Bobroberto

Picked up an old Sears Austrian (Steyr) 3 speed for use as a short distance hauler. All is well except the new tires will not seat properly. Using Kenda Gumwalls, 37x590. Size of rims was verified using info from Sheldon Brown and rims are 590 mm. Tried soap, easing up on pressure will manipulation of tire, but no good. Tires will not pop out properly even at 100 psi. Tires were new, bought at swap meet with original tag still attached. Are there any tire that seat better on old steel rims?

bobotech

I"m just wondering if it has anything to do with your issue but are your rims hooked or smooth in the insides of them where the bead would go?

Bobroberto

Rims appear smooth, no hook. A couple of local shops said these can be tricky to seat. But never recall having any trouble with my old 3 spd Raleigh.

bobotech

Smooth. I don't know. I believe that tires for smooth bead rims like your steel rims can't be high pressure. Under 60psi or something.

Bobroberto

On closer inspection, the wires in the tire beads are slightly bent and twisting inside the tire. Also, the front tire would slip on the rim under hard braking and finally tore a hole in valve stem. The wheel need a bit of truing and will try better tires and presta tubes. Some Amazon reviews were critical of Kenda tire quality and noted seating issues. Also noted on other posts rim swaps for old steel ones are a solution.

Bobroberto

New tires made a big difference. Local shop received a recent shipment of fresh kenda blackwalls, and let me pick thru for nice straight bead wires. While the problem tires were unused, they were old and dried out.

bobotech

Good that you got the problem solved but just as a general recommendation, it might not be a bad idea to search out a set of alloy rims just as a nice upgrade. Would make braking so much easier in bad weather.