Tyre installing tricks

my durano plus tyres just slip on like a beaute by hand. don't cluttter my saddle bag with tyre levers.

Good last post. It works for me. Plastic is best for sure. I use those flat yellow plastic Michelin levers (Decathlon do them in the UK). Take some sand paper to their edges as well and they're safe and work a treat.

Failsafe way:

Firstly, check tyre, rim and tube for burrs, holes, glass and other spikey objects (you wouldnt believe how many people don't - then inflate and bang...) anyway:

1. talc new tube
2. fit tyre on one side to rim with hands
3. softly inflate tube so it is round (not square out of the packet)
4. pop in with valve in rim hole and feel round locating it in the tyre evenly
5. at the rim hole, with your fingers pop the other side of the tyre onto the rim
6. with your fingers gentle feed the tyre onto the rim evenly from both sides of the rim hole
7. now when you get to the hard part (tight bit the other side of the rim hole) jump back to the tyre at the rim hole and take up the slack by feeding both hands round the tyre so the slack ends up at the part of the tyre that isnt on the rim yet... pop it up
8. if it's really tight, very very carefully use a PLASTIC TYRE LEVER not metal no no no, and pop it on - but this should be a last resort.
9. inflate slowly, check for even seating before putting max pressure in

Hope that helps - works for me everytime - shown to me by an old mechanic who apparently has never used a tyre lever in his life!

I find folding tyres easier to fit, if anything. I didn't have any problems with a pair of Vittoria Open Pave Evo CG 700 x 24, which are supposed to be particularly difficult.

The hardest tyres I've ever fitted were a pair of 26 x 1.35" Schwalbe Marathon Plus, which I think are wired.

I use a pair of Pedros tyre levers. Very strong plastic. I prefer plastic, because they won't scratch the rims. I inflate the inner tube so that it is quite firm and holds its shape, then it stays out of the way while fitting the tyre.

Deflate, roll it to one side, slide an old cut tube in one side, then roll back and pull it out the other side, then use it to pull the tyre off at one side, then just slide it round to remove, thats if the tyre is tight, else i just use my thumb to work it off the bead

hey Gkam84 how do you get your tyres off without using levers?

I was still managing with a busted up thumb

Also, an old inner tube cut in half and slid under the tyre, gives you something to pull and your push it on

Gkam84 wrote:

I dont put ANY levers near my wheels, no matter how well recommend they are, no metal, plastic or any other thing they are made of.

I accept that plain old hand power is the ideal, but what can I say, I have the weak hands of a little girl.

Piece of string to keep the bead on in one place then just use my 'thumbs of steel'..graaaaaaagh!

Metal tyre levers? are you wise, you might aswell just use a screwdriver, lol

I dont put ANY levers near my wheels, no matter how well recommend they are, no metal, plastic or any other thing they are made of.

Sometimes a little lube to get a tyre on, but thats it, your hands can do it all, what did people do before levers?

Get the right inner tubes, I had a bugger of a time trying to get a 700/28 tyre on with a tube that was 28-42. Got the 18-28 tube and fitted it in about five minutes. Its a schoolboy error but there it is.

And also in my experience, use the metal tyre levers, not the plastic ones.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8176

This is what you need, a must have for all cyclicsts everywhere, can be used by any one, whatever their size/strenth, and whatever tyre they have. Great as workshop tool and small enough to take with you.

By the way I don't work for the company, I just really like this tool.

Mile green fairy liquid and it'll keep your hands soft aswell

talc powder works as lub