Tight tyres?
- Jean
- Posts: 1754
- Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:26 am
- Location: Canberra
Tight tyres?
Postby Jean » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:50 am
A bike I built up for my wife many moons ago has Campagnolo Ypsilon V section rims (700c jobbies) on it. She doesn't use the bike that much but one of the reasons for that is that fitting tyres to it is as hard as hell. The Continental tyres I've bought for it (Grand Prixs and more recently Ultra Gatorskins - the former wire beaded, the latter folding) are such a tight fit that getting them over the walls of the rims (which must be a touch higher than the average) is very tough. Last time I did it I broke a tyre lever in the process! There would be no way my wife could change a flat if she were out riding on her own, hence the disincentive to use it.
Now short of getting some different wheels the best option seems to be trying different tyres. Can anyone recommend a brand (Michelin, Swalbe etc) which might have a slightly more 'relaxed' bead and which will get over the walls of these rims without so much effort?
Cheers
Jean
- LuckyPierre
- Posts: 1432
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:37 pm
- Location: Canberra, ACT
Postby LuckyPierre » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:51 am
I find that Continental tyres are really tough to fit to Campagnolo wheels, especially wire-beaded ones. The only other tyres I've used on my Ventos were Michelin Pro2Race and they were OK (from memory).
Alchemy Diablo - Columbus Zonal tubing, Ultegra 9-speed groupset, UltraGatorskins
Gitane Rocks T1 - U6 tubing, Deore/XT groupset, CrossMarks
- Jean
- Posts: 1754
- Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:26 am
- Location: Canberra
Postby Jean » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:26 pm
http://v11.velonews.com/phorum3/read.ph ... 7&t=103731
So if nothing else there is a gadget available.
Cheers
Jean
-
- Posts: 1698
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:03 pm
- Location: Adelaide
- mikesbytes
- Super Mod
- Posts: 22183
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:42 pm
- Location: Tempe, Sydney
- Contact:
Postby mikesbytes » Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:56 pm
Different models within brands are easy or hard to fit, for example, Michelin Pro2race are easy to fit, where Michelin carbon are hard to fit.
- Jean
- Posts: 1754
- Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:26 am
- Location: Canberra
Postby Jean » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:30 pm
I suppose bead construction plays a role too, but with my wife's wheels I've actually found the wire beaded tyres easier to fit than those with a folding bead.
Though the problem is common with Campagnolo rims it seems it is not the only one and in other forums I've found people with problems with Ambrosio and Zipp rims, among others (though i have no problem with the Ambrosios on my 'training wheels' I have to say).
-
- Posts: 521
- Joined: Sat May 26, 2007 7:25 pm
- Location: NW Sydney
Postby mikeg » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:50 pm
The Specialized Armadillos I had were easier than the Continental Gaterskins I have now to fit.
A technique which helps is to work the last part of the bead over the rim at a position which is 90 degrees around from the valve either way, and make sure the bead opposite is sitting into the well of the rim giving maximum slack to help the bead over the edge of the wheel rim.
- zozza
- Posts: 4133
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:58 pm
Postby zozza » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:25 pm
- itsaghostcar
- Posts: 1239
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:05 am
- Location: Sydney
Postby itsaghostcar » Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:20 pm
Those Crank Bros Speed Levers are the ticket. After a lot of sweating, swearing and grunting followed by a number of pinch punctures I finally went out and bought a speed lever. The tyres went on quite easily - a bit of strength required, but it does fit the tyre on properlyneedsapush wrote:Maybe someone will know for definite but I think I can remember reading somewhere that THESE are very good.
My UST tyres (especially the front) on the MTB are a bi**ch to get on. Snapped a few tyre levers on those
-
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2008 2:17 pm
- Location: Windsor
Postby challs » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:32 pm
I also have some Ambrosio track rims that I attempted to put some continental tyres on... 4 pinched tubes later and I gave up!! It was good to read that other forum and see that Ambrosio as well as campa are generally harder to fit..
Postby MountGower » Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:54 pm
Sorry to arrive late. Welcome to the Campag / Conti club. I couldn't believe the struggle getting them (Gp4000) on (Scirocco) for the first time. The first flat, well, I couldn't believe I got it, but they stretch and it wasn't so bad.
Campag = big wheels
Conti = small tyres
But it does work once they've been on there for a little while.
- Bnej
- Posts: 2880
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:43 pm
- Location: Katoomba, NSW
Postby Bnej » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:00 pm
Otherwise, stretching the part that is already seated to make more slack where it isn't, then rolling it on seems to be the technique. Also sometimes they are harder, sometimes easier - there's a bit of variation in how tight they are out of the box.
