Road Cycling - Holy crap these tires are a pain to put on.

After my ride this morning, I decided to put the specialized mondo pro tire on. Being kevlar beaded foldable and all I assumed it'll be easier to put on. Holy crap that thing took me a little over an hour of prying to get on. I tried rolling the bead on and then pushing it in with the tire lever 1/4" at a time. That thing is tiiiight. Ironically the continential ultra 3000 wire bead on the rear went on with almost no resistance, it literally took all of 5 minutes.
My fingers are sore... :(

haha that brings back memories of me putting on my veloflex masters...sat there for about 30 mins a tire. lucky for me i havent had a flat yet with them.

My fingers are sore... :(

Any blisters? I hate it when that happens!

Let me know how you like the Mondo's.. I had the Pro Cipi's last year and the best that I can tell, they are the Mondo's this year.. they look the same with weight/design/PSI/price. Mine lasted me forever without trouble...

Any blisters? I hate it when that happens!
I finally broke down and had my lbs change the tube in my rear tire on my R535 rims. They charged $7.50 for the tube and $7.50 to install it. Definitely better than the last time it took me a lot longer and I ended up with sore hands. I kind of felt like a ****** having them change the tire but it worked out for the best!

haha that brings back memories of me putting on my veloflex masters...sat there for about 30 mins a tire. lucky for me i havent had a flat yet with them.

Given that Veloflex doesn't let you use tire levers, that makes sense. Had some fun putting on my Veloflex Pave's as well. They've been just fantastic, though...

1 small blister and a whole bunch of cuts on the side of my palm and pinky from the lever slipping and me jamming my hand in to the edge of the rim and spokes. I just don't get it because the continential ultra 3000 which was like twice as cheap as the specialized went on without any tools.

Each combination of tire and rim fits a little differently. Contis tend to fit a little looser, Specialized and Panaracer are o the tight side, etc.

The new Force & Attack Conti's will also test your hand strength. Well worth it though, especially for racing etc.

Just stretch them a bit first, I've found the least painful technique is hanging the tire on something sturdy and pull, rotate it a bit and repeat-made the Force Conti much easier to install. If you want hell, try putting on a Tufo tubular clincher, no regular clincher will come close (though they're well worth it racing)

Interesting comments. I had Continentals on the Felt when I got it, changed to Vittorria Rubino's after one flat too many. The Continentals were tight, the Vittorias were a little looser. Demoncyclist has a very good point, each combination of rim and tire is different.

Let me know how you like the Mondo's.. I had the Pro Cipi's last year and the best that I can tell, they are the Mondo's this year.. they look the same with weight/design/PSI/price. Mine lasted me forever without trouble...

I don't know if the original michelin dynamic's that came with my bike are extremely crappy or what but the difference between those and the continental/specialized tires is about 1mph average into a 20mph headwind vs. no wind normally. They seem really tough, grippy, and easy rolling, for now.

Given that Veloflex doesn't let you use tire levers, that makes sense. Had some fun putting on my Veloflex Pave's as well. They've been just fantastic, though...

yeah they are a great tire. i was skeptical going from 25mm to 20mm tires...now im a believer.:D
the worst part is right at the end where you get it over the rim but get your finger stuck underneath...not only does it hurt but when you pull your finger away the tire comes off the rim...this could just be me though...haha

The Pave's are a bit more reasonable at 22mm vs the 20mm of the Master. They are a bit heavier, but they meet my needs perfectly. Still 180g is about as light as tires come...

Just stretch them a bit first, I've found the least painful technique is hanging the tire on something sturdy and pull, rotate it a bit and repeat-made the Force Conti much easier to install

This may damage the bead or the wrapping around the bead.

Not all rims are exactly the same; my old Mavic Open 4CDs are slightly less of a tight fit, so i put my new tires on one, pump it up very hard, then let it stretch for a few days. I know a guy who sanded a fraction of an inch of a very old rim for the purpose of strectching tires.

I actually injured some tendons at the base of my thumb while ramming a 20mm GP on to a Rigida DP18, so you've gotta be careful. It was so painful I could hardly touch the handle bars for a week! Sometimes I put leather gloves on to put on a tire.

