zoeglassjd

I have read many of the posts already on the forums and I know that some tires are just hard to get on some rims. This ain't my first rodeo.

BUT, I have never had this situation...

I have a Wobler 700 rim and I bought some Hutchinson Pro Kevlar's cheap on Nashbar. I cannot get the FIRST bead even close to on the rim. Not even close.

I have seen all the tricks, soapy water, rim lube, var tire tool, but I first just want to say, what in the world?

And I secondly want to ask, are there specific budget tires (preferably 700X25) that go on easy-peasy?

dit

Are you sure the rims are 700c and not 27"?

Torchy McFlux

Wolber rims are notoriously tight. I haven't mounted many Hutchinson tires, but the fact that they're Kevlar bead (usually tougher) and cheap tells me that you won't have an easy time.
This is one of those cases where it's best to buy from your LBS so they can help you find something that will work.

jgedwa

If you cannot get the first bead on, I have to suspect it is a 27" rim.

Getting the second bead on can sometimes be tight with some rim/tire combinations, but I have never seen anything that was even remotely difficult for the first bead.

j

jccaclimber

I'm going to say 27inch as well. Bear in mind that kevlar beads in rims do tend to stretch out a bit over time, and as a result they tend to be a bit tight new. However, if you're having that much trouble (without the tube in I assume), it seems something is wrong.

zoeglassjd

I know, right?

BUT it really is a 700c rim. I promise. I understand your skepticism. I have said many naughty words trying to get the second bead on, but never this bad with the first. I also have nightmares of a flat 20 miles out.

So, I am guessing a wire bead may be the way to go with this rim? I am not opposed to lil' bit of weight. Any suggestions of REALLY easy tires to mount.

jccaclimber

The other solution may be to put the tire on another rim, air it up to 160psi (assuming the tire/rim) can take that, and then try it again on this rim in a couple days. I'm also assuming that you've tried both sides of the tire, and both sides of the rim, and that the tube is out. Also, is there a misplaced rim strip in the way? Finally, good (not Park) tire levers?

jgedwa

I don't think merely airing up the tire on a rim will loosen it any. It does seem like riding a tire will tame it a bit though sometimes.

When you are mounting it are you sure the bead on the opposite side of the rim is all the way in the lowest, center part and not hanging up on the shoulders on either side?

And, (in my most delicate, suicide hot-line voice) what makes you positive it is a 700 rim you have? Did you look at the previous tire? Is it stamped on the rim itself?

j

DannoXYZ 

yeah, once you inflate a tyre even partway, the bead will hook under the edge of the rim and stop expanding. Additional pressure would just press it tighter into the hook, but won't increase its diameter.

I had a guy come in our shop once to use the self-service station to mount a new tyre (bought somewhere else of course). He managed to break all three of our steel tyre-levers, damn idiot. Then he asked if we had a bigger tool, like a long screwdriver he could use. I went in back and brought out my 18" motorcycle tyre-levers for him to use. Somehow, he managed to stretch the 700c tyre onto a 27" rim!!! Quite impressive really. But the sidewalls were so stretched, they were folded up in spots. Then when he inflated it, that was the last straw for the bead which snapped and the entire thing blew with the loadest !BANG!!! I've ever heard. A couple people in the showroom screamed and ducked for cover! heh, heh...

Yan 

Am I missing something here? 700c is the same as 29". A 700c tire should be too loose for a 27" rim, not too tight.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

a 700c is the same as 29er, yes. The 700/29er tire has a bead seat diameter of 622, 27" is 630. So a 700/29er would be too small for a 27"

jccaclimber

Well, maybe it requires more time but, I know that when I have a new kevlar beaded tire (Used Michelin, Vittoria, and Bontrager), the first time I mount the tire it's a pain. If I take it off then and re mount it, it's still a pain. If I air it up and let it sit for a week (without riding it), then it's easy to remount forever. If you can think of something other than the bead stretching, please let me know. I've done this every time I've gotten a new brand of tires just to see if it works. I did this once with a steel bead tire (Continental) just to convince myself that it wasn't in my head, and it was just as much of a paint after a week as it was at the start.

LarDasse74

I have a set of Ritchey mtb tires that are incredibly tight... almost impossible to get the first bead on, and I pride myself on being an expert tire changer. Mine were bought from a bin of tires bought as a clearout from the manufacturer, which leads me to believe they were a factory second - they work but they are not exactly as they are supposed to be. Perhaps your tires are the same and the bead seat diameter was made a few mm too small.