Postby Hawkeye » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:38 pm
Inflate the tube just enough to keep it pushed out against the tyre and away from the rim.
Steel-cored tyre levers are your friend. Buy three.
Use one to stop the tyre from creeping back out of the bead groove, and then on the opposite side of the valve, creep the bead in about an inch at a time using the other two hand-over-hand to lift the bead up-and-over the rim edge and into place.
- Jean
- Posts: 1754
- Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:26 am
- Location: Canberra
Postby Jean » Thu May 01, 2008 9:31 am
Ultimately the best bet seems to be to find the best tyres (Michelin maybe, but some people have problems with those too - Veloflex?), but in the meantime I think I'll try out some of the gadgets, starting with the Crank Brothers Speed Lever and going on to the Kool Stop tyre jack if need be.
I wonder if a few minutes in the dryer (for folding ones of course) would help when going to fit them for the first time?:shock:
Cheers
Jean
-
- Posts: 521
- Joined: Sat May 26, 2007 7:25 pm
- Location: NW Sydney
Postby mikeg » Thu May 01, 2008 8:25 pm
Your best solution is to take your wheels and go into your LBS, with your wife and of all the tyres in the shop, for her to try them all out to find ones which are manageable to fit to the rim. You can check fairly quickly when a tube is not involved for this purpose.Jean wrote:Thanks for all that. Steel core tyre levers seem a good idea, but in the end the concern is for my wife to be able to get the tyres on (after flatting somewhere), not me. I can get 'em on (even if it's hard work), but my wife, with less strength and little experience technique wise, would probably find it impossible. At the very least she'd lack the confidence needed to feel comfortable when out riding.
Ultimately the best bet seems to be to find the best tyres (Michelin maybe, but some people have problems with those too - Veloflex?), but in the meantime I think I'll try out some of the gadgets, starting with the Crank Brothers Speed Lever and going on to the Kool Stop tyre jack if need be.
I wonder if a few minutes in the dryer (for folding ones of course) would help when going to fit them for the first time?:shock:
Cheers
Jean
I have heard of a technique of rolling the tyre onto the rim with the palm of the hand, described by the women/girls of Bike North BUG. The technique was discussed and shown on special rides advertised as women only rides with the express purpose of having a workshop in fixing flats on the ride.
Now remember the tyre when inflated on the rim, it sits inside the hook of the rim. With this in mind maximise the ability to get the tyre on the rim by making sure that the bead of the rim is sitting in the well of the rim (the deepest part of the rim) at the opposite side of the wheel to where you are getting the tyre over the edge of the rim. Make sure that the tube valve and valve hole position is not in the area of or opposite side of the rim where the final part of the tyre is being coerced over the rim. The best place for the tyre valve placement is 90 degrees out to either the left or right side.
If the LBS does not have a big enough selection of tyres, then try another shop. You probably even try the speed lever if they have one. The benefit to the shop, is they don't need to be with you while doing your on hands research, just a corner, and that will likely get more custom from you and your wife if she has the confidence to fix her own flats, and rides more....
Perhaps when a suitable set of tyres is found, the use of tyre liners might be considered to improve puncture resistance.
-
- Posts: 3540
- Joined: Sat Dec 08, 2007 10:12 am
- Location: 3166
- Jean
- Posts: 1754
- Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:26 am
- Location: Canberra
Postby Jean » Fri May 02, 2008 9:11 am
Your best solution is to take your wheels and go into your LBS, with your wife and of all the tyres in the shop, for her to try them all out to find ones which are manageable to fit to the rim.
Mmmmm, taking pregnant wife (I did say se was not using the bike much at present) and two year old son to various Canberra LBSs one Saturday morning to try on tyres. I'd rather throw $15-20 at the problem first, thanks.
- Parrott
- Posts: 2960
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:45 pm
Postby Parrott » Fri May 02, 2008 9:25 am
Postby Hawkeye » Sat May 03, 2008 4:51 pm
Contis are definitely my preference for puncture free life but I have to acknowledge that if it takes a practised 'technique' to get them on without fuss, then a newb (maybe with kids in tow) is much better off with something a bit more beginner-friendly installation-wise.
Australian Cyclist has an ad this issue for Michelin 700c touring tyres with puncture protection, some even with sidewall cut protection. Might be worth a look? Won't be as fast-rolling as Contis, but if they're easier to work with then the slight price premium could be worth the peace of mind.
- leximack
- Posts: 3400
- Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:14 pm
Postby leximack » Mon May 05, 2008 8:29 pm
So i vote 1 for Grand Prix 4000S/Mavic Aksium combo
Don
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Google Adsense [Bot]
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.