35mins to put on a brand new Schwalbe Marathon. Anyone take longer?

[Jon George]

Through experience, I am extremely reluctant to use levers to put a tyre back on, but after thirty odd minutes trying to use my hands (I have a strong grip), I had to relent. I've heard of these tyres giving other people problems, but this was a first for me. The thought of doing this outside, in this weather, gives me the shakes. Anyone taken longer than this?
(Oh, and the brakes decided to come out in sympathy and I had to spend another half-an-hour fettling with them.)

 

[potsy]

I believe it once took @vickster 3 days to put a tyre on, no idea if it was a Marathon

 

[fossyant]

Tyre levers for tricky tyres and talc. Have to do that with the Snow Studs, no other way, and certainly not now with my loss of grip/strength. Got them off OK with some bendy michelin levers.

 

[summerdays]

Tyre levers for tricky tyres and talc. Have to do that with the Snow Studs, no other way, and certainly not now with my loss of grip/strength. Got them off OK with some bendy michelin levers.

My snow/winter tyres (can't remember which ones they are) almost slid on this year.... but the brand new tyre I put on the other bike back in October cost a lot of swearing, give up, have a coffee and another go after a break!!! I'm not looking forward to taking them off the next time I need to.

 

[mjr]

certainly not now with my loss of grip/strength

I never had the grip in my spindly fingers, so I've always used levers. Cheap cheese ones will break (I've had a few giveaways), but I've some long-service EBC Revolution levers that come on the road with me, as well as relatively new Crank Brothers Speedier Lever and some red Bontrager ones which I'm trying in the warmth of home. I think you get to recognise when a lever is about to stop bending and start breaking after a few

 

[fossyant]

Pedro's Levers are the danglies for big tyres that won't go on. The Decathlon levers are also very good for the money. Got two sets now.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

My first time it took me one hour to change the inner on a Marathon original
Mind, I was indoors, no no big deal. The second time, on the same tyre, it was easy, they soften with use.
A brand new Marathon plus took me about 20 min.
Ice tyres I find easy, 10 min max.
I don't use levers: if I can't manage by pulling the tyre, I stand on it to get more leverage

 

[Jon George]

Thanks, people - I don't feel so bad now.
(And the various levers look worth investigating.)

 

[slowmotion]

I think I took over an hour to get a Marathon Plus on, and used at least a dozen cable ties while wrestling with it. Blood was oozing out from under both thumbnails by the end.

 

[Jon George]

I think I took over an hour to get a Marathon Plus on, and used at least a dozen cable ties while wrestling with it. Blood was oozing out from under both thumbnails by the end.

I like your style!

 

[oldjontrev]

If you have to, you have to, but try talk as well.
It was hard back in the 70s with Barum PBWs as well and they were tubs

 

[Sturmey_Hub]

Go to Spa cycles web site. There you will find a video on how to do it. Not as easy as it looks, but only take 10mins or so.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I reckon it'd take me at least an hour and even then bits of the inner tube would be sticking out. I carry a spare tube in the hope some kind person who likes fitting inner tubes will pass by, if i puncture, but they're supposed to be puncture proof so it wont happen right?!

 

[Ian193]

Last time I changed the tyres (continental gator Hardshell) I did both of them before my other half realised I'd finished about 15 mins for the pair

 

[mjr]

If you have to, you have to, but try talk as well.

Don't talk to the tyres. No one will stop to offer help because they'll think you're