I'm a reasonably mechanical guy... why does changing road bike tires kick my butt?

LeeH · 09:08 AM

After you rebuild a Porsche engine in your garage, it's hard to justify paying anyone to do/fix anything around the house. I do most everything.

Why do I have so much trouble changing out bicycle tires on road bikes???

Mountain bikes are no problem. Road bike tires? Dang! I keep thinking I have the wrong size or something. Everything goes fine right up until I try to put the last bit of tire over the rim. It always seems too tight. I usually wrestle with it until my thumbs are starting to blister from trying to get the bead over the rim, then I try to carefully and gently use a tire tool to get it on the rest of the way. Eventually I get the tire on the rim only to find I pinched the tube with the tire tube and caused a tiny hole and I have to start all over again.

What's the trick to getting these things on???

sc_rufctr · 03-11-2011, 08:46 AM

No trick really... Just practice.

When you get to tire mostly on check that both beads of the side that's in are is in the middle of the wheel and not on the edges.
Pinch the tire with you fingers and push it inwards towards the final bit your trying to get on. Continue working upwards on both sides towards that final bit and then gently try and roll on that last bit.

By doing it this way you're trying to give that final part a bit more slack so it goes on easier.
If the beads are in their final position on the outside of the rim you'll have the least amount of slack at the final bit.

Also put a little air in the tube to stop it getting pinched.

I hope that makes sens.

Arizona 911 · Arizona 911's Garage

Talcum powder works for me. I have ruined a lot of new tubes in the past.

Jim Bremner · 03-11-2011, 08:51 AM

Also put a little air in the tube to stop it getting pinched.

this!

And before you inflate the tube once you're done. Push the air valve in and out a few times. The patch that the air valve attaches to the tube usually gets stuck under the bead of the tire.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

The old school trick for not pinching tubes was baby powder...

Buy "folding" tires, which don't have a wire in the edge. That helps. I have a method where I put the tire over 1 rim. Use you mouth to slightly inflate the tube. Squeeze back the tire and insert the tube valve. Secure with a valve nut.

Spread the tube around inside the tire. Now put the second bead inside the rim starting at one point and going around 360. Let the tire come back out. You are just making sure the tube is fully in the wheel time. Make sure the valve is still straight.

Now, start with the valve away from you and start putting the tire fully on the wheel. Use both hands and go around the circle at the same time. When you get 50% done, flip the wheel around. keep going until the tire is tight. Use your thumbs to slowly stretch the tire until it pops. Do both side with both thumbs at the same time.

notmytarga · notmytarga's Garage

+50 on the first reply. Move the beads of the tire towards the center of the rim before the final effort to place the tire (or as your first move to remove the bead) Idealy there is no need to use a tool - but sometimes with some tires and rims there isn't a choice.

Road bike tires simply have less room to move the beads toward each other out of the larger circumference rim grooves.

While were at the topic of tire installation. I am slowly working toward the goal of having all the bike tire valve stems positioned so that they align with the PSI recommendation. Our family has a varied collection of 22 bike tires/tubes/rims - it will take a while but it helps!

scotricker · 03-11-2011, 09:29 AM

I feel your pain, I just replaced the tires on my roadbike, too. Much sweat and thumb pushing, then plastic bike tire levers, and I don't think I pinched the tubes.
I just put the bike away after pumping them up. Maybe I should go see if there's any air in them today. I think so. we'll see.

look 171 · 03-11-2011, 09:46 AM

Don't use your thumb. Grab hold with your handswhen you get to the last bit and use your palm to roll it on.

VincentVega · 03-11-2011, 10:00 AM

I just did this the other day. The old tires were so worn out they practically fell off the rims. New tires? Not so much.

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

einreb · 03-11-2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeH

What's the trick to getting these things on???

It also depends on the tires. I ride on Michelin Pro Race tires and they are a sumbiatch to get on.

Laneco · 03-11-2011, 10:33 AM

Road bike tires have less to grab onto so they are also usually harder for me. I buy only folding clinchers and I've found that some brands just give me much worse fits than others. Cheap tires are easy, especially wire bead, but my good expensive folding kevlar bead tires can sometimes be horrible to take off the first time.

A little air, talcum powder and two tire levers get it handled for me. One to hold the tire off the wheel, insert the second one right near it, and pull toward me. A little talcum powder on the tire lever helps it slide across the tire.

When I put new tires on, I take them off and reinstall them. Any little bits of sticky rubber seem to disappear when I do that. Then the next time, when I'm in a hurry to change them beside the road or at the start of a race, they are about 90% easier to remove. I can whip them off with either my bare hands or with just one quick slide of a single tire lever.

angela

gchappel · 03-11-2011, 03:45 PM

Just like anything else- it is easier with the correct tools
Try the Park Tool TL-10 Shop Tire Lever
Amazon.com: Park Tool TL-10 Shop Tire Lever - Printed Bag: Sports & Outdoors
For just one bike it is overkill- but I can mount tubeless tires on a roadbike in about a min- and they are a real pain. Actually over the years it has been worthwhile- and all my friends show up when they have a couple of wheels to do.
Otherwise practice and a tire iron will work fine
Gary

A930Rocket · 03-11-2011, 07:27 PM

My wife uses those on her Kestrel (sp) with Zip wheels. Thought I was going to go ballistic last time.

Quote:

It also depends on the tires. I ride on Michelin Pro Race tires and they are a sumbiatch to get on.

KNS · 03-11-2011, 07:34 PM

Sometimes one brand of tire may be heck of a lot tougher than another brand.

billybek · billybek's Garage

Try putting on some Schwalbe Marathon puncture resistant tires for your road bike!
Man, I better not get a flat out on the road. I used many tools from the arsenal to put the damn things on! Some cheap small quick grip style clamps to keep the tire on the opposite side seated in the centre of the rim seemed to work well.
I used one of the old tubes in the front. After struggling for a while with the front wheel and finally winning, I aired up the tire and put it on the bike. While installing the rear tire, the first one exploded with the bike on the bike stand.
I went and bought new tubes.

LeeH · 03-11-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gchappel

Just like anything else- it is easier with the correct tools
Try the Park Tool TL-10 Shop Tire Lever
Amazon.com: Park Tool TL-10 Shop Tire Lever - Printed Bag: Sports & Outdoors
For just one bike it is overkill- but I can mount tubeless tires on a roadbike in about a min- and they are a real pain. Actually over the years it has been worthwhile- and all my friends show up when they have a couple of wheels to do.
Otherwise practice and a tire iron will work fine
Gary

Ah, that's the ticket! Just ordered one. It will easily pay for itself by not having to buy replacement tubes... not to mention improved mood, no more thumb blisters or heart attack/aneurism/stroke, etc.

We have six bikes for our family of three. It will get plenty of use.

Laneco · 03-11-2011, 09:35 PM

Oh and +1 for Michelin Pro. Great tire but absolutely beastly to demount. When I'm runnin those, they come on/off a couple of times before I even bother taking the bike on the road...

angela

dd74 · 03-11-2011, 10:31 PM

I ride Continental 4000s. Michelin Pros have never had a good wear rate for me, as I find I'm changing them every 2K or so. I don't think they have as much stick as the Continentals, either.

But that doesn't answer the OP's question. The trick, I've found, with changing tubes comes to strong thumbs and a lot of patience to regain your strength toward the end. One lever helps a lot.

1) blow a bit of air into the tube before mounting tire.
2) mount one bead (or side) at a time.
3) think about buying a set of tubulars.

HardDrive · 03-11-2011, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybek

Try putting on some Schwalbe Marathon puncture resistant tires for your road bike!

Well I use Specialized Armadillos, but same story. That Kevlar layer makes them stiff, and an all around MFer to get on. Upside is that I have never gotten a flat while running them. Not once. Not bad considering I ride in a glass/debris strewn urban environment.

Funny this thread came up, because I have a front rim and a Kevlar tire waiting for it in the garage. I've been putting it off all week!

Regular tires aren't too bad. Patience grasshopper.