Really tight tyres - any tips for easier changing?

[EasyPeez]

Hi,

Had my second puncture in 2,500 miles today, and the first that I had to change alone. I am ashamed to admit that it took me well over an hour to fix, and my thumbs are now blistered pulps

I have changed tyres on my old MTB loads of times without probs, and had no trouble this morning...until it came to getting the tyre back on the wheel! Man, was that hard! I am running Fulcrum DB Sport CX disc-brake wheels with quite deep rims (30mm) and Conti Grand Sport race tyres (25mm wide).

I have tried watching a few vids just now to see where I was going wrong and one thing I've picked up straight away is that I need to push the bead down into the trough of the rim as I go around, which I wasn't doing.
I've also seen this advice -

• For the other bead, start opposite the valve and work your way up to it. Since the valve occupies the lowest section of the rim, if you start there you give yourself a huge disadvantage.

I was doing the opposite by starting to pop the bead back into the rim at the valve rather than opposite it, though I don't see how that would make any difference as the depth of my rims is the same all the way around as far as I can tell?

In the end I had to use the tyre levers off my Top Peak multi-tool (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/...gclid=CIPx9Zba2sYCFeXLtAodCnYNSA&gclsrc=aw.ds) to slide the bead back over the rim, but "slide" doesn't do it justice really as it was still a nightmare and took ages, with much struggling and swearing. Is it right that using levers to run the bead back inside the rim is a bad idea? I was being very careful and don't see how it would have been possible without them. Do other people use any kind of tool to help get the tyre on the rim?
Even with the levers it was a nightmare though, so if anyone can offer advice or suggestions of better tools for the job easier I'd be very grateful.

I've watched these 2 vids, which are helpful re: the bead into the trough thing, but it's immediately obvious that neither of these guys are up against the same level of struggle I was - their rims are much smaller and there's obviously far more give in their tyres.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4&feature=youtu.be

http://www.artscyclery.com/learningcenter/changingaflattire.html

Maybe I just have a really bad rim/tyre combo?

Cheers, Andy

 

[bikingdad90]

Depends a lot on tyre brand and strength of tyre.
I have had some folding Michelin Lithion 2 and they pop on and off the rims without effort but I have also had Gatorskins which were tight and needed levers to get on and off. On my Triban 3 it had Hutchinsons and I could not get them off without destroying the beading they were so tight.

Perhaps try some chalk or talk as a lubricant and warm the tyre before hand so it expands?

 

[TissoT]

Try some Talcum powder

 

[jonny jeez]

Yup. I have been swapping tight road tyres for years now and can do it in a few minutes flat (scuse the pun).

But I recenty bought some new rims with a race tyre combo and despite everything, couldn't get the tyres back on (I took them off to test how hard it would be) I missed a days ride whilst I went shopping for a tool to help and bought one of these
http://road.cc/content/review/88803-crank-brothers-speedier-lever

It got the tyre back on after a struggle and one sliced tube.

I rang the supplier of the rims for his help (after all he fitted the tyres in front of me in about 3 minutes) and he told me to use tyre levers...apparently all the "pros" do this with tight race tyres, he warned me to just carefully ensure the tube was not in the way.

After a couple of swaps the tyre has loosened up a little now...still bloody tough though.

 

[jonny jeez]

Try some Talcum powder

Fyi to the op...I tried talc, lube, thumbs, tying off sections as per the video (that I also watched) swearing, crying, and even a little rocking back and forth whilst hunched over in the corner of the workshop.

Nothing got me even close to getting the last 10 cm of bead across the rim...was like concrete.

 

[raleighnut]

Conti's are notoriously tight tyres.

 

[jonny jeez]

Conti's are notoriously tight tyres.

Yup, mine are conti race pro something or other.

Aka, the manwheeper

 

[Tim Hall]

I've used a VAR lever in the past on tight tyres.

You can also try the Pippsy method. Stand alongside the wheel and trap the not-yet-on bit of tyre with the edge of your shoe. Push the wheel away from you, keeping the tyre trapped. It'll ease into place without thumb damage.

@PippaG 's avatar features her trying it in a pair of high heels. <little moment>

 

[vickster]

Tip for easy changing - call taxi (or join ETA), take bike to bike shop, pay bike shop

 

[Globalti]

Talc is the answer - it's the best dry lubricant for sticky rubber known to Man. Sprinkle it liberally on the tyre bead and while your hands are talced, pat the inner tube around to cover that as well.

 

[raleighnut]

Yup. I have been swapping tight road tyres for years now and can do it in a few minutes flat (scuse the pun).

But I recenty bought some new rims with a race tyre combo and despite everything, couldn't get the tyres back on (I took them off to test how hard it would be) I missed a days ride whilst I went shopping for a tool to help and bought one of these
http://road.cc/content/review/88803-crank-brothers-speedier-lever

It got the tyre back on after a struggle and one sliced tube.

I rang the supplier of the rims for his help (after all he fitted the tyres in front of me in about 3 minutes) and he told me to use tyre levers...apparently all the "pros" do this with tight race tyres, he warned me to just carefully ensure the tube was not in the way.

After a couple of swaps the tyre has loosened up a little now...still bloody tough though.

I do like that lever, I've had a VAR set for years but that 'speedier' looks worth trying.

 

[Steady]

Had this issue the other week whilst fitting Conti's Grand Prix's (650c tho). For whatever reason the first tyre I got on quite quickly following the symmetrical thumb push method, and the last bit just slid over the rim as nice as anything, and then the next hour I sat there struggling with the other wheel, using levers, not using levers, switching between youtube videos and many a varied selection of forum posts on my phone! Eventually got an extra pair of hands to help and just somehow used brute force on it Thumbs were terribly sore the next day, reminded me of 'gamers thumbs' as a kid.

I'm certain there's no science to it, it's all voodoo.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've used Duck Tape getting stubborn Marathon+ in the past. A bit like the toestraps in the vid above, but I used more than 2 bits.

 

[byegad]

Conti's are notoriously tight tyres.

So are Marathon Plus!

 

[MichaelW2]

SPA cycles have a video of Marathon+ procedure, involving zip-ties to hold bead in rim-well.