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-   -   Tire problem (https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/186324-tire-problem.html)

jim p 04-06-06 08:20 PM

Tire problem
 
My old bike had 27"x1 1/8" tires on it and they were in bad shape. I replaced them with some bell tires which were sized for 27"x1 1/8 and 27"x1 1/4" amd 27x1 3/8". These new tires were out of round by atleast 3 to 4 mm. Now when I ride on pavement I get a bump on every rotation of the wheel.

How do I fix this? Do I need to buy a tire for size 27"x1 1/8" only? Is there some trick to putting a tire on the rim to get it centered better. Any suggestions including what brand tire to buy will be appreciated.

cooker 04-06-06 09:25 PM

You may simply have a kink in the inner tube. Deflate the tube, pry one side of the tire out of the rim, pump the tube up slightly and examine all the way around to make sure it is evenly placed around the rim, then deflate it and remount that side of the tire.
Also when you finally start to reinflate it, push the stem a bit into the rim to make sure that the reinforced area of the tube around the stem is inside the tire bead and not trapped under it

jim p 04-06-06 09:52 PM

Thanks for the suggestion Cooker. I have deflated the tube several times and tried to get the tire equal around the rim with no success. I took the old tire and put it on the rim and when I inflated it there was a pop when the tire seated on the rim. This new tire does not even try to seat on the rim. If I move one position of the tire on the rim then another position will be out of round. I am thinking about spraying the tire with something like WD40 and pumping it up until it explodes or seats on the rim and then setting the pressure correctly assuming that I am not wearing the tire as a necktie.

rat_factory 04-06-06 10:16 PM

First put down the can of wd40.
Did you by chance purchase the Bell Streetster 27x1&1/4 with the reflective sidewall at superduperWallfartMart? I had the same problem with these 'tires'. They never seated properly and the tube exploded out of them causing me temporary deafness for a whole day.
If you must keep them, powder your hands with cornstarch and coat the tube with it also.
Push the valve in while seating.
Check, adjust, and recheck seating at least for 15 minutes.
Inflate slowly watching seating.
Accept the poor quality and unroundness.
Thats what I did, but then again I am not currently riding that bike as I'm still building it.

enduro 04-06-06 10:31 PM

Rat's procedure is pretty much right on in my experience.

I have some of those Bell tires on my campus bike, they're super cheap and are manufactured with very poor tolerances. I've just had to take the time to pump them up to say 20 psi, check roundness, then deflate and fix the trouble spot. Repeat this process until they're rideable. The best I could get them was a few mm in every direction, which is not noticeable while riding.

BTW, be careful about inflating them to their max recommended pressure. They tend to develop bad bulges which ruin the tire.

spunkyruss 04-06-06 11:38 PM

Do you have to go through that every time that you install these tires, or does the tire remember how to behave after you beat it into submission during the first successful installation?

If you have to go through this every time, then repairing a flat along the side of the road will be a nightmare.

the beef 04-06-06 11:53 PM

You might want to try a slightly more expensive set of tires. I used to have to go through the process of checking seating/rounding every time I replaced a tube, but I got a pair of better tires and that ritual is no more. You can pick up some good tires in your wheel size for probably $20 or so.

silversmith 04-06-06 11:58 PM


First put down the can of wd40.
Did you by chance purchase the Bell Streetster 27x1&1/4 with the reflective sidewall at superduperWallfartMart? I had the same problem with these 'tires'. They never seated properly and the tube exploded out of them causing me temporary deafness for a whole day
CRAP! Friggin Walmart ripped me off with these pieces of junk, too. They did the same thing.

Nashbar has a tire sale on. Much better than getting ripped off by the Walton Gang-- http://www.nashbar.com/subcategories...1&SRCCODE=1628

operator 04-07-06 12:32 AM

I think it's time for a new tire.

jim p 04-07-06 05:09 AM

Ok. You guys nailed the problem. I want things to be as round as possible so it is back to walmart for a refund. I looked at Nashbar tires but of the tires listed which of the low cost tires will give me a round wheel. My nearest bike shop is about 35 miles away but I may have to make the drive and see what they can do for me.

Thanks for the corn starch idea.

mactheknife68 04-07-06 07:05 AM

Ive had some success with cheap tires by spraying Windex on the offending sections where the bead doesnt seat, then overinflating slightly letting them sit awhile. By slightly I mean 15-20lbs over max recommended pressure stamped on sidewall. But i suspect yer at yer limit with patience for these tires.. a lil more $ saves a lot in headaches.

jim p 04-08-06 07:41 PM

I picked up some pyramid tires today and used starch on the tube and tire bead. I had the same problem but this time I knew what to try due to all the suggestions. I was able to get the tires within about 1mm and there are no bumps as the tire rotates so I am good to go. Now that I know what to do I might could get the bell tires to center up good enough to use but then again I might not be that good yet.

I got some 1 1/4" tires so I think that they are going to be good on hard packed dirt roads as well as the pavement.


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