new tires

I put NEW TIRES on my bike today. I knew my old tires were kind of worn after 3000 miles, but when I actually held them side by side with the new ones- oh my, the old ones were SO worn out it was scary. Getting bald and hairline lengthwise cracks all along the sidewalls. :eek: Glad I didn't just keep using them! You don't see how bad old tires are until you see new tires right next to them.
I stupidly pinched a tube and made a hole in it while trying to pry one tire on at the last hardest bit - it was a very tight fit and much harder than when I had put my previous tires on by myself, and when I changed a flat once. DH patched the tube for me (i was also cleaning our oven at the same time) and we finally got everything on ok- I did the other tire by myself.
It's all good practice.
Can't wait to feel the new tires rollin'!

My old tires were Pasela Panaracer with Tourguard (kevlar belt) with wire bead- 700x28.
My new tires are exactly the same except with a kevlar bead- which makes them a teeny bit lighter weight and foldable as opposed to the wire bead. Cool.
Nothing like brand new tires. Tomorrow is Sunday and the weather looks good for an after-breakfast ride. :p

Reading this thread brought up a question for me - approximately how often should you change tires? Is there an "after x miles" type of guideline?

It really depends on the tire how many miles you can go. My bike came with soft Michelin tires and those only lasted 1,100 miles. My previous bike had Gator Skins (tough training/puncture resistant tires) and I got over 2,500 miles on them. I inspect my tires before long rides or about once a week.

Switched out the tires on my road bike at 4,000 miles, and they were still in great shape. But, we had RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) coming up and didn't want to tempt fate. Michelin Dynamics at less than $15 a tire -- go figure! DH rides more expensive Michelins, but the Dynamics work for me, so I stay with them. The roads here are mostly chip-and-seal (bad chip-and-seal at that) with patches on top of patches on top of patches...

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

I put NEW TIRES on my bike today. I knew my old tires were kind of worn after 3000 miles, but when I actually held them side by side with the new ones- oh my, the old ones were SO worn out it was scary. Getting bald and hairline lengthwise cracks all along the sidewalls. :eek: Glad I didn't just keep using them! You don't see how bad old tires are until you see new tires right next to them.
I stupidly pinched a tube and made a hole in it while trying to pry one tire on at the last hardest bit - it was a very tight fit and much harder than when I had put my previous tires on by myself, and when I changed a flat once. DH patched the tube for me (i was also cleaning our oven at the same time) and we finally got everything on ok- I did the other tire by myself.
It's all good practice.
Can't wait to feel the new tires rollin'!

My old tires were Pasela Panaracer with Tourguard (kevlar belt) with wire bead- 700x28.
My new tires are exactly the same except with a kevlar bead- which makes them a teeny bit lighter weight and foldable as opposed to the wire bead. Cool.
Nothing like brand new tires. Tomorrow is Sunday and the weather looks good for an after-breakfast ride. :p

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I tried to put a new front tire on my bike today...but I failed miserably! :(

Lisa, how did you get the last bit of tire on? I am not exaggerating...I fought that thing for over an hour and my hands are all torn up as a result...I tried EVERYTHING! I even tried heating up the rubber with my blow dryer to make it more pliable. The tire is a folding Michelin Krylion...not sure if the folding tires are harder to put on or if it's just my weak hands. Anyway, after throwing a bit of a tantrum, I gave up and put the old tire back on because I was running out of afternoon and I wanted to ride! Then, probably because I was so mad that I wasn't paying attention when I was putting the old tire back on, I got a pinch flat, or more specifically, a pinch explosion, which blew the old tire right off the rim again. So after about 2 hours of frustration, I ended up right back where I started with my old tire back on the bike. But I still got in 25+/- miles, so I guess it wasn't so bad.

This weekend I'm going to try to find someone to help me get the dumb tire on. My old tire definitely isn't as worn as yours, but after 2,500 miles, it's ready to be retired (no pun intended!). Lisa, I hope you are enjoying your new tread!

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Originally Posted by sara

how did you get the last bit of tire on?

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Use this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sara

I tried to put a new front tire on my bike today...but I failed miserably! :(

Lisa, how did you get the last bit of tire on? I am not exaggerating...I fought that thing for over an hour and my hands are all torn up as a result...I tried EVERYTHING! I even tried heating up the rubber with my blow dryer to make it more pliable. The tire is a folding Michelin Krylion...not sure if the folding tires are harder to put on or if it's just my weak hands. Anyway, after throwing a bit of a tantrum, I gave up and put the old tire back on because I was running out of afternoon and I wanted to ride! Then, probably because I was so mad that I wasn't paying attention when I was putting the old tire back on, I got a pinch flat, or more specifically, a pinch explosion, which blew the old tire right off the rim again.

