Bicycle Mechanics - Trouble mounting tire on rim.. cannot center tire..?

YES! NEWB has failed large at mounting a tire..

ok in embarassment i post this pic...

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/795/tireys9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/795/tireys9.bc6862ca4b.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=88&i=tireys9.jpg)

I cannot figure out whats going on between the 9 o'clock - 12 o'clock section of the wheel/tire.

i was so happy after i trued the wheel successfully, but i totally cannot figure out why this tire just won't sit properly..

thanks in advance.. and is this common?

This is pretty common, the tire's bead just isn't seating properly on the rim. Try deflating the tire and spraying some rubbing alcohol on the tire's bead, then reinflate. If necessary, you can inflate it well beyond the recommended psi just to get it to pop into place. Check the bead periodically as you inflate to make sure the bead isn't slipping over the rim.

BTW, is this a belt-driven disc-brake equipped folding bike? I'm not sure what I'm looking at, but I think I like it a lot.

I'll usually deflate the tube, spray window cleaner between the tire bead and the rim all the way around, and re-inflate to twice the recommended air pressure when this happens. The bead should "pop" into place if everything is lined up properly. Sometimes you need to let it sit for a while before it decides to co-operate. Don't forget to let air out to bring it down to the recommended pressure afterwards.
Funky bike.

hey guys, thanks for the feedback... i was figuring that much like automobile wheels, I could just inflate it until the bead seats itself... just didn't know if that was the same with innertubes and spokes.
i'll try windex, talc, and alcohol, im sure one of them will have to work!

regarding the bike, its a STRIDA 5.0, folding bike that is belt driven to avoid greasy bits and the disc brakes are more a fashion statement - the bike is single speed and runs on 16" wheels! :P!

http://www.liever-ligfietsen.nl/images/strida87.jpg

hey guys, thanks for the feedback... i was figuring that much like automobile wheels, I could just inflate it until the bead seats itself... just didn't know if that was the same with innertubes and spokes.
i'll try windex, talc, and alcohol, im sure one of them will have to work!



The windex, etc is worth using because it's so easy. But often (usually) if you just over inflate it, it will pop in.

ok did the windex AND took it to the local gas station..

pump wouldn't push more than 80psi..

100psi is the max for this tire... but im having A LOT of difficulty finding an air pump that can achieve that...

AND THE TIRE IS STILL not mounting on the rim...... ugh..

Some tire/rim combos can be a real pain - especially if they're cheap Asian-made product.
You can buy a floor pump that will have a pressure guage and easily do 100psi for $30 or less these days. I'd recommend picking one up.
Pre-stretching the tire when it's off the rim might be something to consider trying. Stand on the tire at one end and pull the other side up with gloved hands to try and stretch the bead a bit. The longer you pull, the better your chances of making it fit. Try not to kink the wire bead, but if you do, just bend it back by hand. Re-mount on the rim and see if you've made a difference.

Some tire/rim combos can be a real pain - especially if they're cheap Asian-made product.


You really think the added addition of "Asian" is really needed?

ok did the windex AND took it to the local gas station..

pump wouldn't push more than 80psi..

100psi is the max for this tire... but im having A LOT of difficulty finding an air pump that can achieve that...

AND THE TIRE IS STILL not mounting on the rim...... ugh..

If your pump won't push more than 80, you should get a different pump. Pressures of 100 - 120+ PSI are common on bike tires, and bike tire pumps that do that are common. I'm kind of surprised you're having any difficulty at all finding a hand pump that will do it. Maybe you don't have a floor pump? It is difficult to get high pressure with a mini pump or frame pump. If you don't have one, get a decent quality floor pump, they don't cost a lot. Then you'll be able to get 100 in there easy. If it were my tire, I'd go for 115 or even more if that's what it took. I think last time I had the problem, I went about 25% or so over max and it popped right in.

I think gas stations only go up to normal car tire pressures - 40 psi or so.

You really think the added addition of "Asian" is really needed?

I've got a pile of cheap Thai-made tires at work that I'm very sorry I ordered, so yes.

Make sure you don't have the tube trapped between the rim and the tire.

I've got a pile of cheap Thai-made tires at work that I'm very sorry I ordered, so yes.

after visiting Hong kong and china, yah, there is really really poorly made/copied/fabricated/mashed together stuff that is terrible.. im sure there is lots of that around, esp in the bicycle industry.. for thai/maylay, ya gotta remember that most rubber is coming from malaysia/indonisa so thai product wouldn't be too far of a stretch as im sure there is quality things thailand is known for, other than the ladyboy transexuals!

when it comes to "cheap chinese knock offs, or asian stuff" its hard to rationalize, but remember that 80% of the worlds cyclists are in that part of the world, biking every day, on roads that are not nearly as well-kept compared to the UK or North America. granted im sure they have their share of problems, but bikes made from and made in china are sold all the time at your local wal-mart.. it may not be the finest cycle, but for the casual rider, I think its quality is more than adequate, esp in the land of decent roads and stupid automobile drivers.

I've got a pile of cheap Thai-made tires at work that I'm very sorry I ordered, so yes.

Funny that the biggest problem I ever had was trying to get a German made tire on a French made rim. Must have been those shoddy European products and not just the particular rim/tire combination. :rolleyes: