Replacing tyre

[DaveReading]

Having had a puncture on the way home yesterday - as it was dark and gloomy, I decided to walk the rest of the way. Have just fixed the puncture in the comfort of our kitchen, but being a Marathon tyre, it was a sod to get off. Now as I don't really care to have a free fight with a tyre when push comes to shove on a dark & stormy night

I bought a pair of Marathons a couple of years ago, but I put off fitting the second one for ages as the first had been such a pain.

But with the help of those YouTube videos and a couple of spare toe straps, the other one went on relatively easily, although I did still have to use tyre levers. Certainly I wouldn't want to do it by the roadside, but the the whole point of Marathons is that you should rarely, if ever, need to.

Saying which is of course tempting Providence ...

 

[andrew_s]

The Var tyre lever is the best option if the thumbs are having difficulty getting the tyre on.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tools/var-tyre-levers/
There's no real risk of pinching the tube when using it.

Unfortunately, the tyre removal parts of the lever are no stronger than average, so, in my case at least, if I need it to fit the tyre, it's also worth taking unbreakable steel tyre levers for removal.

 

[freiston]

Trouble fitting Marathons?

Colin's your man - video courtesy of Spa Cycles


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4

 

[mjr]

[QUOTE 4552094, member: 9609"]so much so I may bin it and go back to the armidillos, there is no way I would get the marathon back on at the side of the road on a winters day.[/QUOTE]
Which Marathon? It's now a range of tyres rather than one. The plus is toughest and most others are easiest. Nothing is bad enough to switch back to Armadillos, which combine being about as much of a pig to get on/off with outclassed surpassed compound and lesser protection.

You just have to be very careful not to damage the tubes, which is why I prefer not to use levers unless I have to.

You have to be pretty aggressive to damage a tube unless you're using metal levers, your levers have been nicked by something, or you didn't get the tube inside the tyre before levering the tyre back on.

I was impressed by the Koolstop Tyre Bead Jack, although it's a bit big for an on-road toolkit.

Now as I don't really care to have a free fight with a tyre when push comes to shove on a dark & stormy night, can anyone recommend a good tyre as a replacement that is easier to get off & on - ?

No. Anything nearly as resistant will be at least as bad. Carry one of those £2-£4 sealant canisters for use on the rare punctures on dark and stormy nights IMO.