Tight tyres

[screenman]

Have a look at this classic clip from Spa Cycles.

[media]
]View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4[/media]


There's some pretty good advice that's useful for tyres that are not Marathon Pluses.

He is wrong, think what starting from the valve does, tip it gives you less tyre to work with. The valve keeps the tyre from dropping into the well.

 

[Person]

For me It's the thumb soreness that lasts for days after putting on new tyres. I put continental 4 seasons on mavic Ksyrium wheels. The front went on straight away but with the rear I had to use levers.

 

[ColinJ]

For me It's the thumb soreness that lasts for days after putting on new tyres.

I would get that too so my technique is to use the palm and heel of my right hand to do most of the work. A mitt protects the skin. I stretch and roll the bead of the tyre on or off the rim.

 

[Vantage]

He is wrong, think what starting from the valve does, tip it gives you less tyre to work with. The valve keeps the tyre from dropping into the well.

If you leave the valve area till the last you risk a snakebite as the valve pushes more tube out towards the tyre bead. This also leads to the tyre being harder to seat and there's less room for a tyre lever to sit.
If you start from the valve, push the valve almost out of the valve hole on the rim. It'll naturally reseat itself when the tyre is inflated.
As a lifelong bike mechanic, Colin in the video knows what he's talking about.

 

[roley poley]

Warming the tyre with hot water has eased the process for me as it gives you a bit of a head start in suppleness

 

[ColinJ]

Warming the tyre with hot water has eased the process for me as it gives you a bit of a head start in suppleness

There are not many roadside hot springs for tyre warming in the UK! Maybe I should add a battery-powered hair dryer to my backpack?

 

[Vantage]

There are not many roadside hot springs for tyre warming in the UK! Maybe I should add a battery-powered hair dryer to my backpack?

Stick it down your pants. You'll be fine

 

[presta]

In my experience, Schwalbe Marathons on Mavic rims tend to be a challenge - !

Isn't it the Marathon Pluses that are a pest? I have Marathon HS368s on Mavic A719s, and they tend to fall off by themselves if you don't hang onto them.

 

[Gillstay]

He is wrong, think what starting from the valve does, tip it gives you less tyre to work with. The valve keeps the tyre from dropping into the well.

Yes. Used to put tyres on vintage motorbikes and that was very hard, but always the rule was to finish at the valve. Only way to get some on.

 

[presta]

Yes. Used to put tyres on vintage motorbikes and that was very hard, but always the rule was to finish at the valve. Only way to get some on.

I usually keep the valve midway between start & finish, so that it's out of the way, and won't tend to push the tube out under the bead where it might get pinched under the bead.

 

[simongt]

Isn't it the Marathon Pluses that are a pest?

Yup - !
But on a Brommy, nae bother at all - !

 

[NorthernSky]

i've always used folding bead tyres but have fitted a few wire bead and they are tough.
the best thing i ever did was stopped using tyre levers to put tyre back on. rather just use palms and go round the tyre. it needs patience in some cases but you get there in the end. i broke a few tyre levers before i learned this technique

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Maybe I should add a battery-powered hair dryer to my backpack?

Doesn’t every male do this anyway, to sort out their manly mane, before entering the pub?

 

[DCLane]

Doesn’t every male do this anyway, to sort out their manly mane, before entering the pub?

If you've tried the new USB-powered mini pumps they're akin to a mini hairdryer

 

[Spiderweb]

I always start at the valve pushing it up into the tyre to avoid pinches and so the tyre bead is still able to sit in the middle, deepest part of the rim.