johnnyboy1

The bike I use for commuting came with 700x38 WTB Pathway tires on WTB Dual Duty wheels. I went to 700x28 Vittoria Randonneur and got a nice speed boost. But I couldn't fix a flat! The LBS where I got the tires said another guy has the same wheel/tire set-up and also has to bring it in when he has a flat. Just can't get that last section over the rim.

My winter tires are 700x38 studded and they go on like a dream. So I think I'm done with the 28s. The tires I'm looking at are available in 32, 35 and 38 width. Does anyone think the 32s would go on as easy as the 38s? Or just stick with the 38s?

Ride is 10-20 mile RT commutes, city streets.

ThermionicScott 

The width of the tire has nothing to do with how easy it is to install. Best to choose the width you want based on comfort, speed, weight, etc, and then do some research into tire brands and models that are easier to install as a whole.

FastJake

+1 The width is not the issue, the specific tire is the issue. I've heard people say that narrow road tires or whatever are harder to install. False. Each tire is a little different and some fit tighter than others. If you want to run a 28mm tire find one that's not hard to install. If you can't get it on your rim by hand return it and get something different.

FWIW my 28mm wire bead Continental Gatorskins are easy to install by hand on some of the tightest rims I have. I will not use a tire/rim combo I cannot install and remove by hand only.

There is also the option of working on your technique, and getting a thinner rim tape. Thinner rim tape can make all the difference in some cases.

johnnyboy1

Does TPI effect ease of installation?

fietsbob

what effects installation is the Precise circumference of the tire bead itself..

To have a High pressure tire stay secure the tire bead may be intentionally tight ..

and you need to get your ability to remove and re install the chosen tire up to the task ..



..If it's hard to put on , look for another brand of tire , I cannot predict what you will find.

There, experience is gained as an individual.

rim designs also effect how a tire installs ..

Andrew R Stewart 

Not said is that the rim's real diameter and it's amount of drop in the spoke bed also comes into play as to how much slack one can get during tire mounting to let the last bit of the bead slip over the rim. There is a wider range of rim shapes and tolerances then that of tires. Andy.

Bezalel

Maybe its a Vittoria issue. My Zaffiro 23s are hard to remove and install on 2 different wheelsets I use. I tried just about every lever I could and actually broke a VAR-425 on them.

johnnyboy1

Cool. I'll look for a different brand.

HillRider

Not in my experience. I have Vittoria Randonneur 700-28 tires on a pair of Shimano WH-R501 wheels and they went on with out much of a fight. I also have Vittoria 700-23 Rubino Pros on two other sets of wheel (Shimano WH-R560 wheels and a pair with Mavic CXP-33 rims) and both accepted the tires with minimal difficulty. It took a plastic tire lever to get the last couple of inches on but that's all and changing a flat (rare but it happens) on the road was no struggle.

davidad

solves the problem. https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...&item_id=KS-TJ

loimpact

If it matters, after you've given the "install" suggestions a go.......My favorite tire size is 32cm......PERIOD!! It's like having your cake and eating it too!

djb

this video is great to watch, once you understand the technique, it will help immensely with getting tires on. I dont use straps like he does, but with a hard to mount tire, just using your hand to work your way up the tire on both sides , squishing the tire into the rim, will gain you that little bit that makes a hard tire get on so much easier, because you have brought some slack up to the top and final bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4

and my 28s gatorskins go on and off no problem on my rims.

ThermionicScott 

I love that video. One of the great things about developing good technique is that it makes regular tire and rim combos a snap.

Jax Rhapsody

when I cant get a tire on, I use two broad tipped butter knives. I have a kenda kwest that had to be forced on a swift arriv deep vee, yet no problems fitting a regular mtb rim

CTZunow

No disrespect, but do not use butter knives in lieu of plastic tire levers--you can ruin the rim and the tire. You want to avoid using metal tools on your soft aluminum rims and rubber obviously loses in a fight with metal. Also you can damage the bead of the tire without even know it, causing a blow out. Seriously, this could be a fatal mistake.

Agreed that brand plays a major role. Snug fit is generally a good (safety wise) thing. My best advice would be to use a thin rim tape or spoke hole plugs if you're dead set on a tire/rim combo. The rim could also be a culprit. Also, stay away from 'tubeless' friendly rims and tires. Lastly, agreed that technique plays a huge role.

Speed has the most to do with the suppleness of the tire and less to do with the size (nominally) if that is a concern/desire. In that regards, you will need to strike a balance between flat resistant and fast.

Myosmith

Even wire bead tires relax a little with use. I've had new tires that were a PITA to mount on a cold spring morning but after a month of riding on hot summer pavement, I could change them by hand after flatting. Not the easiest tire to mount but I've had good luck with Specialized All Condition Armadillo Elites (the folders) and have never had a flat (just jinxed myself) with them in either 25 or 28mm.

HillRider

That's a good point. Even tires that were difficult to mount when new are often much easier the second and subsequent times.

Barrettscv 

I have no problem with 700x23 Vittoria Rubino on Mavic Open Pro, 700x25 Vittoria Corsa CX on HED C2, 700x28 Vittoria Rubino Pro Tech II on Sun CR18, 700x32 and 38 Vittoria Randonneur Hyper on Velocity A23 rims.

I have a few hard to mount tires, including Schwalble Marathon and Challenge Parigi-Roubaix. on these I use this Kool Stop Tire Jack: https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tire.../dp/B001AYML7K