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Rookie Mistake - almost cost me medium sized $$$s
So I had my first ever puncture, changed the tube and got on with the ride. Got back to the car and realized there was a massive kink in the tire. Hub was okay, but the actual tire itself had a massive bulge on one side.
I got home deflated the tube, took the tire off, put it back on, same thing...
Called the bike shop, told them my 4 week old Bontrager XDX 29in tire died after a slow speed puncture. Was all ready to buy a replacement when I decided to put a bit more air in the front seemingly broken tire.
I heard a 'pink' followed by a 'pink'... and sure enough the tire is as good as new, albeit, a bit dirtier.
If you're interested it was a Bontrager inner tube as well.
Note to self, stop being a massive newbie.
Anyone else had a similar thing, or just me?
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To make sure they are seated properly, put a little air in (maybe 30% pressure?) and 'wiggle' the tyre side to side, rotate a bit, wiggle some more, etc. takes about 20 seconds.
They way I do this is to start by holding the wheel with partly inflated tyre in front of my body with both hands, so you're looking at the spokes, not the edge of the tyre. Put it on the floor and hold on the top with your hands around 5 to 1 (I mean like on a clock - bit higher than the 10 to 2 driving position). Then Push the tyre back and forth, as there's not much air in at this place it will move around and the bead should 'seat' more nicely on the rim. Rotate the wheel a little, do it again. Repeat until you're back at the start.
Inspect the tyre both sides and look for some continuous line or mark on the tyre near the rim (like a moulding line or something) and make sure it's consistent width from rim all the way round. If not, but the tyre back on the ground and wiggle some more until this is.
Then pump up to full pressure and you're done. I often pump up waaaay over standard riding pressure (but not over the max pressure rating of tyre or tube of course) to further ensure proper seating before letting excess air out.
Sometimes when replacing a tube part on the tube can be caught under the bead of the tyre and when you inflate the tube it deforms the tyre and can pop the tyre off at that spot.
So before before inflating the tyre just check the tube is in correctly.
John.
Haha - yes, I've done that. When I used to run Conti Sport Contacts slicks on my original hardtail for the commute to work, I once had a major flat spot after fixing a puncture becasue you had to pump them to 100psi momentarily to get the things to seat all the way round. Couldn't do that without my track pump.
Kerthump, kerthump for 15km... watch the speed round the corners... arrgh!