Tight Tyres
Hurricane Warrior
Posts: 147
Recently had a couple of punctures, so in the end replaced the tyre, my question is why are the tyres so dam well tight to put on?
I got continental 4000s, do they get easier with time, I've got shimano ultegra wheels, is it the wheels themselves or tyres?
Would do you find are the best options?
I got continental 4000s, do they get easier with time, I've got shimano ultegra wheels, is it the wheels themselves or tyres?
Would do you find are the best options?
Jamis Xenith Endura Sport 2012
Boardman Race 2013
Genesis Equilibrium 2014 (Built myself)
Boardman Comp MTB 2016
Boardman Race 2013
Genesis Equilibrium 2014 (Built myself)
Boardman Comp MTB 2016
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gp4000s are fairly easy to mount as tyres go, are you using levers?
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
Some rims are more problematic than others but as the tyres age they should become easier to mount. Have had GP4000's in the past and can't remember them being particularly difficult (that was on Open Pro rims). Now have H Plus Son rims and Michelin Pro4 Endurance. No real problems with fitting in my experience.
You've probably already seen it, but this technique video is worth a watch (wire-beaded Marathon Plus tyre)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4
There is no rhyme or reason to this (well there must be but it is not predictable).
It's your Ultegra rims. They're tubeless compatible and will be tight with pretty much any tyre (some will be slightly less tight). With some rims (e.g. DT RR440, open pro, Zonda), many tyres will pretty much pull off by hand as long as you work the bead loose from the rim. They don't blow off the rims when inflated. A solution for difficult rims is the Var tyre lever.
Ended up having to buy one of these https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tools/bbb-e ... ool-btl78/ and also using builders gloves.
I reckon the front wheel was on the plus side of tolerance and tyre on the minus side of tolerance............I fitted the same tyres onto my Mavics and it took less than 5mins for both wheels
And yes, I'd seen the Spa Cycles video. Very helpful when I got a set of 35/37s on my hybrid. But the 25s have another issue - that the buggers really don't have enoug flex in them to form the u-shape for both sides to engage with the rims.
Every other type I've ever tried - including plenty to of tight ones - were a piece of cake compared to the Marathon Plusses.
Challange strada bianca tyres will not mount and that me saying this to the non tubeless archetype rim but they fall onto the tubeless Velocity Aileron.
The RR440 rim mentioned above is a tubeless rim hammering another nail into the coffin it tight because it is a tubeless rim.
Mavic Ma2 rims and conti gator skin hardshell tyres require amoured thumbs and that me saying that. impossible combo for most.
So when I say there is no rhyme or reason to this I mean it. I am sure there is a tyre that fits to the ultegra wheels without too much hassle also you could just go tubeless.
Good points. I agree it can't be a blanket tubeless rim thing. I too remember MA2 being total dogs. I put it down to the flat internal profile. Exal XR2 similarly, very difficult, and flat internally.
I think wired tyres are harder to fit generally, so the combo of ma2 & a new wired tyre is a nightmare.
I HATE changing tyres
The cheap clinchers on my OHs bike skinned my fingers and we struggled to get them off, then the folding Mavic yksions basically fell on with no effort.
Then changing the Sworks turbos on my Ksyrium elites were difficult to get both on and off.
This is it, middle of nowhere, in winter, cold hands and struggling to get the tyre off/on = nightmare
The worst combo for me was Hunt x Mason & Conti 4 Seasons. Easier with the right technique, but still a massive pain!
Kinesis 4s Di2
Anyway, I got one of these, which with a bit of practice makes the job effortless. They are small and light enough to carry on a ride too.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tools/var-tyre-levers/
On a more positive note, a great easy-fit combo for winter bikes is the Ambrosio Excellight rim and Conti Gator skin or Gator Hardshell or GP 4 seasons, each of which is a very easy fit.
For me, a winter bike needs a fast-change combo. If it's near zero, wet and dark, for example, you REALLY don't want a numb-fingered wrestle on the muddy verge. All very well to say "just use fairy liquid" (FFS!!)
The above rules also seems to apply to old OpenPro, although I do appreciate that these and the Ambrosio rims are very untrendy-narrow. I'll be interested to see how tyres fit to the new Open Pro...
Going to summer bikes and a modern rim, another easy combo is GP 4000s II on Archetype rims. Stress free tube changes.
Same here with the same wheel + tyre combo. Tried that same tyre lever too, but eventually gave up (after broken levers, pinched tubes and destroyed fingers) and replaced the wheels - I didn't fancy translating the 2+ hours spent replacing a tyre in the comfort my kitchen to the side of the road. I switched to Mavic Ksyriums and the same tyres practically fit themselves.