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Tires, rims or rider?
So here's an interesting problem:
I've just bought myself some lovely new wheels. Hope II pro hubs and DT swiss 455XC rims all very bright and shiny thank you very much. What isn't so lovely is the fact that I've just spent 8 hours (yes a whole day), broken 6 Tire levers and ruined one nobbly nick trying to fit tires and tubes to them. There's nothing special about the tires i've tried: Racing Ralph, Kenda Nevgal, a small block 8 even a continental commuter. After much blood, sweat and swearing I've managed to fit the front but just can't get the rear on and frankly I'm at the end of my tether (and I'm out of tire levers).
Obviously this is going to prove a huge problem on the trails should I get a flat, but frankly I'm just bemused at what I've done wrong. Has anyone else had a problem fitting tires? Is there something I should be doing that i don't know?
Anything anyone can tell me will help me not going crazy!
Cheers
Steve
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hope they weren't 29ers or 700c
Best tip is take them back to the bike shop where you bought them and get them to help.
Next option is heat. Best to leave the tyres on the ground in the sun for an hour. In cold weather you can open the bonnet of your car after a drive and heat them in the engine bay.
I read on the CRC page for these the comment, "Good rims. Again very hard to get tyres on... I think this comes from them being designed for tubeless tyres - so need to be very tight"
Get some soapy water (or someone once suggested just using liquid detergent on it's own) on there and gently work the tyre on, moving round the rim and using your thumbs. It sounds crazy, but this is actually easier than trying to muscle them on with levers.
what Rob said - massaging the tyre so it is sitting as deep in the rim as possible all the way round gives the best results. A bit of air in the tube helps keep it out of the way (unless you are going tubeless obviously).
Depends a bit on the tyre / rim combo. I have a DT Swiss E540 rim and it is very taxing trying to get an Innova slick on / off. Kenda K-Rads and Maxxis El Rancho are noticeably easier.
http://nobmob.com/node/12796
Ended up taking it the bikeshop and they got them on after about 10 minutes of fiddling. Not sure what I do if I ever need to put a tube in out of the trail.
Is probably to take them to my LBS. I've already been down the heat and soapy water paths but to no avail. Reading the comments on CRC makes me suspect this is something best handled by a pro. There are a couple of other tricks i need to look at but to be honest my hands are completely ripped to shreds from trying to fit the tires in the first place, I don't think i could grab a spoon much less fit a tire.
If the LBS can't do anything then I think that it's going to be time to look for some replacement rims.
Urgh.
Thanks Nick R. More than anything it's heartening to know that I'm not the only one that's suffered from this problem. I do worry that when I get a flat on the trails I'm going suffer a lot. Hmmm, we shall see...
Ok hope I haven't missed something but just trying to help - Is it because your using a beaded tyre? Have you tried beadless/foldable tyres? I never use tyre levers either taking off or on. I am using small block 8's and they just go on with fingers only.
In the end it took 2 blokes at the LBS 15 minutes to prize the tire onto the rim. The reason? Probably the combination of the rim being 'tight' and the tire being of the UST variety. I've fully inflated the tube in the hope that this will help to stretch out the tire and make it easier to work with in the future.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. Don't suppose anyone know's what to do about blisters, after all this tire fitting my hands are in pieces. Ouch.
Thanks
Steve
I have the same issues with my DT Swiss E2200's. DT rims are notoriously hard to get tyres on and off. It's the main reason I run el cheapo WTB rims when I race - I don't want to spend half an hour on the side of the track if I get a flat.
I have some of the orange Maxxis Tyre levers. The won't break. You can also get big metal Park Tool shop tyre levers that would be good too, although impractical to take out on the track.