am I just weak or are armadillos hard to get on?

I have always changed my own tires but I finally got some armadillos for their toughness...but I can't even get them on the rim all the way. I had to get my bf to use his muscles to get them on the rim. anyone else notice that they are harder to get on the rim than other tires??

dilla's very hard to get on. I've replaced mine about 3 times now and I change them out in a shop and I still need a lever sometimes

i think everyone uses the lever for the dillas, even my boss who could roll on any tyre had to use the lever. dont worry about it, just practice and it will losing up a little bit and get easier.

best of luck

XVX

I dunno,
I'm not a macho man or anything, but why wouldn't you use levers?
They're cheap, like a few bucks and once you get them under your tire, you can slide it along like butta to pop off your tire.
Then its just the opposite to put on a tire.
Its a lot easier the more levers you have.

It's because the Steelers are going to win the Superbowl. Accept it and the tires will jump onto the rims.

mmm. this is true. not just an internet urban legend as you may assume. my second cousin's wife's third cousin once removed said it outloud and her tires flew onto the rims with a lightning like force.

wait..some people don't use levers? please explain. i could never work in a bike shop because i ******** hate changing tubes/tires!!!

Levers are for suckers. Good in a pinch, but your form is all wrong if you rely on them for every tire, every time.

Just have to do it in the right order. Put one bead of tire on rim. Inflate tube till it is round, but no pressure in it. Place it in tire. Push it on up in the tire, you may have to let a bit of air out as you go. Now that the tube is up in the tire, push the bead that is already on the rim to the middle of the concave spoke bed of the rim. Now start putting the other bead on, starting with the valve stem, working your way to the other side. You should be able to bring up enough slack to get the bead to pop on. Sometimes it is really tight and you have to work at it... And sometimes you need tire levers, no question.

-brad

I use a lever.

my Dillos were a complete hell to install.

that was 1.5 years ago and only one flat since-- and that was a valve stem problem.

They stretch. This is your salvation.

i always snakebite my tubes when i use levers. its always kind of risky to jam anything in there to install a new tube/tire.
if youre having trouble getting those last couple inches onto the rim, make sure the bead you already have on is seated in the very middle of the rim, where the diameter is the smallest on the wheel. that usually does the trick for me whenever a tire is giving me difficulty. then roll it till youve got blisters.

EDIT: oops. sorry for the repitition of advice. my bad.

Technique is vital as Devolution said. Make sure that you are using your leverage to your benefit as much as possible. I typically if they are real tight end up using the palm of my pushing on the bead up and over while grabbing and pulled the other side with my fingers (that wasn't a very good description). It's really the only way, and sometimes gloves help cause it can give you wicked blisters (or rather just rip your skin off).

levers can also tear at the bead a little bit. uncool. avoid.

1) yeah, for the sake of tires and tubes, keeping lever use to a minimum is optimal
2) I really like the soma steel-core plastic levers for when I need them. Soft like plastic for less pinching, but steel core so they won't break like the cheapo plastic ones.
3) a buddy just showed me a trick for mounting super-tough tires. Put most of the tire on, then stand up next to the tire with the small part not mounted on the ground next to you. Step on that section with the side of your foot and pull the wheel down away from you. The tire should seat itself perfectly. Not sure exactly how to explain w/o pictures (or at least some sleep) but it's really neat.

That is a neat trick r-dub!

As was stated before using levers to get that last little bit can pinch the tube, then you are back to square 1.

I've wondered wether putting some soap on the rim might help. I've never tried it, but lubing the rim is essential in mounting motorcycle tires which have much stiffer beads and sidewalls. It takes a lot of strength to seat a motorcycle tire, but it also does not require a lever.

Armadillos are a pain. I've had a pair on my MTB for about 4 years, and they were still difficult to work with last time I had a flat.

never done it, but i've heard tossing the tires in the dryer for about 10 minutes will loosen up the rubber enough to mount it.

i've also heard of people using talcum powder to help prevent pinching tubes. ymmv.