Fitting new tyres to Fulcrum 3

[Shooter999]

Hi everyone

After a bit of advice. Just bought new fulcrum racing 3 wheels and also some new continental gator skin (25mm) tyres to go with them.

Just spent the last hour trying to get the tyre on (even with levers)but have failed miserably, there is no way they want to go on.

Can anyone offer any advice or tips in trying to get them on?

Thanks

 

[Apollonius]

Bit of a mis-match if you ask me. Fulcrum 3s are (comparatively) expensive whizzy, light wheels where the cost goes towards the lightness and whizziness. Gatorskins would appear to be the antidote!

 

[Levo-Lon]

Its usually down to the tyre Not being in the rim centre..
make sure the tyre is squeezed togeather all the way round as far as possible so you have maximum chance of the bead going over the rim.
if the tyre is on the outer part and not in the centre groove it makes the tyre very tight..as you have found..

can you get someone to help so more fingers pressing?
Once its on and been pumped up for a few miles it will be a lot easier

hope that makes sense

 

[Shooter999]

Bit of a mis-match if you ask me. Fulcrum 3s are (comparatively) expensive whizzy, light wheels where the cost goes towards the lightness and whizziness. Gatorskins would appear to be the antidote!

Thanks for the reply. can you recommend some good tyres if the gator skins are no good?

Cheers

 

[Apollonius]

Gatorskins are a good puncture-resistant winter tyre. What I question is hobbling your pricey Fulcrum 3s with such heavy and unresponsive tyres. If you need puncture resistance, then get a pair of cheap wheels for winter (which is peak puncture season) and put the Gatorskins on those. Shoe your 3s with something light and whizzy for nice days. You will notice a big difference. Maybe Schwalbe Ones? Rubinos? Lots of possibles.

 

[vickster]

Talcum powder meant to be helpful

How are you using the wheels and tyres? If commuting, something durable is sensible. If for club runs etc something lighter but less puncture proof might be more what you want, maybe a Michelin service course or similar? I find vittoria pro Rubino puncture resistance and pretty well rolling (and they are fairly cheap)

I always find getting new tyres onto Fulcrum 5s quite a pain, but I'm quite inept in the tyre fitting department (not averse to paying an LBS). I saw Evans are doing free puncture repairs, you just have to buy a tube from them

 

[Tin Pot]

Hi everyone

After a bit of advice. Just bought new fulcrum racing 3 wheels and also some new continental gator skin (25mm) tyres to go with them.

Just spent the last hour trying to get the tyre on (even with levers)but have failed miserably, there is no way they want to go on.

Can anyone offer any advice or tips in trying to get them on?

Thanks

I've struggled with Gatorskins on the road a few times as well as home - I hear that using levers is frowned upon but I have to use two.

1 Get most of it on with thumbs

2 Then that last seemingly impossible bit - wedge one lever in at one end, hook it on to the spokes to keep it on the wheel.

3 Use the other lever to forcably slide the rest of the tyre on, from the opposite end of the last bit to the other lever.

4 Pick up levers that have just sprung out all over the place, swear, return to 2 until..

5 Stand back proud of your achievement. Swear at the bloody thing for good measure.

 

[Shooter999]

Thanks for all the replies, keep them coming. (I've already done lots of swearing!!)

Would the Vittoria rubino pro be an upgrade on the gator skins? I only go out on club runs, Tuesday's and Sunday's.

I've currently got gator skins on my mavic cx22's. I was just trying to get the wheels ready for end of April, which is when I was thinking of putting them on.

Would you recommend 23mm or 25mm, currently using 25mm.

 

[vickster]

You've got plenty of time to get them on then. Or to get one of these which are meant to make tyre fitting much easier

http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/p/34518/V...&network=pla&gclid=CNX80bWO98oCFQo6Gwod3i8Eog

..or to get a bike shop to fit them!

I don't know whether the rubinos are an upgrade, I'm sure they'd be lighter, but check the specs. They are cheap at around £15 I think. I use 23mm tyres myself, no difference to 25s but then I'm no racing snake

 

[Shooter999]

I ain't no racing snake (far from it), but if running 23's means getting up the hills a little bit easier, then I'm all for it.

Thanks for recommending the tool. I'd prefer to get the tyre on myself, because if I have a puncture, then I'm going to have to do it!

Any more recommendations for tyres and how to get the damn things on.( no probs with gator skins on the mavic's)

 

[vickster]

The tyres will make no difference to getting up hills, more on the flat. The wheels might help, but again, hill climbing comes from your fitness not wheels

I should add I have the slick rubinos on two bikes, cos I prefer the look to the normal ones

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CIX7kLuQ98oCFYMK0wodFhIBCw&gclsrc=aw.ds

Black ones are more expensive at the moment

Some wheels and tyre combos are a pita, you've identified one. I'd pay a shop myself! I have more money than I do patience and strong thumbs (and I have a shoulder injury). Another reason to have a good relationship with your LBS

 

[mustang1]

I cursed the wire bead gatorskins I got years back. Since then I ONLY buu folding tires and thankfully the gatorskins are available as such.

I think light wheels with heavy tires is fine and prefer that combo rather than heavy wheels and heavy tires. Just change the tires over in summer if you want. It's not as if light wheels don't help during winter months.

 

[Globalti]

How many times do I have to post this on Cycle Chat?

TALC.

The best natural dry lubricant for sticky new rubber. Sprinkle it liberally all over the tube and the bead. You'll be able to fit the tyre with your thumbs.

...and do the job indoors where the rubber will be warm.

 

[derrick]

Hi everyone

After a bit of advice. Just bought new fulcrum racing 3 wheels and also some new continental gator skin (25mm) tyres to go with them.

Just spent the last hour trying to get the tyre on (even with levers)but have failed miserably, there is no way they want to go on.

Can anyone offer any advice or tips in trying to get them on?

Thanks

Are they folding or wired?
Also nothing wrong with using gator skins, I know people with much more expensive wheels swear by gator skins.

 

[screenman]

Never had a problem with them and I have been using them for quite a while, when all else fails or before you start again get them warm, very warm. The tyre that is not the rim, and for me valve last as it gives a bit more room.

I also have Gators on Fulcrums on the winter/wet bike.