Fitting a tyre the easy way?

[Wayners]

I wonder if this actually works out easier?

The Rope Trick!

Say goodbye to struggling with tires and hello to effortless installation! #hackorhype #shorts #rope

youtube.com

 

[guerney]

I'll try that next time. I suppose it depends on how tight a fit the tyre is, that tyre looks a loose fit. Doubt it'd make fitting a Marathon Plus easier - I put reusable zipties either side of the bulge to keep it in place, and push the last bit over with my hands, which doesn't take a massive effort.

 

[saneagle]

It'll work as an alternative to tyre levers, but for many tyres, you need to work the opposite bead into the rim's well so that the final part of the tyre will lift over the rim. That's the same whether you use levers or rope; however, if you use the proper technique, you don't need anything except your hands.

 

[Az.]

You forgot something. You have a hub motor. Easiest way is to not remove wheel at all.

 

[saneagle]

You forgot something. You have a hub motor. Easiest way is to not remove wheel at all.

Not so easy if your tyre is bald. Is there a way to get new tread without removing the tyre that i don't know?

 

[Az.]

Good point. I think I will stick with traditional way. Changing a tyre is not a big deal one way or another.

 

[AndyBike]

No you're supposed to put the tyre on like a real bona fide cyclist
Expect sore hands, and lots of frustration, yes lots and lots of frustration.

But when you get the tyre on, it gives you an almighty sense of satisfaction given how difficult it was. I always concentrate on getting as much as the opposite bead perfectly in the center well. Brushing a bit of soapy water around the tyre bead stops the edge from sticking as it all starts to get really tight as you progress through the task.

I also on second fitting find that the tyre goes on a lot easier

 

[esuark]

when I cycled with a group you could never mend your own punctures/change a tyre, everyone else had to do it...........

 

[eas2lv]

For me its removing the tyre that's a real challenge. Putting one on never that much -- never had to use tyre levers even with marathon plus which is a real pita.
But not a single tyre have I removed without way to much frustration and almost breaking the levers.
Surprisingly it seems most struggle while putting the tyre on and no one talks much about removal. May be I'm doing something wrong.

 

[guerney]

Surprisingly it seems most struggle while putting the tyre on and no one talks much about removal. May be I'm doing something wrong.

What's your method? Taking a tyre off has always been easier. I pick up a tyre edge using a strong nylon tyre lever, hook it to a spoke to keep in place... shove in another and pull up, secure to the next spoke along... then shove in and lift the tyre out of the rim all way around using a third tyre lever.

 

[saneagle]

What's your method? Taking a tyre off has always been easier. I pick up a tyre edge using a strong nylon tyre lever, hook it to a spoke to keep in place... shove in another and pull up, secure to the next spoke along... then shove in and lift the tyre out of the rim all way around using a third tyre lever.

You're missing an important step that applies to both removal and assembly of the tyre.

When taking off, you put the first lever in and apply a bit of tension. With the other hand, you roll the bead into the well around 3/4 of the opposite circumference, which will release the tension on the tyre lever and allow you to easily insert the second lever. repeat the rolling in, then you should be able to drag that lever around the circumference to remove the tyre.

It's similar for assembling the tyre, except you don't need levers. Pull on 3/4 of the tyre, then roll it into the well. That will release the tension on the remaining part so you can roll it over the rim too. Sometimes you have to do that iteratively in about 3 or 4 steps, depending on how tight the tyre is.

If you've ever tried to get a 16" Marathon Plus on a Brompton Sun CR18 rim, none of that works. You need big levers and brute force.

 

[eas2lv]

What's your method? Taking a tyre off has always been easier. I pick up a tyre edge using a strong nylon tyre lever, hook it to a spoke to keep in place... shove in another and pull up, secure to the next spoke along... then shove in and lift the tyre out of the rim all way around using a third tyre lever.

That's what I try to do, but find it hard to get the lever hook under the bead. I never a get a good hold under the bead without a lot of poking and pushing and damaging the rim tape at places. May be I need better tyre levers?