The tires were hard to install, but they ride beautifully! I wore out two sets of Vittoria Rubais Pro's, and only bought these last week on my LBS's suggestion, but I feel better climbing and more stable decending. 200 miles, so far no problems.

sorry, I meant Vittoria Rubino's.

I think some of you should consider investing in Speed Levers which have a clevis-like section that helps in reinstalling the bead. I also have a minipump (Topeak Einstein) which has built-in tyre levers that help in both removal and bead-setting.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/00_5203.jpg
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/K2/1999-OzM/images/topeak-einstein-masterblaster-large.jpg

Thats pretty cool! I like that pump/tire lever dealie...

Thats pretty cool! I like that pump/tire lever dealie...

There's only one bad thing about the Topeak Einstein pump... they stopped marketting them in the US. :( Actually they no longer make the model I have but they do make the Einstein II. I think you can only get them from Europe.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/?ProductID=5360011994

i had huge problems putting on specialized turbos/armadillos, kept getting pinch flats, etc. i will never use a spec tire again.

sd

I finally broke down and had my lbs change the tube in my rear tire on my R535 rims. They charged $7.50 for the tube and $7.50 to install it. Definitely better than the last time it took me a lot longer and I ended up with sore hands. I kind of felt like a ****** having them change the tire but it worked out for the best!

$7.50 for a tube!?!!?!? jesus christ! is it some material other than the normal rubber? did it have a longer presta valve stem like 48mm or 60mm? my shop sells the standard tubes for $3.95 and the long stem prestas for $5.95. you're getting ripped off.

Any tires that are super easy to put on. I bought some rims that are a pain in the butt because they are a little high on the walls and would like some particularly big or stretchy tires.

Milo

$7.50 for a tube!?!!?!? jesus christ! is it some material other than the normal rubber? did it have a longer presta valve stem like 48mm or 60mm? my shop sells the standard tubes for $3.95 and the long stem prestas for $5.95. you're getting ripped off.

I agree. $7.50 for a tube is highway robbery unless you're talking CAD or AUD or the like. Was it purchased out of a vending machine at an airport or from the concession stand at an AMC theatre? :)

I am currently in the process of installing a vredestein fortezza tire on my bianchi. Before this I have only had to install mtb tires which take me all of 5min each. Changing one tire on the bianchi = 1/2 - 1 hour of thumb crushing, finger bruising misery.

road tires = ultimate torture device:(

I just finished my first ride on my Veloflex Corsa 20's today. I ended up going to my LBS to have them put on (Pedro's Milk Levers and alot of patience). They are awesome - way fast, way grippy, worth the hassle of installation.

After my ride this morning, I decided to put the specialized mondo pro tire on. Being kevlar beaded foldable and all I assumed it'll be easier to put on. Holy crap that thing took me a little over an hour of prying to get on. I tried rolling the bead on and then pushing it in with the tire lever 1/4" at a time. That thing is tiiiight. Ironically the continential ultra 3000 wire bead on the rear went on with almost no resistance, it literally took all of 5 minutes.
My fingers are sore... :(

I usually install brand new tires and then inflate them up to pressure at least one day before use. I find it stretches the beads and makes them easier to remove/replace in the event of a flat.

However, I've found all of my experience with Specialized tires to have overly tight beads. I broke several levers on one set of road tires that I eventually was forced to cut off the rim. I've never had that experience with Michelins, Vredestiens, Continentals, Panaracers, Hutchinsons.

Veloflex Paves on Campy Neutrons. I finally gave up and used the tire levers to get them done. What a pain, but nice ride.

I usually install brand new tires and then inflate them up to pressure at least one day before use. I find it stretches the beads and makes them easier to remove/replace in the event of a flat.

However, I've found all of my experience with Specialized tires to have overly tight beads. I broke several levers on one set of road tires that I eventually was forced to cut off the rim. I've never had that experience with Michelins, Vredestiens, Continentals, Panaracers, Hutchinsons.

I just installed some Specialized All-Condition Armadillos after one too many flats with the All-Condition Sports while riding around Ocean City, NJ (shells suck). Talk about a pain to install. There is no way you could ever install one with just your hands. I pried like h&ll to get those things in place. Good news is that they work (no flats on a 77 mile ride yesterday). I hope to be removing them again when they are paper thin.

