Fitting A Marathon Plus

[Pauluk]

I've just received my Marathon + tyre from Amazon (£23.80 incl delivery) this afternoon that I only ordered on Wednesday. Good price and service I thought.

Just fitted it to my rear wheel and found it quite difficult to get on. I used the usual technique of squeezing the tyre all around to get the bead towards the centre line of the rim but couldn't get the last few inches over the rim. I did notice that the tyre seemed to have a tendency to open up so keeping the beads in the centre was tricky so I'm not sure this technique worked. In the end I just had to use a tyre lever although I don't really like doing this and have never had to do it with my other tyres.

I'd be grateful if anyone knows of an easier way to get these tyres on.

 

[ianrauk]

May I be the first to post this vid...

 

[smokeysmoo]

Beaten to it by ianrauk

 

[Pauluk]

Thanks for the response ian (and smokeysmoo, its the thought that counts ). I wasn't using the straps so I'll try again tomorrow with the use of my toe straps. Hopefully it won't be as hard to get off as it was to get on

 

[slowmotion]

It's a wonderful video. Chapeau to Spa Cycles.
Releasable zip-ties work as well as toe straps. I think I needed about twenty when I first fitted a M+ but it gets a lot easier with practice.

 

[MacB]

Some rims are tougher than others but so far I've managed M+ without needing the straps. Nothing fancy just the Spa method but when you get near the end let the air out of the tube. This seems to make squeezing the tyre into the rim well easier and more effective. Once squeezed in I just hold the near side tight against my upper legs as I pop over the last bit.

 

[MrJamie]

Some rims are tougher than others but so far I've managed M+ without needing the straps. Nothing fancy just the Spa method but when you get near the end let the air out of the tube. This seems to make squeezing the tyre into the rim well easier and more effective. Once squeezed in I just hold the near side tight against my upper legs as I pop over the last bit.

I struggled badly the first time i fitted my M+ and feared what id do if i got a puncture away from home. The Spa video helps immensely, but ive managed to put a few on without levers since realising how much harder just a little bit of pressure in the tube makes it. Just make sure youve not trapped the tube after

 

[summerdays]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned "Swear a lot", I don't think we have ever managed in this household without that!

 

[avsd]

Talc powder helps a little - found summerdays advice came very naturally to me

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Some rims are tougher than others...Once squeezed in I just hold the near side tight against my upper legs as I pop over the last bit.

[fnaar mode] Oooer missus [/fnaar mode]

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I fought to fit a M+ fir an entire afternoon before realising I had the wrong size...

 

[byegad]

What you have to ask yourself is. On the roadside, how do I ever repair a puncture?

Yes I know M+ are good, but I've commuted on them and they do get the odd deflation. So what do you do then? My answer, after 'The Great Evening of Swearing' as people in Stockton still call it, was to fit Pasela Tourguard tyres. Much easier to fit, very nearly as much protection and they roll better!

 

[byegad]

P.S. My knuckles did heal and the new steel tyre levers, bought to refit the tyre at the LBS in Stockton, were only ever used to get me home and remove the cursed things from my bike and my life... FOREVER!

P.P.S. I really don't like them, can you tell?????

 

[BlackPanther]

P.P.S. I really don't like them, can you tell?????

Really? I've done over 15,000 miles without a puncture on M+'s, so I've only ever fitted them when I get a new bike but I swear by them on the rear. I've never managed to fit them without using a lever though. Yes, the Duraonos I run on the front of the Trice are easier to fit, but I've had a couple of punctures on them. Strapping the M+'s is essential and I use a 'trouser twist' http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-PAIRS-T...Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item53e93bb399 which usually keeps my tool kit tightly together.....an essential piece of kit imho (both the M+'s and the trouser twists.)

 

[MacB]

I struggled badly the first time i fitted my M+ and feared what id do if i got a puncture away from home. The Spa video helps immensely, but ive managed to put a few on without levers since realising how much harder just a little bit of pressure in the tube makes it. Just make sure youve not trapped the tube after

good point, always do the full 360 both side making sure everything is clear, first time I failed to do this the inner tube exploded as I was pumping it up...pretty loud close to your head in a garage.