Should I change my tyres?

retrobike007

I have been reading other threads on tyres, and I would like to know if I should change mine.

They are the basic cheapies that came with the bike, Kenda K-191 700 x 23c, they can run up to 100psi, but the biggest problem is changing them, I had to replace a tube the other day and it took me nearly 45 mins to get the tyre back on to the rim, and in the process I broke a tyre leaver and shredded the the new tube so had to use a 2nd tube, :shock:

I know you are not supposed to use levers to get tyres on but I had no choice.
Is this normal or are these tyres rubbish

whyamihere

You just need to work on your technique and hand strength. It can seem impossible at first, but the tyres will go on with just the use of your hands. It also gets easier when the tyre's been on and off a couple of times to stretch it out.

mikeyboy12345

Try new tyres and see if matters improve. You'll have to buy some eventually anyway! I'd be more concerned with them only being rated up to 100psi. I weigh less than 11 stone but run my rear tyre at 120psi and the front at 110. Anything less feels a bit squidgy. From a previous thread I seem to recall you saying you were a bit bigger than your average cyclist, so an increase in pressure might suit you.

My Vittoria Rubino Pros are rated up to 140 psi and (without wanting to tempt fate!) the PF has visited only a couple of times in the last 5000 miles of riding, so getting the tyre on the rim ain't really an issue!!! Having said all that I was previously running Conti GPs which were a bit easier to fit

Jimbo.

I weigh less than 11 stone but run my rear tyre at 120psi and the front at 110. Anything less feels a bit squidgy.

*How* much? Must be like riding on steel tyres! Nice 'n' harsh.
Don't worry if they "feel squidgy" doing the ol' pinch test. Back them off to 100psi or so (maybe less?) and take the for a ride. It'll be much, much more comfy...

mikeyboy12345

I meant it feels squidgy to ride on!! Not when I do the pinch test

Berk Bonebonce

retrobike007 wrote:

I know you are not supposed to use levers to get tyres on but I had no choice.

I can't remember fitting a tyre without at least some use of a tyre lever.

wyadvd

ive got schwalbe duranos which are meant to be pretty stiff , but i mannage to get them on and off bare handed. you kinda have to collect all the slack in the beads around to one point and then flip them off the rim off at that point. the opposite when they go on. when you have cracked this technique a tube change takes less than 10 mins

wyadvd

http://www.teamestrogen.com/content/asa_levers

retrobike007

Well these bad boys needed flipping about 1" to pop them on the rim, thats how I managed to break 1 lever.
Proper stiff, on the plus side, I ran over some glass on sunday and no punctures.

fnegroni

Jimbo. wrote:

I weigh less than 11 stone but run my rear tyre at 120psi and the front at 110. Anything less feels a bit squidgy.

*How* much? Must be like riding on steel tyres! Nice 'n' harsh.
Don't worry if they "feel squidgy" doing the ol' pinch test. Back them off to 100psi or so (maybe less?) and take the for a ride. It'll be much, much more comfy...

I ride some Vittoria Open Pave (700x24c) and they are quite comfy even at 100PSI front and 120PSI rear.

Vittoria tyres have much higher TPI count than Michelin or Continental tyres, and it shows when you pump them up.

With the GP4000S, anything above 110PSI was asking for trouble!

Headhuunter

fnegroni wrote:

Jimbo. wrote:

I weigh less than 11 stone but run my rear tyre at 120psi and the front at 110. Anything less feels a bit squidgy.

*How* much? Must be like riding on steel tyres! Nice 'n' harsh.
Don't worry if they "feel squidgy" doing the ol' pinch test. Back them off to 100psi or so (maybe less?) and take the for a ride. It'll be much, much more comfy...

I ride some Vittoria Open Pave (700x24c) and they are quite comfy even at 100PSI front and 120PSI rear.

Vittoria tyres have much higher TPI count than Michelin or Continental tyres, and it shows when you pump them up.

With the GP4000S, anything above 110PSI was asking for trouble!

I agree, generally I ride with about 120 in the rear and 110 in the front. I prefer to the bike to feel "solid" rather than spongy and soft.

Headhuunter

retrobike007 wrote:

Well these bad boys needed flipping about 1" to pop them on the rim, thats how I managed to break 1 lever.
Proper stiff, on the plus side, I ran over some glass on sunday and no punctures.

I've had tyres which I literally have to use the levers to get them back on with and I've also had tyres that are waaaay too loose and you don't even need levers to get them off the wheel. There seems to be a fair variation in sizes. I bought some metal tyre levers which are coated in plastic, they never snap and I've generally been lucky enough not to have caught the tube with them when putting them back on

retrobike007

Mine were really soft this week, checked them after a ride to find out they were 55-60 psi :shock:
So now running slightly above the recommended 100, I am at about 105.

Will I notice a vast difference between 105 and 120?

Headhuunter

retrobike007 wrote:

Mine were really soft this week, checked them after a ride to find out they were 55-60 psi :shock:
So now running slightly above the recommended 100, I am at about 105.

Will I notice a vast difference between 105 and 120?

You'd probably notcie a bit of difference, try it out! if you don't like it, let the air out again