arcticbiker

My wife's Fulcrum Racing 2-way wheels which she uses as her everday training wheels came with Michelin Pro Race clincers. The wheels are aluminum and of average weight. When changing the tires, I can barely get the tire back on w/o pinching the tube. If I wear gloves I can roll the tire back on the rim with a great deal of effort. She is unable to repair a flat on the road w/o using levers. Using levers with these wheels will then create a pinch flat.

I tried mounting the tires on another rim without any problems.

We've switched her bike back to Mavic Ksyriums for her training rides.

Anyone else have this problem with these wheels?

canam73

Don't know about the wheels, but I find Continental tires go on easier than Michelin. Have you tried any other tires on that rim?

sam83

I've got 3s and no problems mounting my GP4000s.

Velo Gator

Never had a problem with the Rubino Pros on my Fulcrum 7s.

crazyarm07

I have 2 pairs of Fulcrum 7's and one pair of 5's and I have no problems at all with GP4000's. I only need the tire lever to get the last little 3-inch segment or so on. I really like the wheels too, for the cost.

arcticbiker

Thanks for the replies.

I'll try a different tire on the wheel and see. I've never used Michelin's before, but they seem like pretty good tires and mounted easliy on another wheel type. I looked closer and these are Fulcrum 1 Wheels.

Bob Dopolina 

All tires and rims are designed to a standard set by ETRTO. Campagnolo (Fulcrum) design their products to shoot for the outer dimension of those tolerances. They do this to ensure the tightest fit which they feel is the safest.

The downside is that some combinations can be VERY difficult to mount, especially on the road and especially with new tires.

Michelin and Mavic have been partnering up over the last few years and coordinating their efforts (think UST) and so are a good combination (but in some cases are outside of ETRTO which means other combinations don't always work as well).

Tires will loosen up a tad with use and this can sometimes make a difference. I'd suggest putting a few hundred kms on the tires and then swapping them back onto your wife's Fulcrum wheels and see if the situation has improved any.

Good luck.

noise boy

Also to avoid pinching the tube when installing, put a little air in them, it will keep them out of the way of the bead coming in.

Mr. Fly

OK, I don't get it. Whether a particular tire mount easily on a particular rim has to do with how deep the rim well is. If you have a deep enough rim well, the tire will mount easily, given of course, that one knows the correct technique. How does the ETRTO, that standardizes where the hook of the rim is, have anything to do with how deep the rim well is?

Bob Dopolina 

There are more dimensions and radii involved in standardization than you would imaging including the dimension of the rim bed which you mentioned.

What are also factors in installation are the bead seat dia, the distance from the top of the brake track to the top of the rim wall , the radii involved in the transition from rim bed to bead seat and the radius at the top of the rim wall above the brake track. Those are for the rims.

ETRTO does not specify TIRE dimension but all tire makers design their tires to work on ETRTO spec'd rims. So if the rim is out of spec it will affect the fit/installation of the tire on the rim.

No one factor is the sole determining factor for fit/ease of installation instead, it is the accumulative affect of these various factors that is determinate (with the depth of the rim bed probably being the single most significant).

EDIT: For those who are curious: This is the ETRTO spec for a clincher rim (there are other pages with actual tolerances) This really shows the tire/rim interface but you can also see how much is left open that would affect installation.

lhorn

I've been wonding about this. I've got Fulcrum 7's with Vittoria tires and they are a pain to get mounted. even with the tire inflated a bit, I find it a bit hard not to pinch the tube. I kinda thought it was the tire, didn't realize the rim might make a big difference.

I've got the fold up Hutchinson tires on my old Mavic rims that are a dream to put on. No tire levers needed.

Campag4life

I run Vittoria Pro III's on Fulcrum 5's. I can get them on without tire levers...but at huge effort. I still prefer this route as I don't like pinching the tube with a lever if I can avoid it. The new Vittoria Rubino Pro III's which are 150 TPI and my favorite training tire are rated up to 145 psi and I run mine around 130 psi or so. With that kind of pressure, I want a tire tight to the rim when I am descending at 40 mph I believe both Fulcrum (Campy) and Vittoria get the sizing right that Bob explained. I don't see this as an issue. I am not sure if a small girl or even average strength girl could mount these tires without levers.

JaceK

Vittoria pro 3's, and GP4000 on Fulcrum 5, Fulcrum 3, Fulcrum 1's. never pinched a tube with a lever. Never had trouble mounting a tire. Technique?

adclark

I have a set of Campy Sciroccos and Michelin tires are also a pain to mount on these. If you make sure the tube is out of the way, just go ahead and use the extra force required to get them on. Also, in regards to the comment about them loosening up, I have found that they get just a tiny bit looser with use, but the difference is almost not noticeable.

mmmdonuts

Practice. She may never be able to install that rim/tire combo without levers but it can be done without pinching the tube. As an alternative find a tire that goes on easier or since the rims are 2-way fit give tubeless a try.

canam73

Awsomeness.

arcticbiker

OK, I've tried mounting two additional tire types (both new) with mixed success. First, a Vittoria Randonneur Pro & second, a Conti GP4000. The Vittoria was a pain very similar to the Michelin. The Conti went on normally with no lever required.

I don't mind using a lever when required, but the Michelin was the most difficult, then the Vittoria. The Conti required no lever.

For my wife's use, I'll stick with the Conti for now.

Thanks for all the info.

DRietz

Regardless of the fact that Campy machines their things to the outer-most tolerances, also consider the fact that they ARE tubeless wheels. Any tubeless rim or tire will be much harder to mount.

arcticbiker

Good point. Maybe that's the difference. I'm not sure I'll be trying tubeless road tires.

I changed my MTB tubeless tire to winter studs a couple of weeks ago with dismay. The slime used in the original mounting made the task much more difficult. The tubeless tire worked great in the summer, but I needed some winter tires. Next spring I'll stick some tubes in.

Looigi

Lube and/or heat can help a lot. I use talc. Baby powder works but if you prefer, scentless talc is available in the tire/wheel area in auto stores. It also helps prevent pinching the tube. Heating the tire in the sun or a clothes dry also can be helpful.

datlas 

I recently had a MAJOR struggle with a rim/tire combo that was a bear. Probably "stacked" tolerances.

You may wish to get a VAR tire lever or Kool Stop Bead Jack tool.

Makes it stupid easy.

arcticbiker

Thanks for the tip. I ordered the VAR lever from SJS in the UK. I'll check it out when it arrives.

stlutz

With new tires the other tip is when you get to getting that last part of the tire onto the rim, put some soapy water on that small piece of the rim. If any internet tip I've run across ,that's the only one that's actually worked for me.

And yes, Michelin tires and Campy rims have long been touch combination.

arcticbiker

Another great tip!

abstractform20

interesting...so you have to use LEVERS with FULCRUMS...