Folding Bikes - Best 20" rim/tyre/price combination in USA or AUS

I've had so much trouble with my velocity 451's with stelvio's (tyre is such an impossibly tight fit that it takes a lot of grunt and many tube fixes to get it back on again and i'm over the anodized red) i'm going to rebuild both front and back wheels and start again.
So I'm asking all the virtual shoppers out there what they think is the best 20" wheel/tyre combination available for touring. Obviously the cheaper the better and both items need to be bought from the same website for freight purposes. Strength is important. It's for a very stripped down Raleigh 20 thats already done far to many miles. It's not that I'm lazy but one of forum members may have already lucked upon the combo of the century. Cheers.

406 mm with big apples?

Can't you do a little bit of subtle sanding round the rim edges so the tyre goes on better?
Just my 2¢ that's cheaper than a whole new wheelset!

On my Swift I can install and remove the 406 Conti GPs without tyre levers. Aeroheat rims. The Contis are as light as the Stelvios. Don't have a common web site though. I get my Contis from biketiresdirect in the US - half the price of everybody else.

I have Sun rims with Maxxis Hookworms on them. Awesome combo.

Norfolk bolt,

I'm having the same trouble with my 451 Velocity Aeros and Stelvios, in fact the rear tyre was an absolute nightmare to get on, and now after regular commutes and touring, the tread is getting very low so I'm not looking forward to changing that one. However....I may have found an answer, I bought a set of folding Stelvios off eBay from a Bike Friday supplier, they should be easier to fit.

Yes yes yes!!!!... it sounds weird but thats really good to hear stevegor...it's not just me!!!
Absolutely almost you'd think they were the wrong fit tyre.
I rode the last stelvio through the tread, then it got a flat and now am here. Once they are on they are pretty good, but i would hate to get a flat out on a ride, it would be a nightmare. I dunno why they are so tight, maybe it's just one of those odd combinations. Unfortunately I took little pixles suggestion and sanded down the rim. Now i'm looking for a 436 tyre. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions but tonight I finally got the new one on. It took 4 puncture repairs, a new tube 2 knives, a spoon, washing up liquid and silicon spray and one other person holding the knives in to flick it over, this time not pinching the tube. I have actually bored out the valve hole to take the car size valves because the whole arrangement was so tight that i was breaking too many presta valves getting them in and out.
It's a good fast ride though, especially when you coast past racing bikes going down hill...

I think i'm gonna go FMF® Powermoto 20 x 1.75 Rim with tioga comp slicks and a nexus 8 for my next setup, and this time stainless spokes...damn broke 3 last week.

Cheers everyone.


Norfolk bolt,

I'm having the same trouble with my 451 Velocity Aeros and Stelvios, in fact the rear tyre was an absolute nightmare to get on, and now after regular commutes and touring, the tread is getting very low so I'm not looking forward to changing that one. However....I may have found an answer, I bought a set of folding Stelvios off eBay from a Bike Friday supplier, they should be easier to fit.

those box section rims are sometimes terrible for that.

Ive got Crosser rims on my gold bike.
There aero box section rims. In a 24" size
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c296/Alecw35/goldtube2.jpg
cant remember if they were difficult to mount the tyres.

But I had to change a tyre and tube on a bike at work.
the bike had those rims on. Ended up cutting the side wall so it would come off.
I got the new tyre on with some cleaning spray and lots of pushing.

Some times plain U section rims are better