I do try rolling the tyre to get the bead into the middle of the rim and release tension as we do when putting the tyre on. But never seem to get enough gap between the bead and the rim to poke in the tyre lever. Need more practice?

 

[AndyBike]

For some new wheels(Hope pro5 fortus35), I was fitting Schwalbe tyres which can be notoriously tight, and bloody tight they were too.
I fought with them for 2 days(couple of hours per) Thumbs were agony and I'd snapped a pedros
Liberal application of soapy washing up liquid/water, I finally got the first tyre on and seated.

I suspect the feeling for similar to a gladiator surviving a match, utterly elated, mentally drained.

Sat, watched a bit of tv, them pumped up the tyre, left it against the settee and settled down for the night, my work done, my challenge triumphed.

Couple of hours later picked up the wheel to find....

I'd only gone and pinched the %$^&@£" innertube.

Off it comes, new tube(no way was i fannying about fixing it after that struggle)
Tyre went on surprisingly easy 2nd time, and paid more attention to where the tube was as the last part of the bead snapped in.

Little bit of air, then fold the tyre to pull it back and release any tube that might have been caught. Was not going to mess it up again. I do this normally, but was going to make damn sure there wasnt going to be a repeat

 

[AndyBike]

...

 

[saneagle]

For some new wheels(Hope pro5 fortus35), I was fitting Schwalbe tyres which can be notoriously tight, and bloody tight they were too.
I fought with them for 2 days(couple of hours per) Thumbs were agony and I'd snapped a pedros
Liberal application of soapy washing up liquid/water, I finally got the first tyre on and seated.

I suspect the feeling for similar to a gladiator surviving a match, utterly elated, mentally drained.

Sat, watched a bit of tv, them pumped up the tyre, left it against the settee and settled down for the night, my work done, my challenge triumphed.

Couple of hours later picked up the wheel to find....

I'd only gone and pinched the %$^&@£" innertube.

Off it comes, new tube(no way was i fannying about fixing it after that struggle)
Tyre went on surprisingly easy 2nd time, and paid more attention to where the tube was as the last part of the bead snapped in.

Little bit of air, then fold the tyre to pull it back and release any tube that might have been caught. Was not going to mess it up again. I do this normally, but was going to make damn sure there wasnt going to be a repeat

You should put the tube in the tyre and pump some air into it before assembling the tyre. You need just enough air to fill the tube, and not so much that it stops you from getting the tyre into the well. That prevents you from pinching the tyre and makes sure that the tube isn't twisted or anything like that.

To assemble the tyre and tube, the first thing you do is insert the valve through the hole in the rim, while making sure that you have the tyre in the right direction, then snap on the first side of the tyre. Next, you roll on 3/4 of the remaining side of the tyre, work it all into the well by twisting it right up to the bit remai ing, roll a bit more over, repeat working the rest I to the well, then snap the last bit over. If you had to use levers on an MTB type rim, you didn't work the tyre into the well properly. I've never yet found an MTB tyre that couldn't be assembled with hands only. Brompton is different because that CR18 rim has no well.

 

[guerney]

That's what I try to do, but find it hard to get the lever hook under the bead. I never a get a good hold under the bead without a lot of poking and pushing and damaging the rim tape at places. May be I need better tyre levers?

Are you expelling enough air from the inner tube first? I use these nylon tyre levers:

Pardon our interruption...

Zefal cotton rim tape sticks like stink and is difficult to damage, has always outlasted the rim (v-brakes). I degrease the rim inner using 99.9% isopropyl alcohol, before applying the self-adhesive Zefal rim tape. Stays stuck.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[jimriley]

I used a tyre glider, easy off easy on.

https://tyreglider.co.uk/

Anyway young uns today should have no bother getting the last bit into the rim, they have extra large thumbs from phone gaming/texting

 

[AndyBike]

You should put the tube in the tyre and pump some air into it before assembling the tyre

Yeah thats what I normally do. I think this time i might have let a bit of air out the tube after getting it in(for some reason) gave it a spot to pinch. Hey ho, live and learn