Fitting tight tyres

Ian Sims

I've been very frustrated trying to fit 20" Schwalbe Marathons to my Alex DM18 rims. So much so that I ruined my tyre - a bit of stupidiity on my part.

So, how do you fit very tight tyres? Old wisdom (well how I was taught) said you start at the valve and finish opposite, but I notice that the Schwalbe website and other forum contributors say start opposite the valve and finish at the valve. Which is best?

Also, what about warming the tyres in hot water to make them more supple, or using soapy water to lubricate the bead/rim?

Any other words of wisdom on the subject?

Cheers

Ian

redddraggon

Crank Brothers Speed Lever

a_n_t

get some of these and give it a couple of weeks.

geoff_ss

Ian Sims wrote:

I

So, how do you fit very tight tyres? Old wisdom (well how I was taught) said you start at the valve and finish opposite, but I notice that the Schwalbe website and other forum contributors say start opposite the valve and finish at the valve. Which is best?


Cheers

Ian

Schwalbe is right. When removing a tyre start at the valve and when fitting it finish at the valve. The reason is that as the tyre bead won't stretch the only way to get it over the rim is to get the opposite side as far into the well as possible and then it has a chance. You can't do that easily if the valve is in the way. Extra thick rim tape can make it more difficult too.

I can usually fit a tyre by hand and I have very poor hand strength for a guy. My wife sometimes needs to resort to a Var tyre fitting tool. She insists on doing it herself as she often rides on her own and prefers to be self reliant in case of punctures.

geoff

normanp

Geoff - I prefer the opposite - as long as the valve is pushed well into the tube it is fine. I find when putting on by hand finishing away from the valve gives more flexibility. Starting removal at the valve risks digging into the innertube with the lever at the valve which cannot shift away. Probably not important if it works for you though!

Steve2020

The back tyre on my town bike is really tight. Its the only tyre I've not been able to do by hand by any method including both valve methods, soapy water etc.

I have just used a normal tyre lever to refit it for the last three punctures and so far havent pinched the tube so I wonder if the risk of that is overstated. I keep meaning to buy one of the Var tools for it but I always optimistically think I'll never get another puncture...

aracer

normanp wrote:

Geoff - I prefer the opposite - as long as the valve is pushed well into the tube it is fine.

However well you push the valve into the tube the valve stem still gets in the way and prevents that part of the bead from dropping down into the well (which is what you're trying to do with all the bead apart from the last bit you're fitting). By doing as Geoff suggests I very, very rarely have to use a tyre lever for removal or refitting.

Ian Sims

Thanks. When my replacement tyrte arrives I'll do it by the finish at the vavle method and see how I get on.

NWLondoner

Just use the Crank Brother Speed lever.

Start and finish at the Valve and it is done in a flash.

redddraggon

NWLondoner wrote:

Just use the Crank Brother Speed lever.

Start and finish at the Valve and it is done in a flash.

Last night I fitted my GP4000s on my new Ventos, and even with the speed lever it was difficult. The speed lever is all distorted now, it took so much force to get the tyre on.

NWLondoner

redddraggon wrote:

NWLondoner wrote:

Just use the Crank Brother Speed lever.

Start and finish at the Valve and it is done in a flash.

Last night I fitted my GP4000s on my new Ventos, and even with the speed lever it was difficult. The speed lever is all distorted now, it took so much force to get the tyre on.

Darn, i was planning on getting some of those next.

Have you been out on them yet? If so what was the grip liike? Black chilli good or PR bulls**t? :twisted:

redddraggon

NWLondoner wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

NWLondoner wrote:

Just use the Crank Brother Speed lever.

Start and finish at the Valve and it is done in a flash.

Last night I fitted my GP4000s on my new Ventos, and even with the speed lever it was difficult. The speed lever is all distorted now, it took so much force to get the tyre on.

Darn, i was planning on getting some of those next.

Have you been out on them yet? If so what was the grip liike? Black chilli good or PR bulls**t? :twisted:

They are old red 25mm GP4000s, I had no problems with them when I used them - but then again I don't seem to have had a problem with any tyres I've used.

redddraggon

Oh and it's the Campag rims, rather than the tyres which made fitting them difficult - I can fit them without any tools on my Shimano wheels.

NWLondoner

redddraggon wrote:

Oh and it's the Campag rims, rather than the tyres which made fitting them difficult - I can fit them without any tools on my Shimano wheels.

Ahh ok, i should be fine then thanks

blorg

I use tyre levers with difficult tyres, which means anything with Kevlar in them. I'm careful and in 10 years I have never pinched a tube.

JimmyK

deleted post.

JimmyK

aracer

Just seen this on another forum:
"If you're having a hard time putting clinchers on the rim, stick them in your clothing dryer for 10 min. The rubber will warm up and they are much easier to put on if super tight."

Not something I've tried myself I should point out (and also not much use on a wet windy night when you puncture :roll: )