Fulcrum Racing Wheels

[beancounter]

I'm quite prepared to admit that I may be even more spectacularly inept than usual here...

...but...

...are Fulcrum wheels any harder than other wheels, to get tyres on to?

I have a pair of Racing 5 Evo's which I have struggled (ludicrously) to get either Vittoria or Michelin (Pro Race 2) tyres on to.

Before I sling them into the hedge at the back of the garden, can anyone offer some words of advice, encouragement or sympathy.

Many thanks

bc

 

[peanut]

Fulcrum are made by Campag to offer Shimano freehub options.
They are notoriously difficult to get tyres on usually because they are shipped with a particulary nasty cheap one piece plastic rim tape. Toss it away and fit some cotton rimtape the tyres will go on real easy.
The ridgid plastic doesn't allow the tyre beads to sit down deep into the centre of the rims which will make the tyres fit loosely and make it easier get the tyres onto the rims.

You can file down the tyre lever ends a bit to reduce their thickness which will help a bit

 

[ursus_major]

Vittoria tyres onto Campag rims is the worst possible combination for tyre fitting, in my experience...

 

[jpembroke]

Vittoria tyres onto Campag rims is the worst possible combination for tyre fitting, in my experience...

I used to think that......

....then I tried Vredestein.

Oh boy!

 

[beancounter]

Sounds like it's not just my incompetence then...

However, I may still ditch the Fulcrums and get some Easton EA50's instead - provided that Eastons are "better" in this respect?

bc

 

[jpembroke]

On the plus side, Campag/Fulcrum do make great wheels. I have a set of Campag Protons, which are about 4 years old, are incredibly light, and still as smooth and true as the day they were bought.

 

[skwerl]

Sounds like it's not just my incompetence then...

However, I may still ditch the Fulcrums and get some Easton EA50's instead - provided that Eastons are "better" in this respect?

bc

I'm pleased with my EA70s although I'm sure the rear wheel isn't dished correctly. It's a couple of mm off-centre. Need to get this confirmed by LBS that supplied them but another wheel sits dead centre so it's not a frame alignment issue.

 

[ajb]

I have the racing 5's,

Yes it was a nightmare to get the tyres on, I sprayed the rim & tyre with GT85 to help get them on.

Alan.

I used Vittoria tyres.

 

[jpembroke]

I have the racing 5's,

I sprayed the rim & tyre with GT85 to help get them on.

do your brakes still work?

 

[beancounter]

do your brakes still work?

Hopefully he wiped off the excess.....

I've read many useful hints and tips about getting "difficult" tyres on to "difficult" rims - sprays, talcum powder, warming the tyre in the oven, etc. etc. etc.

That's all well and good in the garage, but not very useful on the road and 30 miles from home. In my opinion, if you can't easily replace a tube out on a ride then the tyre/rim is completely useless.

bc

 

[jpembroke]

Hopefully he wiped off the excess.....

I've read many useful hints and tips about getting "difficult" tyres on to "difficult" rims - sprays, talcum powder, warming the tyre in the oven, etc. etc. etc.

That's all well and good in the garage, but not very useful on the road and 30 miles from home. In my opinion, if you can't easily replace a tube out on a ride then the tyre/rim is completely useless.

bc

The only p*ncture I have every had on my Vredestein/Protons was on the sodd*ng Dragon Ride. My hand slipped (as usual) whilst trying to remove the tyre and I skinned my knuckles on some spoke nipples. Oh man did that hurt.

 

[ajb]

do your brakes still work?

Well I'm still here.

Alan.

 

[dbg]

Had the same problem with Fulcrum 5's - I did solve it in the end though, I bought some different wheels (Easton Tempest II) no problems with these

 

[beancounter]

Had the same problem with Fulcrum 5's - I did solve it in the end though, I bought some different wheels (Easton Tempest II) no problems with these

Yup me too - fulcrums sold for what I paid, Eastons on order.

I'm sure the fulcrums are perfectly fine wheels, I'm just not prepared to be struggling with tyres when I'm tired/soaked/a long way from home/all of the above.

bc

 

[beancounter]

Had the same problem with Fulcrum 5's - I did solve it in the end though, I bought some different wheels (Easton Tempest II) no problems with these

Btw that's hardly a fair comparison, £175 vs £1250 !!!!

bc