Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - I feel stupid...

I have no idea how to put on a folding tire. I got a tire in the mail today and the damn things so floppy, how do I make it stay on the tire? I hop this question isn't too dumb and someone can help me...

You can only use folding tires on folding bikes.

Stuff the tube in the tire as best you can. Inflate the tube until it firms up a bit and fit it into the tire properly. Get them over the rim a bit and then let some air out of the tube (don't give yourself a pinch flat before the wheel even gets back on the bike). Everything else should go as you expect.

Typically they come with instructions ;)

It's pretty simple, really. Kind of stretch it a little, fold backwards where the folds are causing the tire to bend. Fill up a tube a little, put it inside of the tire, which will give it better shape, probably a little fuller than you would with most tubes. Then put it on like a regular tire. You'll probably need to deflate the tube a little once you have one side on. Once both beads are on, fill up the tire, but not too fast. Once it gets full enough, you'll hear kind of a pop when all of the beads engage. Stop inflating, and look around the rim for any sign that a bead isn't all the way on, or that the tube might be pushing the bead. Then fill it up to pressure. Put it on your bike. Go for a ride....

I don't think there's any elegant, slick-looking way to do it.

its like a sloppy joe.

You can use soap and water if it's hard to get the tire on the rim. Oh yeah and make sure you drink beer. Beer is key.

If beer isn't working, switch to whiskey.

And after the first time, it's no different than any other tire.

For some reason that sounds bad...

I say skip the beer and just go with whiskey.

Squat. get the wheel horizontal against your gut. Work the far edge of the tire all the way around the rim and then start on the closer edge. Work from the top down (alternating from side to side). At about halfway down, rotate the wheel around and start going up with the remaining part of the tire. When it gets tough (and it should get tough on some road tires - to the point that there'll be a moment where you think it won't work) start working the tire over the rim by kneeding the tire down with your thumbs. Don't press up toward the top of the rim, don't roll your thumbs over, just press straight down - left side, then right side, inch by inch. You want to be pressing on the tire just outward from the point where it meets the rim. It will work slowly and steadily everytime, without making you feel like you're losing a heavyweight wrestling match.

That's how I do it, anyway.

- eyefloater

Ps. I started doing mechanic work recently at a bike shop, so basically I change flats for 75% of the day. I pity you fools that use hand pumps.

You work in a shop and you put tyres on by hand??? Impressive thumbs strength. There is no way i could put on any tight fitting road tyres without a tyre lever, let alone do it by choice.

i say skip the whiskey and go for the 'shine....unless its forty year old scotch

My favorite shop (one mechanic/owner) never uses tire levers either. At first I thought he was nuts, or had crazy finger strength, but he can put a tire on faster with just his hands than it would take him to walk over to the bench and grab a lever.

When I first started working in a shop, I took a lot of crap for using levers to get tires off. I guess I weaned myself off of them. Everything is pretty easy to get off except for 12.5" tires and about half of the 700c's.
Using levers to get a tire on? Not really an option. What can I say, you learn. When you're at that last bit of tire, push all of the rest into the center of the rim. I find using the heels of my hands is a pretty good alternative to thumbs.

You work in a shop and you put tyres on by hand??? Impressive thumbs strength. There is no way i could put on any tight fitting road tyres without a tyre lever, let alone do it by choice.

Not really. I have tiny blisters in exciting new places*, but it really is all in the technique. I wish I could say that I always knew how to get a tire on properly by hand, but I didn't. *shrug* It's pretty nice once you pick it up though - never have to worry about pinching a tube with a lever again.

- eyefloater

*consider that one served up and ready for you all.

how you get one off with no levers?


When I first started working in a shop, I took a lot of crap for using levers to get tires off.

how you get one off with no levers?

you have to make sure most of the air is out of the tire, then grab the tire and pull it up and away from the rim then push down and away. A little bit of the bead should pop over the edge and once you have that little bit you can pull the whole thing off. it takes a little practice to get a good technique... and some tires have a tighter fit than others, but once you get it, you'll find yourself rarely using levers.

in case you need some visuals....

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=100

I have no idea how to put on a folding tire. I got a tire in the mail today and the damn things so floppy, how do I make it stay on the tire? I hop this question isn't too dumb and someone can help me...
no question is stupid. it is better to ask and to make sure you have the correct answer.
i cannot help you. maybe the other guy who responded is correct.
my question is what is a folding tire? i suppose i could look it up, but what are you talking about, the one who hops (hopes) to know the answer. i have seen people put tubes in that look to big for a tire. my answers have not been that great as to understand why they are doing it. once it was because they didn't have another tire so they were using the incorrect tire and they made it work for the ride home. the tire folded so is this what you are talking about? could you teach me more about this?
i went to the (trusted) Internet and looked up folding tires and i didn't know where to start.
anyone?
i need more information.

Folding tire refers to the bead of the tire. The bead is not rigid wire, but a foldable material. You know the tires that come packaged folded in on themselves, similar to tubes in the box? That's a folding tire. Non-folding tires, are the ones that come as a circle...
Haveaniceday.

my question is what is a folding tire?

Basically a folding tire is a tire that uses a foldable kevlar bead as opposed to a wire bead.
This allows a tire to be folded into a compact size for easier transport.
A wire bead tire can not be folded because it would kink and damage the bead.

I've let a new tire set in the sun for awhile,it helps.