Bicycle Mechanics - grrr...wtb raptors stink

i have spent about the last two hours trying to get my wtb moto raptos onto my new sun rhyno lite rims. i have no idea what to try now. i just cant seem to get the last bit of the tires on. i pinch flatted one of my tubes now and want to throw my wheels out the window. i have tried soap etc.. trying to get them onto the rim. i really don't want to pay $$$ to have someone install them either. any ideas? nothing i have read so far seems to be working to any degree. they are 26x2.4 and seem to hate me. i have never had this much trouble installing a tire before. usually i do it all without levers. i think i need a vise and a pneumatic pump to get them over the rims. i am already dreading having to fix flats.

Same problem with the Nokians and my Rhynolite XL's.

It sucks that we have one of the hardest rims to mount tires onto.

Best thing to do is just be careful and use some metal tire levers.

do you have any other suggestions or should i just force the hell out of the last 12" or so that won't go on? i am going to swing by the lbs tomorrow and try to do it if they have metal levers. i just don't want to damage the rim by using a metal tire lever. hopefully i won't have to replace tubes often.

If you see this before trying metal levers, Pedro's has a great set that are not metal and do not flex or break (at least mine don't, been using them for a year now). PEDRO'S (http://www.pedros.com/frames/tools.html) They will run you $4.

A bit of soap and some elbow grease and your tires will go on. I use Nokians which are a biach to mount but they still go on. May be you just need to get to the gym:p .

One other thing, be sure that the bead of the tire is in the center of the rim. As you work your way around keep pushing the bead on the opposite side back to the center. It will give you a little more room to play with.


:beer:

Interesting -- when deflated, my older-model WTB Raptors almost fall off my 1988 Ritchey rims. In fact, I have never had trouble mounting ATB tyres. (In contrast, putting 700Cx23 Contis. on my Campag. Omega rims is a real challenge!)

eheheh. well, i never go to the gym. i prefer to run and ride. and as a matter of fact, i smell like arse from finishing my first triathlon this morning. the gym is all hype unless you play racquetball or squash. i'll check out the levers at a store today.

well, 4 tubes, a bunch of patches and hours later, my rear wheel its fine. i even had a guy at the lbs show me some tricks. i was able to get one wheel on just using my hands, but levers made it far easier. minus the fact that they pitched the damn tubes. does anyone have any other tips for getting a "hard arse tire" onto a rim? the soap and levers seem to be the best, but i have when i just hear the tire hiss after i get the tire on and pitch the tube on the last bit. i think the specialized tubes i keep getting don't have thick enough walls. i will try a kenda tomorrow on my now deflated front wheel. i am starting to regret building up a new bike. i love my fixie too much now and it's dumb easy to work on.

I have never had trouble with my MTB tires, but I had a horrible time getting my one set of tires on my track bike, I was dreading a flat. About a month after I mounted them I finaly got my first flat (my mistake for not checking tire pressure and I got a pinch flat). I easily got them off and back on. Tires seem to stretch a bit when on the rim, so just leave them on their :) and next time should be easier.

my track bike is cake to get my wheels off. i was pissed when i got my flat though since getting the tension back was a big pain. i'm so happy that i just found out my 4th tube pinch flatted too when i grab the wheel from my basement. i am just having the lbs put them on tomorrow since i don't want to spend anymore money.

it's funny that you brought this up, I had the same problem with mine as well, for some reason they won't go onto Rhyno Lites, I can't figure it out. Any other tire is cake, but for some reason the RL's paired with the motoraptors are a pain in the arse. So I gave up and went back to my Panaracers.

the funny thing is, the guy at the bike store got it on in about 3 minutes with his hands. as dirtbikedude said, maybe i need to go to the gym. hopefully i won't get charged to get tubes installed that i bought at their store. after all, they sponsor our team.

I cannot get my Nokian's on my Rhynolite XL's without the use of levers.

Metal levers won't hurt your rims. I have broken every single plastic tire lever I have ever used to get a tire on these rims. They truely suck.

I'll probally get some Intense Mag 30's next season, so that'll solve some of my problems :)