dstrong 

My riding partner has a set of Easton EA50. She's flatted the last two weeks and we've discovered that mounting new tires are next to impossible on these wheels. It took us 45 mins to change a tire this weekend and there's no way she could do it on a solo ride.

I googled "Easton ea50 tire fit" and found a lot of posts from folks that confirm that these rims are just slightly big and make mounting difficult. I also PM'd several BF members, asking for tires that might mount more easily. I got responses from every single one (thanks all) which pretty much confirmed that there's no magic answer. I've also sent an e-mail to Easton support to see if they have any suggestions.

So...my next thought was "hmmmm...I wonder if I can stretch the tire out a bit?"

That led me to this rig: 2 ton floor jack + custom length 2x4 + a little pipe insulation around the bottom of the tire to protect it from being cut on the bottom of the floor jack.



I'm using a Gatorskin with a sidewall gash as my test tire. As I type this, the tire is still being stretched. Hopefully I'll get down there in an hour or two to see if it yielded any results.

eippo1

I usually just put my foot the beads of the tire, hold the other side in my hands and stretch it that way.

ilovecycling

I say tell her to ditch the EA50s and get something else. I wouldn't put up with having to stretch my tires just to get them to fit.

korean

I wonder if that will make the tire stretch unevenly.

dstrong 

yeah...i sort of tried that half-heartedly w/o much difference.

I agree...i suggested she take them back to the LBS where she bought them to see if she could exchange them or at least get some credit (they came on a Kestrel Airfoil she bought from them). She's a second year nursing school student though, so funds are tight.

We'll see!

jeebusaurousrex

I sound like a broken record, but have you tried this first?

https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tire.../dp/B001AYML7K

Snydermann

Now add some heat . . . how big is your oven?

DScott

Time to up your tire changing game. Ever tried these?



https://www.parktool.com/product/heav...lever-set-tl-5

or this:



https://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001005.php

IOW, how do the bike shops do it, day after day?

Jaymadd

Kool Stop tire jack, works like a charm. It can fit in medium sized saddle bags too.

MikeyBoyAz

Gatorskins are already notorious for being a tight fit... add that to an over-sized rim... perhaps a different tire would be an interesting try?

Nachoman

I always use a metal tire iron if I'm having a hard time mounting. Downside is they can scuff up the rim and more easily puncture the tube. Don't ask me how I know this.

valleycyclist

That is interesting. I always think of Gatorskins (folding) to be looser than other tires. I always have more trouble with Michelin Krylion tires.

dstrong 

I haven't...but I'll see if the LBS has one.

It's in the garage here in Texas...it's gotta be 120 in there...hopefully that's enough

All good suggestions...the problem really belongs to my female ride partner who, even with the best tools, might not be able to muster the strength on a solo ride.

Will definitely check this out.

DRietz

As a certified grease monkey in a reputable shop, I can tell you that unless we're dealing with tubeless road tires, pretty much everything is done by hand.

DropDeadFred

real question...is that custom board available for sale?

pdedes

the VAR lever, pictured below is your answer.

DScott

Changing a tire is really more technique-dependent than a strength thing. That's why they invented physics.

dstrong 

I had seen the VAR lever referred to during my research but didn't know what it was. As I recall, the reference went something like "I couldn't mount a tyre even using a VAR lever!"

jet sanchEz

15 minutes in the dryer will soften them up

RollCNY

Be careful taking pictures of things with a hand backdrop. Based on common lies, many women may think that tool is 12" long.

pdedes

it's a bead jacker with a nesting extra tire lever. light, gets really tight tires on. find one, buy it, and be a hero the rest of your life.

JTGraphics

I've never had trouble with my EA90s with any tire, a friend has some EA50's which he said he could not get on with out the use of tire irons he brought it over for me to repair the hub and removed the tire and reinstalled it with only my hands and it kind of shocked him I showed him how I do it and he now has no trouble.
But that said if I wanted to stretch tires out I'd use an old rim mount them and pump them up to a hi pressure for a week or two and unmount and they should be a little bigger, the only thing I see wrong with the floor jack is the sharp bends in the bead which could rip the inner casing and damage it allowing failure later.

justkeepedaling

You get another set of cheap rims to mount the tire on for it to stretch. But really, continentals fit very small. I near broke my thumbs trying to mount a pair on a set of matrix rims

Stickney

New Rims or New tires or Both,

I am blessed to be the son of a farmer/rancher/blacksmith and I have strong hands (and scars) as a result, and I can attest that mounting new Gatorskins on Easton wheels can be a bear.

Make life easier, sell the Eastons, buy something else.

DScott

Around here, at least, alot of women never learn how to change a tube because they don't have to. Seems there's always some guy around that just has to insist on doing it for them.

I blame Archimedes.