My 2005 Specialized Allez Elite came with Mondo's and I've already had 2 flats in 200 miles, which is frustrating as hell because I'm coming from mountain biking and I haven't had a flat in the last 5 years on that bike. I do understand that MTB tires are more durable, but come on! The Mondo was my first road tire to fix a flat on and it was really easy to install, so I don't understand all the comments about it being hard to get on the rim. I'm currently looking to replace the Mondo's with something more resistant to flats. The Vredestein Fortezza's and Michelin Carbon were recommended to me.

babypowder?
lil air in the tube?

I recently tried to put a Vittoria Open Corsa on and could not believe how tight it was, and I have been using that tire for a few years now. It was so tight, the bead of the first side I put on only wanted to sit in the middle of the rim. On top of that, the damn Perfomance tube seemed like it was an inch too long (even with a touch of air to give it some shape).

I am going to try Michelin Carbons or the Vredestein Fortezza anyways - need something a little beefier than the Open Corsa. Think I will try a different tube as well.

Panaracers + Bonty Race Lights == no tools. Very loose combo, but they ride very nicely....

What you all need is this tool: (http://www.beyondbikes.com/BB/ItemDesc.asp?IC=QTL4022)

Check out Tufo tubular clinchers. Way WAY easier to change than a normal clincher with tube. The downsides are the cost and you have to carry a spare tire instead of a tube.

I just installed Forteze SE's on Bonty Race-lites - normal installation. Just a little fiddling using Park levers. That hub mounted dealie would be nice if I changed a lot of tires. :)

I use the talc method. I also leave the last part of the bead to get rolled on to be the furthest distance from the valve stem. Once I check over the tube and make sure none of it is bound up between the bead and the rim, I let all the air I can out of it, face the side that has to be cranked over onto the rim towards me (at 12:00 position, if you will), put the 6:00 position against my stomach or against the floor, and then using the pad of palm flesh right below the first set of knuckle joints, I CRANK LIKE HOLY HELL with both hands up and over to the opposite side of the rim... usually you can get it to pop on if momentum is on your side, but sometimes it can be a real bear!

If you want hell, try putting on a Tufo tubular clincher, no regular clincher will come close
Gotta disagree with this - the Tufo Tubular clinchers - I've got 2 different sets - are the easiest tires to mount I've encountered. Once you learn the technique that is.

Michelins have always been beasts for me. Particularly the Carbon and Pro Race models on Bontrager wheels. Continental 3000's turned out to be much easier.

55/Rad

Gotta disagree with this - the Tufo Tubular clinchers - I've got 2 different sets - are the easiest tires to mount I've encountered. Once you learn the technique that is.

Michelins have always been beasts for me. Particularly the Carbon and Pro Race models on Bontrager wheels. Continental 3000's turned out to be much easier.

55/Rad

Amusingly, the Carbons stretch really really well. I got my first flat in 1200 miles the other day (friggin staple!) and managed to get the tires back on without incident with just my hands. Took me 15 minutes to mount them the first time, though. Admittedly, the last 6" of bead is a real bear but if you work in small sections it eventually goes on just fine. As far as the carbons' flat resistance? I'm impressed. 1200 miles and the only thing that took it down was a heavy-duty staple? Not too bad for a non hardcase/armadillo/tourgard/whattheheckever tire. :)

$7.50 for a tube!?!!?!? jesus christ! is it some material other than the normal rubber? did it have a longer presta valve stem like 48mm or 60mm? my shop sells the standard tubes for $3.95 and the long stem prestas for $5.95. you're getting ripped off.

Not only that, but he got charged $7.50 to have it installed!! :eek: Probably took the guy 5 minutes, if that.

Time to find a new LBS!

Are you all putting too much air into the tube before mounting the tire? This will make even the easiest of tires absolutely impossible to mount. For all of the those tough to mount tires, here's a little exercise. Try mounting the tire without the tube. If it goes on easy, then your problem is too much air in the tube.

I'm installed hundreds of tires and can't remember the last time I had a difficult time mounting one.

Mark