embarrassing tyre problem

I'm sure you know how to put a tyre on... but

Make sure there's some air in the tube
Don't use tyre levers
Go round the wheel pinching the tyre into the central channel of the rim.

Some folks advocate soapy water, may make a difference?

(PS I use levers on my Kyrlions but have got away with it... :twisted: )

Try the VAR tyre lever (http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/product/34518/Var_Tyre_Lever) recommended 10/10 in C+ this month. Bought one, just not needed to try in yet (this weekend most likely!!) It hooks onto the rim & tyre bead & supposedly you can just lever the tyre on without using a normal tyre lever & risking a pinch puncture

I can remember in the good old days going around one of those really heavy tyres, pushing it into the centre of the rim and tapping it around over and over again until it just popped on opposite the valve. It still works - obviously the diameter in the middle of the rim is quite a bit less than on the edge and that's what does the trick, plus you need just enough air in the tube to push it up away from the bead, but not so much that the bead won't push into the middle of the rim.

Just on the off chance though - have you checked the rear tyre for any bead defects - a tiny one might cause a big problem - we had one 2 years ago that had a nasty rough bit of rubber sticking inwards.

I should add that you've got to squeeze the tyre a bit to get it into the centre of the rim and its easier if its on the bike, (eg stick it back on when you've got the last bit of the tyre to do), because then you can go around with your palms, from the valve side, 'knocking' the tyre downwards towards the area that is still to go on. This may make the tyre just pop-on almost of its own accord.

Some tyres are just plain tight.
If you need tyre levers to get the first side of the tyre on, whilst the inner tube is still in its box, no amount of technique will help.
When I had a very tight tyre (also Conti GP4S), I gave up after about 45 mins, got a spare wheel with the thinnest available rim tape on, and spent another hour getting it on with the use of a Var lever. I kept in pumped up to 160psi for the best part of a year before it had stretched enough to risk using out on the road.

With either plastic or steel levers have you checked that the edges are not sharp, as if they are, under pressure they can cut into the tube, i always smooth and radius the edges with some fine wet and dry emery cloth,some tyre and rim combo,s are impossible to fit without levers unless youve got hands like a gorilla.

Just out of interest and a bit off-topic, but was wondering whether it would be useful to collect snippets of all this really useful information onto one website ?

Its just that there is a mine of information across quite a few forums, but its a bit lost if you're newish and struggling. Depends on the search working, knowing the right forum or starting a new topic on a forum you do know.

We've considered putting some sort of section on our site, but its not really the right place. Perhaps a separate site ?

Got a feeling it could be a life's work though !

Tightest tyres I've ever had to deal with... 12" wheels on Bompette II's pram. And they're always puncturing, goodness only knows why. Speed lever too long to fit!