I’m clearly doing something wrong, but not sure what This is the second major damage to my rim caused by just trying to change a tire
by Dwindles_Sherpa
I’m clearly doing something wrong, but not sure what This is the second major damage to my rim caused by just trying to change a tire
by Dwindles_Sherpa
9 Comments
You have to push the bead of the tire into the middle channel of the rim where it’s deeper. That will create the slack you need to get the last bit on
I am amazed and impressed.
Just checking the obvious: did you make sure the tire is **not** seated when putting it on? Ie that the tire beads are in the middle of the rim of the wheel. Make sure by pressing the tire into the middle of the rim.
It’s a good idea to have the inner tube slightly inflated to avoid a pinch flat, but sometimes you need to let a lot of air out in the end to seat the final bit of tire.
The last stretch is often difficult, but patience and perseverance usually works. Work your way with your thumbs on both sides slowly but steadily. Or put the wheel on the ground with the unseated part of the tire facing away from you, and pull that part towards you.
Also, there are a lot of videos of this which give a lot of hints but also more visual instructions than what are conceivable by text.
Make sure everything is clean, warm the tyre somehow – sun, fireplace, heater, hairdryer, warm water etc but not too hot or you’ll wreck it, and soapy water.
I don’t do anything with tyres without warming them and using soapy water any more, I also wear gloves so I don’t peel my thumbnails away from the sides.
Put it on with just your hands no levers by using the centre channel and then finishing at the valve.
Try claping tyre sides together at different points with tube inside to get both of one side in then play around with unclamping different sections. Put the value through and cap on then clamp. If u unclamp the semi circle opposite the value in the right sequence and with the leavers it eventually gives you enough play to use the leavers to get that last tight bit over. Has worked for me on tighter tyre repairs. Good luck
Try the tyre glider..
https://tyreglider.co.uk/
Some tyre and wheel combos are not meant to be. I once bought WTB tyres for my wife’s bike. The rims were WTB. The tyres were never going on those rims. After several days of trying I sent them back and bought a different brand. I put them on with very little effort.
Also remember, if you have a roadside issue and the tyre needs to come off for a repair you will be doing this roadside.
I should add that I’m not necessarily new to changing bike tires, been doing it for 40 years or so, but things have clearly changed with “tubeless ready” tires.
Don’t get me wrong, I love tubeless on my MTB, but on a gravel/commuter I find them to be horrible, yet I don’t know of any commonly available non-tubeless-ready gravel tires available anymore.