyre in a bowl of very hot water. Might soften them up enough to make them fit.