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A few tips for getting that stubborn tire back on - and a brand new tire is almost always going to be tight. The last bit to roll over the rim should be away from the valve stem. Let as much air out of the tube as you can when you get to the last bit, and squeeze the tire into the center of the rim all around to make a little extra space. Body position will help to get the best leverage. I like to squat and lay the wheel flat on my thighs with the last bit up and away. Push the tire bead with the meaty part of your thumbs, working with both thumbs close together on the same bit of bead, and then move along to the next piece. Once the tire is on, check that the tube in not caught between tire and rim. Grab the valve and push it up into the tire so that the tube clears the rim in that area. When you inflate the tire, stop with ~30 lb in it and inspect the bead. If it's rising in one area, let the air out and reseat it. If it fails to rise in one area, liquid soap will help.

My old tires had wire beads. My new tires were IDENTICAL tires, same brand, size, etc....but with the Kevlar folding bead.
The old tires were easy to get on using just my Crank Bros speed lever. The new tires were a BEAR to get on! After pinch-flatting the tube in the last several inches of trying to coax the new tire on, my DH had a good suggestion... he said put the new tire on first with NO tube in it.
I had to take the pinched tube out anyway to patch it, so I tried it. I put the new tire on with NO tube. It was a bit easier to not have to worry about the tube while levering the tire on. I left the tire on while the tube patch glue dried and had a cup of coffee. Then I pulled the one side of the tire off and zipped it back on again- I noticed it went on a bit more easily. I then zipped the one side off again and put in the tube and it was not as hard to get the tire on and I didn't pinch the tube this time.

So- try putting the tire completely on with no tube first, to get it to stretch and relax before you risk your tube. And yes to DebW's suggestion of saving the last most difficult part for a spot OTHER than the valve area.
Also powder your tube with a little talcum powder so it will slip around inside easily and adjust itself rather than get bunched up in the wrong places.

I've probably said all these things before, but I'll say them again. Pinched tubes can be avoided. It's easier to do it right the first time than have to do it more than once.


Before you start moving the 2nd side of the tire over the rim, run your fingers between tire and rim and make sure that ALL of the tube is inside the rim.

Never ever use a tool to put a tire on. Sometime you can get away with it, but sometimes it bites you. If you really have to use a tool, use something like this which lifts the bead rather than prying it.

Once the tire is on, check that the tube in not caught between tire and rim. Sometimes it will end up between the bead and the bottom of the rim, causing the tire to lift as the tube is inflated. The valve area is especially likely to get caught in the bead. Grab the valve and push it up into the tire so that the tube clears the rim in that area, let the tire seat completely, then pull the valve back into place.

When you inflate the tire, stop with ~30 lb in it and inspect the bead. If it's rising in one area, let the air out and reseat it. If it fails to rise in one area, liquid soap will help. Inflate to full pressure only after you confirm that the bead is properly seated all the way around on both sides.

You all have great suggestions! For this particular new tire, I'm going to find help though. My hands are just destroyed today. I have gashes, swollen knuckles, and my fingertips are so sore! I was trying to use my tire levers our of desperation and they kept slipping...fingers and knuckles hit the rims, the spokes, etc. over and over again. I have very tiny hands and fingers (my ring finger is a size 4-1/2!) and I just don't think there's enough strength there for tight new tires :(

Great info on pinch flats. I didn't pay any attention to how the tire was inflating. Considering the fact the the tube exploded and sounded like gunfire, I bet you it was bulging when I was inflating it.

I give a lot of credit to anyone who can get a silly new tire on their silly old wheel all by themselves!

Sarah, different tires are different fits. My first TWO of sets of new tires were very snug to get on, but I managed to get them on and off with just my hands when i tried very hard. But this last set there was NO WAY to get them coaxed on without levers- DH tried and tried too. We know the techniques with working it slowly around the sides to ease more slack, thumb action, bracing, etc. They were super tight. But it was impressive how they became easier to get on and off after I levered them on first without tubes to sort of "pre-stretch" them.

Once i have the tire and tube on, I only inflate the tube about 1/3 hard and then bounce the tire all around lightly on the ground to help the tube settle, I also gently pinch in one side of the bead in all around and peer inside to make sure the tube is not caught under the bead, then the other side. Finally i put the wheel back on the bike (it's easier to coax it between the brake pads when not fully inflated) and inflate fully.