How do I Change Tires with a Tight Fit
06-16-05, 07:50 AM
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How do I Change Tires with a Tight Fit
I recently swtiched from riding a mountain bike to a road bike. I have gotten three flats in the past 3 months on the road bike. Today I tried to get the tire off and could not even do it. Why are tires on road bikes fitted so tightly and how do I get them off. The plastic tool I use to take the tire off broke while I was trying and I had a three mile walk home. Help!!!
06-16-05, 07:56 AM
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They fit tightly to keep them from blowing off under high pressure (100+ psi).
Get good quality tire levers; I use the wide ones from Pedros. Ask the wrenches at your LBS what they use; odds are it's something they sell.
Sounds like this is a new bike; if the tires are folding they will be harder to remove than wire-beads, but will get a little easier over time as the aramid/kevlar/whatever beads stretch a bit.
Stop riding through the glass.
Get good quality tire levers; I use the wide ones from Pedros. Ask the wrenches at your LBS what they use; odds are it's something they sell.
Sounds like this is a new bike; if the tires are folding they will be harder to remove than wire-beads, but will get a little easier over time as the aramid/kevlar/whatever beads stretch a bit.
Stop riding through the glass.
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06-16-05, 08:48 AM
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Auto tires are often mounted after application of a bead lubricant and a light dab of soapy water works fine for this. I have used this trick to mount tight motorcycle tires too but wonder why it is not universally recommended for bicycles?
06-16-05, 08:49 AM
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get a steel tire lever. They make some that are nylon/plastic covered so they don't damage the rim but they should work quite well. I use straight steel ones though and I haven't had a problem.
06-16-05, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by rokrover
Auto tires are often mounted after application of a bead lubricant and a light dab of soapy water works fine for this. I have used this trick to mount tight motorcycle tires too but wonder why it is not universally recommended for bicycles?
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06-16-05, 09:01 AM
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Perhaps alcohol would work?
06-16-05, 09:04 AM
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One thing that will help. This is a method used for mounting mororcycle tires with tubes which are way harder. Make sure you get the bead of the tire down in the center part of the rim as much as possible. This will give you just a little more slack for pushing the final part over.
06-16-05, 09:40 AM
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Some people swear by these. I haven't tried either one.
https://www.crankbrothers.com/speedlever.php
https://store.somafab.com/stcotile.html
https://www.crankbrothers.com/speedlever.php
https://store.somafab.com/stcotile.html
06-16-05, 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by neil0502
Some people swear by these. I haven't tried either one.
https://www.crankbrothers.com/speedlever.php
https://store.somafab.com/stcotile.html
https://www.crankbrothers.com/speedlever.php
https://store.somafab.com/stcotile.html
06-16-05, 02:13 PM
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johnny99 is that from the Bruce Springsteen song?
It took me about two hours to change that tire and my second bike lever broke. There must be a better way. I will try better levers. It is hard to lube the tire when a flat occurs out on the road. As for alcohol, do you mean for me or the tire? LOL
It took me about two hours to change that tire and my second bike lever broke. There must be a better way. I will try better levers. It is hard to lube the tire when a flat occurs out on the road. As for alcohol, do you mean for me or the tire? LOL
06-16-05, 03:41 PM
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I have never used the speed lever but hte other link posted, i have used tire levers with that exact same design. I love those things, the park ones suck
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