Low spot on my tyre

[Holdsworth]

I had to change my tube this morning after a puncture on the way to work. Not a particularly tough job apart from the time consuming task of getting the bead off the rim in the first place without slipping off the end of the tyre levers! I had it swapped out within 20 minutes, I made sure that the bead would not pinch the tube and that it was seated in the well before inflating. There was a little popping sound every few seconds over a short period as I pumped up which I assumed was the tyre settling back into the rim.

The problem though became apparent on the way home when I noticed that there was a regular "bump" from the rear wheel which I felt every time the wheel made a revolution. I take the bike to the LBS on the way home and he diagnoses the low spot and suggests that I simply deflate the tube and try again making sure to seat the bead correctly.

So I have just done that within the last hour and the problem still remains, a low spot on the tyre. I can see it clearly when the wheel is spinning and when stationary, the line that can be seen above the rim all of the way round dips out of sight for a few inches then rises again. It occurs about 120 degrees clockwise to the valve when viewed from the non-drive side.

The tyres are Continental Sport Contacts and the rims are the standard rims that came with my EBC bike.

 

[potsy]

Can't really help, but am having the same 'bump' sensation since fitting a tube after a puncture the other day,
Not had time to have a good look at it yet but will do tomorrow.

I'm thinking it could be the patch on the repaired tube?

 

[Erudin]

One of my 28c Gatorskin tyres does this, the cure is to overinflate it (to about 130psi) at home with a trackpump until it seats into the bead properly.

 

[Night Train]

If it is a low spot have a look around the side wall of the tyre and see if it is properly seated.

If there are any lines around the sidewall they should be an even distance from the wheel rim to show that the bead is in the right place.
A part of the bead could be still in the well and traped by the tube as it was inflated. That would lead to that part of the tyre sidewall being 'shorter' then the rest and leading to a low spot.

 

[potsy]

If it is a low spot have a look around the side wall of the tyre and see if it is properly seated.

If there are any lines around the sidewall they should be an even distance from the wheel rim to show that the bead is in the right place.
A part of the bead could be still in the well and traped by the tube as it was inflated. That would lead to that part of the tyre sidewall being 'shorter' then the rest and leading to a low spot.

Finally got round to looking at mine today, it was as you describe, not quite seated correctly near the valve.
Have done about 50 miles with it like that

All looks good now, and if I can get myself out of bed early enough in the morning I'll commute on it

 

[Baggy]

If overinflating deosn't do the trick, a little bit of talc on the inside of the rim, or even a little bit of Fairy Liquid should help the tyre to seat properly.

 

[Night Train]

I usually put a little air in the tube and then go around the tyre to check it has seated before continuing. Sometimes, if the tyre is obstinate, it can take a bit of effort to pull the tyre about a bit.

Talc is a good solution washing up liquid I'm less sure about. I think I read somewhere not to use washing liquid on tyres but I may have that the wrong way round.
It might have been use soap instead of washing up liquid.

 

[Baggy]

I usually put a little air in the tube and then go around the tyre to check it has seated before continuing. Sometimes, if the tyre is obstinate, it can take a bit of effort to pull the tyre about a bit.

Talc is a good solution washing up liquid I'm less sure about. I think I read somewhere not to use washing liquid on tyres but I may have that the wrong way round.
It might have been use soap instead of washing up liquid.

There was quite a heated discussion about washing up liquid and tyres on here some time ago! I didn't have any talc at the time so used a tiny smear of Fairy - don't think it had any ill effects on the tyre, which lived on to do the usual mileage for one of my tyres before going to tyre heaven.

 

[Night Train]

I don't know where I got it from but it wasn't a thread here and also not reliable. I have used it myself though.

There was a story of a heavy haulage lorry, a 100 ton Foden back in the 50's, that was unable to pull a load up a hill. It turned out that the tyres were stationary while the wheels spun inside them. This was because the tyres had recently been fitted with soap causing the rims so slip on the tyre bead. The operator had all future tyre changes done dry to avoid a reoccurance.

However, that has no relevance to this thread really!