markjenn

Others have been mentioning it, but I'll mention it again: Make absolutely sure you have the bead sitting in the middle of the rim opposite where you're levering. My take is that these tires probably tend to self-seat on the beat seating surfaces and have to be deliberately kept in the rim center opposite the levers to give you enough bead slack to do the final levering.

A second set of hands can really help. They can hold the two tire levers bracketing where you're levering and with you 2nd hand, you can make sure the bead stays centered.

- Mark

Weetbix

Thankyou for all the replies.

In response to the last: the bead opposite where I'm levering is actually in the centre of the rim, its imossible to move it back toward the other side of the rim any further becuase its so tight.


Does anyone mount tyres on the rims by putting the tube inside the rim to begin with? All the sites I read on how to do it say the tube should go in the tyre as you work your way round, however everytime I try it this way I end up getting the tube either falling out of the tyre as I'm putting it on, or always catching it between the tyre & the rim. I find seating it in the tube helps to begin with, is this a bad idea?

I'm also glad that I'm hearing other peoples horror stories of mounting these tyres, particular on the stock 520 wheels, makes me feel a little better I'm going to order one of these tyres jacks since they seem to get universal praise

The Smokester

Weetbix,
I hope I am not out of line with this but:

Put the first side of the tire on the rim using at least three tire irons if necessary. Add a bit of air to the tube to give it some form. It should now just droop over your finger with some form. Put the valve stem in the hole. Work the tube onto the rim and inside the tire working both sides at once from the valve stem to the other side of the wheel. The air in the tube should be enough to help set it well inside the tire. If not, add a bit more air. Practice will give you judgement on this. Double check that the tube is well inside the tire and rim all the way around. Start to put the second side of the tire onto the rim being careful not to catch the tube between rim and tire iron...As you progress with this second side around the wheel you will need to let some air back out of the tube as it starts to resist but I try to leave as in much as possible since this helps keep the tube up inside the tire and away from the rim where it will be pinched and punctured. Use multiple tire irons...Sometimes at least three are required. When the second side of the tire is on then check both sides by pressing the bead away from the rim all around the wheel to make sure that the tube is nowhere to be seen between the tire bead and the rim. Add some air (20 psi) and make sure the bead is set. Add air to desired psi.

Weetbix

Hi Smokester, thankyou for the advice. It does sound quite simple, but its that last little bit that is catching me out.

I bought these tyres from the states, so in order for them to be shipped the shop (wallbike.com) had to kinda scrunch the tyres up and use cable ties to keep them in the smallest possible volume. The one time I managed to get the wheel on and inflate the tube, I put it back on the bike but as soon as I spun it, the whole thing looked like it was wobbly. I know thats probably not possible, but it definitely looked like the wheel was wonky, probably because it was not sitting correctly on the rim, but no amount of fine tuning could fix this, in some parts, the bead almost appears bent, like it wont tightly hug the inside of the rim, like its bent inward. I would have thought fully inflating the tube would fix this but it didnt seem to.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Is it still safe to ride when it looks like its a bit wonky? do they tend to sort themselves out after use? There is this grey strip of rubber on the tyre which I was trying to use as a guide to help position it, trying to keep it @ the same height above the rim the whole way round on both sides, but for some reason I just couldnt keep it even, very frustrating

However I'm determined not to let this beat me, I'll get these damn tyres on if its the last thing I do !

sonatageek

Normally I partially inflate the tire and then go around the wheel (both sides) and grab hold of the tire and work it back and forth to get the bead lined up pretty even all around. Then I fully inflate it and see how things look. If it is still off I let some air out, rework and re-inflate. Repeat until it looks good and then test drive to make sure they are spinning smoothly.


-- but it definitely looked like the wheel was wonky, probably because it was not sitting correctly on the rim, but no amount of fine tuning could fix this, in some parts, the bead almost appears bent, like it wont tightly hug the inside of the rim, like its bent inward. I would have thought fully inflating the tube would fix this but it didnt seem to.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Is it still safe to ride when it looks like its a bit wonky? do they tend to sort themselves out after use? There is this grey strip of rubber on the tyre which I was trying to use as a guide to help position it, trying to keep it @ the same height above the rim the whole way round on both sides, but for some reason I just couldnt keep it even, very frustrating --