Best/Easiest Tire to Mount? Replacing Vittoria Zaffiro Pros
I'm about due for some new tires and I wanted to get some suggestions. I currently run Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 700 x 23c on Campy Scirrocco wheels and they were the hardest to mount tire I have ever used. I'm a pastor and I nearly backslid getting those things on. I had to use my tire levers and I ruined one tube the first time out. I had a cheap set of Hutchinsons on another bike that were super easy; put them on with my hands only, on two different wheelsets, and never had a problem with the bead sealing.
I want better tires than the Hutchinsons; I'm thinking about the Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks but I wanted to find out what everyone elses experience was before buying. |
I found that the rims can be 50% of the mounting problem as well as the tires.
Get one of these and you will Thank Jesus for it everytime you use it. http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...&item_id=KS-TJ |
^^ What he said. The Bead Jack is a Godsend for mounting stubborn tires.
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Thanks! I never even heard of the Bead Jack but it sure looks slick. I wondered if the Campy rims might be the problem. I bought them new and this is the only set of tires I've had on them. I guess I'll find out soon enough.:)
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Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
(Post 14919278)
I found that the rims can be 50% of the mounting problem as well as the tires.
Get one of these and you will Thank Jesus for it everytime you use it. http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...&item_id=KS-TJ |
Originally Posted by mcarter
(Post 14919339)
Thanks! I never even heard of the Bead Jack but it sure looks slick. I wondered if the Campy rims might be the problem. I bought them new and this is the only set of tires I've had on them. I guess I'll find out soon enough.:)
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This is the method I've used for years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4
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I find that lube helps a lot. I liberally lube tubes and tire beads with talc for the sole purpose of making them easier to take on and off and reducing the chances of damaging a tube while doing so.
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Bicycle tires are easy to mount, take off. Try a dirt bike tire some time and you will appreciate how easy bicycle tires are. Really. You will laugh at them.
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Originally Posted by mcarter
(Post 14919267)
I'm about due for some new tires and I wanted to get some suggestions. I currently run Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 700 x 23c on Campy Scirrocco wheels and they were the hardest to mount tire I have ever used. I'm a pastor and I nearly backslid getting those things on. I had to use my tire levers and I ruined one tube the first time out. I had a cheap set of Hutchinsons on another bike that were super easy; put them on with my hands only, on two different wheelsets, and never had a problem with the bead sealing.
I want better tires than the Hutchinsons; I'm thinking about the Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks but I wanted to find out what everyone elses experience was before buying. I have the same tires (VZP) and I can pull them on and off with one plastic tire iron very easily, or even none at all. I had some Spinergys and Jesus didn't like them either. I felt like I was making a sacrifice every time I changed a tire on those. |
Rims do make a big difference. Open Pros are good. Some Cane Creek are impossible. A thin rim strip will make a big difference. If you don't pump over 120 lbs., you can use a poly rim strip. Otherwise, it's all technique. I don't use a tire lever on any rim/tire combo.
