Kid-Cycle

Never thought I would ask for help with installing tires but yesterday I just installed Michelin Pro Race (700 x 23) on my Bontrager Race Light wheels and punctured the tube by pinching the tube between the kevlar bead and the outer lip of the rim I did notice it is pretty tough to pop the last part of the bead over the rim and that is where I ran into trouble. The Bontrager tires also had kevlar beads but seemed easier to mount.

My tire mounting technique: install one bead on the wheel, inflate tube (by mouth) to hold tube form, lift unseated bead over rim and pullentire tire to expose valve stem hole and insert valve stem, lift free tire bead over tube (at valve stem) and set into rim, push valve stem radially away from hub to allow tire beads to be set in rim, stuff ramiaining tube in tire and begin setting tire bead into rim by working both directions from valve stem and using my thumbs to set the bead, I use my wheel levers for the remaining 6- to 8-inches of tire bead and try to avoid pinching the tube between rim and tire. I then inflate to ~ 80-psi to set the beads, deflate and reinflate to 110-psi.

Any recommendations for a better tire mounting procedure or tricks to help avoid tube puntures will be appreciated.

zonatandem

Avoid using tire irons! Takes a bit of practice and build up some thumb muscles. Also to facilitate last couple inches of tire going on rim: put a little spit on that last part of the rim so it'll slip tire bead easier.
Good luck!

geneman

spit ... yuck. Baby powder does the trick as well.

-mark

RiPHRaPH

you didn't mention if the change was out on the road or in the garage>>> i always take the new tube and open it up and use baby powder on it THEN rewrap it and put it in my bag. then i pretty much put it on the way it was described above.

some tires run pretty tight on certain wheelsets. thats why i like the hutchinson's/ they are so easy to put on, without tire irons.

SanDiegoSteve

Inflate a little... then deflate. This helps to seed in tube. I do it a couple of times with slightly higher pressure each time. After deflating, I pull the tire from side to side to see if the tube is poking out anywhere.

Then inflate to a high enough PSI to prevent road pinch flats.

hlweyl

What works for me with new tires is to leave them in the sun for an hour AND use soapy water. Slides right on.

LittleGinseng 

It's best to use tire irons for removing a tire only. With the Pro Race tires, because of their design and composition, ARE a little tougher to install. I had a heckuva time with those last few inches myself.

As was stated above: baby powder works great! A light dusting on the tube is a great way to avoid that ol' snakebite/pinch flat.

Kid-Cycle

Thanks for the tricks. Glad to hear someone else thinks the Pro Race tires are a little snug fitting.