Recumbent - New tire problem

I am in the process of replacing my worn Primo Comets on the front of my tadpole trike with Primo Comets with Kevlar. When I put on the first one, pumped up to 100 psi, I noticed a slight bulge in the sidewall at the valve.

Is this a problem? Does this represent a problem with the tire or the tube underneath?

Thanks
Glenn in Omaha

Glenn a bulge in your tire is never a good thing. I'd take the tire completely off and remount it just to make sure it was mounted correctly. If the bulge is still there I would return the tire to the vendor for a replacement. Why take chances with something as important as your tires?

More than likely the reinforced part around the valve stem is stuck under the tire bead. Fix it now or you'll have a blowout sooner or later. Deflate the tube and push the valve stem into the tire. That should let the tire seat properly. Re-inflate it and spin the wheel to verify it's on straight.

More than likely the reinforced part around the valve stem is stuck under the tire bead. Fix it now or you'll have a blowout sooner or later. Deflate the tube and push the valve stem into the tire. That should let the tire seat properly. Re-inflate it and spin the wheel to verify it's on straight.

You nailed it! I deflated the tire and felt between the bead and the wheel rim. Sure enough, I felt the tube.

I reseated the valve stem and problem solved. Thanks.

Is the internet great or what??

Glenn in Omaha who will be riding in the morning!!

It might be a good idea to replace the tube or at least remove and inspect it. It may have been damaged since it was pinched and fully inflated. It may not blow, but murphy says if it is going to, it will be at the worst possible time.

I'm all for replacing parts that need it, but in this case it's not. The tube may or may not have a weak spot but that's irrelevant because the tire is what keeps the tube from exploding. BTW, getting the tube under the tire bead, especially at the valve, is fairly common.

Maybe "blow" was too strong a term... how about a pinch flat? ;) Myself, as I stated, would at least check it.

I'm all for replacing parts that need it, but in this case it's not. The tube may or may not have a weak spot but that's irrelevant because the tire is what keeps the tube from exploding. BTW, getting the tube under the tire bead, especially at the valve, is fairly common.

You've got that right. Before riding this morning I noticed the other new tire I installed last night had the same problem. Fixed and had a nice -- but humid -- ride this morning with my wife (It's a tandem recumbent trike)

Thanks again.

Glenn in Omaha

One thing you can do to avoid this sort of problem is to partially inflate the tire (maybe to 20 lbs), then work the tire with your hands to make sure everything is seated and distributed properly, then inflate the rest of the way.

One thing you can do to avoid this sort of problem is to partially inflate the tire (maybe to 20 lbs), then work the tire with your hands to make sure everything is seated and distributed properly, then inflate the rest of the way.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Glenn in Omaha

..... (It's a tandem recumbent trike).....

Are you the tandem trike that I saw riding the Corporate Cycling Challenge (Fort Calhoun ride) last year?

Hank (in Omaha)

One thing you can do to avoid this sort of problem is to partially inflate the tire (maybe to 20 lbs), then work the tire with your hands to make sure everything is seated and distributed properly, then inflate the rest of the way.

That helps for pinches elsewhere; but for the valve stem problem working the bead, it often doesn't help. What works is to push the valve all the way into the rim until it 'bottoms out' against the far side of the tire! If there's a little pressure in the tube while you do it, the tire will pop right into place with no further fiddling.

BTW, getting the tube stuck under the tire bead is not the source of 'pinch flats.' Pinch flats are caused by bottoming out the tire against the rim on a bump, and are characterized by two small holes ('snake bites') matching up with the rim edge that took the blow.

Are you the tandem trike that I saw riding the Corporate Cycling Challenge (Fort Calhoun ride) last year?

Hank (in Omaha)

Nope, I was on my Burley Koosah for that one. It was Jim and Vicki. I liked their trike so much that my wife (Joanne) and I got one built by the same person -- Tom Teesdale/T.E.T. Cycles. So this year, baring injury and flats (!) you may see two of these beasts at the event.

Glenn in Omaha

That helps for pinches elsewhere; but for the valve stem problem working the bead, it often doesn't help. What works is to push the valve all the way into the rim until it 'bottoms out' against the far side of the tire! If there's a little pressure in the tube while you do it, the tire will pop right into place with no further fiddling.

BTW, getting the tube stuck under the tire bead is not the source of 'pinch flats.' Pinch flats are caused by bottoming out the tire against the rim on a bump, and are characterized by two small holes ('snake bites') matching up with the rim edge that took the blow.

Hmmm. So there is a taxonomy of flats? Each with its own spoor sample??:rolleyes:

......I liked their trike so much.....

I agree. That trike was really cool.

I had not ridden Hwy 75 and County Road 43 before last year's CCC. It has become my favorite route. I park up at the high school at Fort Calhoun and ride down to CR 43 (taking Northern Hills back to the highway). Once I get back on 75, I ride down to 680. The return trip from 680 to Fort Calhoun is the easiest part of the trip, so it makes for a good "cool down." The trip is only twenty miles total, but it is a really good workout.

Several of the DF riders asked me about my bike (as I blew by them on the downhills).

(Anyway, thanks for satisfying my curiosity. I will say "hello" if I see you on this year's ride.)


Hank

Hmmm. So there is a taxonomy of flats? Each with its own spoor sample??:rolleyes:

:roflmao: