Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - a love/hate for rubinos has turned into a hate of axials

So I used to have this love/hate thing going on with rubinos. I liked 'em, but they were near impossible to get on and nearly impossible to get off. Today I broke three levers trying to get a set off.

I swapped 'em out for a set of michelin axials. They were $6 ea on clearance through IRO. They have gumwalls, and I wanted something classic looking. Anyway, these are way more of pain in the @ss to get on then rubinos. I thought there could be nothing worse.

/rant

you're doing it wrong sonny.

metal tire levers

What rims are you using. Rubinos usually are rather easy to work with on most of my rims.

metal tire levers
+1. This way instead of new levers you only have to buy 3 new rims with every set of tires.

same luck here. i use a rubino tech in the rear and i broke a few levers before taking the wheel to the shop. they had to use a metal lever and it left a little mark on my rim. those tires are pretty awesome for durability but suck for going on/off.

http://pr0n.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/7/71/Wrongbmx.jpg

My rubinos practically fell onto my wheels.

Rubinos were super easy for me, maybe it's your rims.

I just got these torelli rims and it's a mother and a half getting these damn verdesteins on and off.

i have some gum wall axials i'm still running, the ones with the little green stripe, and they've been amazingly durable tires. i bet you like em when you ride em.

http://pr0n.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/7/71/Wrongbmx.jpg
This photo deserves it's own thread.

Michelin tyre levers. All others suck ass.

This photo deserves it's own thread.
No. No it does not.

I cursed myself, tires, and the world trying to get a pair of Rubino's onto my IRO wheels. However, they practically fell onto my aeroheads.

Soma levers (which are coated metal) are pretty hard to break and won't eff your **** up.

what rims?

If I were a betting man, I might bet 25cents that they are SUN rims, b/c when I had a pair they were a total biach

I use Rubino's and metal tyre levers, they are the best balance for grip and puncture resistance.

If I were a betting man, I might bet 25cents that they are SUN rims, b/c when I had a pair they were a total biach

ding ding ding. sun venus rim. pain in the ass!!!

I had a Rubino roll right off my rim at the staggering speed of 15 km/h. I also got flats every 150 km like clockwork. Never again!

can't remember which model but i have some 90s era mavics that are a pain in the ass with rubinos

when i cant get a tire on

i just get the same tire in a 27"

its almost too easy to get on after that

it took me an hour to get a rubino pro onto a weinmann rim once.

rubino pro slicks + open pro cd rims. no levers needed, and they've held up downtown better than any other tire i've tried. two thumbs up.

you're doing it wrong sonny.


No, actually I'm not.

Old Mavic MA2 rims. Older Mavics and Rubinos have been known to not get along. It's def the rims, but I had to vent.

Soma levers (which are coated metal) are pretty hard to break and won't eff your **** up.


Soma levers are not so good. They have steel in the handle part, but not in the actual lever end. If you bust one, the metal can stick out and either f-up your tire, screw your tube, or mar your rim.

pedros levers work great for me
or this thing
http://i10.ebayimg.com/03/i/06/66/3a/a1_1.JPG
tioga also makes a plastic version of this which I like better keeps you nice rims shiny

Soma levers (which are coated metal) are pretty hard to break and won't eff your **** up.

+1 I got these as soon as I saw them at the LBS. Metal core + plastic coating = durable and scratch proof.

I personally have never broken one but the shop I frequent typically wears those things down to the metal without them breaking (they throw 'em out after all the nylon gets worn off the tip), haven't heard any complaints about breaking.

Now on my third set of "nice" tires, I've found that cheap wire bead tires are really really hard to get on and off road rims in general. I just finished mounting a set of Schwalbe Stelvios on a pair of Campy rims (notorious for being hard to get tires onto) and I didn't even have to fight them, but I did have to fight 20 minutes each with the wire bead Specialized Turbos that were on them to get both beads off.

Broke a pair of Park tire levers getting a cheap IRC slick off of a Sun RPM rim - it took two strong people who knew what they were doing to get it off.

Just have really expensive tires. Problem solved :D

pedros levers work great for me
or this thing
http://i10.ebayimg.com/03/i/06/66/3a/a1_1.JPG
tioga also makes a plastic version of this which I like better keeps you nice rims shiny

I've heard good things about the kool stop ones. They are only $10, but none of the LBS have them, so that leaves mail order and another $10 for shipping :(

have you tried mv or freewheel they should be able to get it for ya

+1 for pedro levers

+1 for pedro levers
+ lifetime warranty

have you tried mv or freewheel they should be able to get it for ya

Never thought of having a shop order and save on shipping. Thanks for the tip, I'll head over on tues to freewheel and ask.

I def want to get one as I am dreading getting a flat with these rims/tires since it will be a pain to get them on/off

I've found Rubinos (with the wire bead) to be a pain in the arse on a variety of rims. Rubino Pros i find to be ok on all the rims I've tried them on.