folding tyres

[kiwi girl]

I don't know if this is a stupid question or not - but are folding tyres easier to put on and take off than wire beaded tyres? Intuitvely to me it seems they should be (I've just bought some folding tyres for the first time - but probably won't get a chance to install them until the weekend)

[Laterider21958]

I have never heard of them. How do they stay on if they don't have a bead to hold them under the rim? Just curious.

[kiwi girl]

they have a flexible kevlar bead rather than wire. Having looked at them I think they might be quite hard to put on the first time until they take a bit of shape

[DirtDiva]

For my mtb I have one set of folding tyres that are really easy to get on and off and one set that are quite tricky. I used to have a wire-beaded set that fell somewhere between the two. The wire-bead tyres on my roadie are undoubtedly the hardest of all to get on and off.

[DebW]

I installed a set of folding tires recently, and found that they went on easier if I put one side of the tire on the rim, then inserted the tube, then put on the 2nd side of the tire. Trying to put the tube in the tire first when it wanted to curl was difficult.

[HillSlugger]

I find them a little harder to mount. When they are brand new they don't readily hold their normal shape. I also find them a bit harder to properly seat the bead. Why bother with them? They are usually lighter and they are supposed to give a more comfortable ride and corner better. They're easier to ship, too.