Wheel/tyre combo for easy puncture repairs

lutrario

Having enormous difficulty changing flats on my 2011 Genesis Latitude (DT Swiss rims/Schwalbe Racing Ralph). They're ridiculously tight, so much so that only one person at an lbs has been able to do it (three could not!) and that was using metal tyre leavers which is obvs not a good idea.

Suffice to say not being able to sort flats on the trail is ruining my mtb experience. Want to change to a lighter wheelset anyway (£300-£450) and was wondering if anybody knew of any makes/models that were easy to fit tyres to. Ideally I'd keep the Schwalbe Racing Ralphs (although I've heard these have a reputation for being tight) but if there's a tyre/rim combo that people know is easy to fit I'd like to hear about that too...

felix.london

I've got a Continental Rubber Queen and a Mountain King 2 (both Black Chilli) on Stans ArchEX rims. Can put the tyres on and off without levers

you could get the wheels on Switch EVO / Trizoid hubs and the tyres for about £400

thelonegroover

I had Racing Ralphs on Mach 1 sub zero rims on an On-One Inbred, I can't recall any problems taking off or putting on the tyres.

jairaj

Do you know what rims and hubs you have? or see you you can weight them with tyres, rotors, cassettes etc removed.

I'm thinking the Superstar Crest on Switch hubs deal would suit but not sure if its actually any better than your current setup.

*edit - I use Crest rims with Maxxis tyres and can get tyres on and off very quickly.

Long_Time_Lurker

I'll admit to having troubles with my Ralphs too.
I just have to hope that I only get one puncture - my thumbs can manage one tyre, but not without lots of swearing first.

Have used talc in the past, which seemed to work - but that might have just been luck.

paulbox

lutrario wrote:

Having enormous difficulty changing flats on my 2011 Genesis Latitude (DT Swiss rims/Schwalbe Racing Ralph). They're ridiculously tight, so much so that only one person at an lbs has been able to do it (three could not!) and that was using metal tyre leavers which is obvs not a good idea.

Suffice to say not being able to sort flats on the trail is ruining my mtb experience. Want to change to a lighter wheelset anyway (£300-£450) and was wondering if anybody knew of any makes/models that were easy to fit tyres to. Ideally I'd keep the Schwalbe Racing Ralphs (although I've heard these have a reputation for being tight) but if there's a tyre/rim combo that people know is easy to fit I'd like to hear about that too...

Long shot, but are your tyres LUST / UST ?

I bought some UST versions of the Ralphs by accident (bloody On-One web site!) and couldn't fit them on my Crest rims, regular ones ("tubeless ready") are easy to fit.

batmo

Two questions:

1: Are Racing Ralphs particularly puncturable? My missus had them on a Giant test bike and had three flats in a 20 mile outing!

2: Are you supposed to pronounce the "L"? The bloke in the Giant shop gave us an odd look when we didn't (as in Ralph Fiennes or Ralph Richardson). Of course, this just made us do it more...

Chunkers1980

1. Yes, lightweight tyres.
2. Eh? Perhaps you look odd.

kenan

I struggled with some of my tyres until I changed the normal rim tape to the stans tubeless tape. It's much thinner and gave that little extra room.