In the above video, Marathon Man's technique is not particularly good. That tire isn't hard to mount. The first bead is so easy he can put the tube in the tire before mounting. Notice that he is using a poly rim strip. Those are a lot tougher with a Velox. With a tough mount, what you do is put on the first bead with your thumbs, making sure the bead stays in the center of the rim all the way around while pushing up on the bead with your thumbs. Then put in the slightly inflated tube with its valve closed. It should be just round. Smaller tubes work better on tough mounts. Work the tube into the depression in the rim all the way around. No tube overhanging the rim edge. Push the valve up, and while holding it up, insert the second bead opposite the valve. Work the bead into the rim for several inches on either side of the valve. It should sort of pop down into the rim. Let go of the valve. Turn the rim around so that the tire rests against your thighs, valve toward you. Pop more tire into the rim, working both ways, until it gets a little difficult. Make sure the tube is staying in the center of the rim while you're doing this. Now take one hand and pinch the tire between thumb and finger, down near your thigh. While squeezing, drag that pinch up to where the tire isn't seated yet. Repeat on the opposite side. You're trying to work the bead into the center of the rim. The tension on the near bead will keep it there. Work a little more bead into the rim with your thumbs, putting more tension on the bead. Repeat that pinch-and-drag move with your fingers, then do a little more bead. Keep doing this until it isn't working any more. You should have just a few inches of bead left, stretched tightly over the outside of the rim. On a normal mount, you should actually have it all in by now. But if you haven't, open the valve on the tube and let the air out. Since the valve is down and toward you, it should stay open. For anyone who wonders why we use Presta instead of Schaeder valves, this is why. Repeat the pinch-and-drag and thumb routine. Twice more should do it, even on the hardest mount. When you have the bead in, sort of toss the wheel into the air while turning it and banging on the tire with your palms, making sure the bead is seated all the way around. Pump up to about 50 lbs. and examine the bead. You should see that it is evenly seated all the way around on both sides. Finish pumping. To remove a tire, open the valve, let all the air out, rest the tire against your thighs as in the above, valve down, and do the pinch-and-drag while pulling up on the tire at the top with the other hand, providing the bead tension. Hanging on to the top of the tire, rest the other side on the ground. Pinching and pulling up with both hands, move both beads, right at the top of the tire, across the rim at once, away from you. You should be able to see a little of the far side rim under the beads. If you can see the second edge of the rim, try to roll the tire over the rim with the palms of your hands while still pinching and pulling up. If you can't roll it off, pick the wheel up and repeat the pinch-and-drag, making sure the valve is still open. When you can see about 3" of opposite rim when you pinch and lift the tire over, you can roll it off for sure. I haven't carried tire levers for many years. |
Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy
(Post 14919880)
...Otherwise, it's all technique. I don't use a tire lever on any rim/tire combo.
Then I got a home trainer tire and tried to put it on an old wheel for riding rollers. There was no way to muscle it on and, to my surprise, I couldn't pry it on with tire levers. That Kool-Stop tool did it easily and now I'm a believer. |
Thanks for all the responses. What I'm seeing isn't so much about brand as much as it is techniques which I'm always open to. I went ahead and bought a pair of the Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks, I really wanted these anyway and with the advice on the forum I'm not as concerned with mounting them. They were also a good deal at Jensen (27.99 ea. with free shipping).
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Originally Posted by cruiserhead
(Post 14919850)
It's the rims. Jesus doesn't like Campy, I guess.
I have the same tires (VZP) and I can pull them on and off with one plastic tire iron very easily, or even none at all. I had some Spinergys and Jesus didn't like them either. I felt like I was making a sacrifice every time I changed a tire on those. |
it's the rims. i replaced an old campy melboure 56 with a new open pro recently. mounting the same tire was near impossible on the campy, but easy as butter on the open pro.
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Easiest I've tried are Continental GP4000. I've gone through some specialized, michelin krylions, and these have given me the easiest mounting experience. There are several I have not tried though.
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Originally Posted by cd34
(Post 14919363)
This is the method I've used for years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4
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Just mounted a pair of Zaffiro Pros - 700 X 25, on Fulcrum Racing 5 rims with my hands. Good advice above on technique.
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Originally Posted by mcarter
(Post 14919267)
I'm thinking about the Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks but I wanted to find out what everyone elses experience was before buying.
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Originally Posted by mcarter
(Post 14919339)
Thanks! I never even heard of the Bead Jack but it sure looks slick. I wondered if the Campy rims might be the problem. I bought them new and this is the only set of tires I've had on them. I guess I'll find out soon enough.:)
On the other hand, I have Campy Eurus on one bike and they are very easy to install. I can even re-mount the tires using only my thumbs/fingers. I have a set of Fulcrum Zero (essentially a Campy product) and they are equally easy to work with. You may want to try Michelin Pro tires. I used them in the past and they are quite easy to mount on just about any rim. Good luck. |
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