Tight Tires - SO Frustrating!

[Starfish]

I don't know what kind of tire that is...but once I switched to foldable tires, it became very easy to get them on the rims.

[lph]

Oh I hate tires like that! Once in while you just get ones that are a tad too tight. I've had some luck getting the tire almost all the way on so it's really tight, then just leaving it for a while to stretch. A little later it seems easier to get on, at any rate. But an hour spent struggling should have been enough for that to work.

[Blueberry]

Sara-

Don't feel bad

The LBS guys (and gals) do this all day, every day. They have strength in different places, not to mention that they do that motion dozens of times a day.

Some tires are just a b!tch. Sometimes a tire iron can help with the last little bit. Sometimes I need to rest

I agree, folding tires are easier. Some rims are also worse than others.

CA

[DebW]

For really stubborn tires, sometimes you can cheat with a tool like this. But avoid using tire levers because they are likely to pinch the tube. Keep practicing, Sara. It's a matter of leverage and body mechanics more than strength, so you CAN do it.

[lph]

For really stubborn tires, sometimes you can cheat with a tool like this. But avoid using tire levers because they are likely to pinch the tube.

Deb, I've seen this a few times now, but truth be told I use tire levers all the time and have yet to pinch a tube. But I'm mostly changing mtb tires, if that makes a difference. I only use plastic levers, and am very careful about where I put them i.e. just using them on the very edge. Some of the tires I've put on I can't imagine how I could ever manage without 3 levers, and preferably 3 hands too!

[DebW]

Deb, I've seen this a few times now, but truth be told I use tire levers all the time and have yet to pinch a tube. But I'm mostly changing mtb tires, if that makes a difference. I only use plastic levers, and am very careful about where I put them i.e. just using them on the very edge. Some of the tires I've put on I can't imagine how I could ever manage without 3 levers, and preferably 3 hands too!

If you're very careful, you can usually get away with it. If you can do it, that's great. But most newbies would pinch a few tubes before learning to do it correctly. Or maybe it's just "better", "more elegant", or "more accepted" without tools. Or maybe those of us who can do it without tools are just snobs with sore thumbs?

[Kalidurga]

I love having sore thumbs, makes me feel macho

Another trick, if you haven't already tried this, is to hold the wheel with the section opposite the unseated part pressed into the crease of your hips as you work on that last bit. Doing so flattens that side of the tire and creates just a tiny little bit of space around the rest of the rim. Usually makes it a tad easier to ease that last bit over the edge.

Hard to describe that, I hope it makes sense.

[lph]

If you're very careful, you can usually get away with it. If you can do it, that's great. But most newbies would pinch a few tubes before learning to do it correctly. Or maybe it's just "better", "more elegant", or "more accepted" without tools. Or maybe those of us who can do it without tools are just snobs with sore thumbs?

Actually I'd love to be one of those who effortlessly pop the tires on toolless, but I'm too impatient to practice. But I should, it would come in handy if I'm stuck w/o a lever, like in winter when tire levers tend to break. This winter I managed to break the single lever that came with my Blackburn Airshot inflator+multitool gadget - but what's the point of a steel core if it doesn't go all the way out???

[Melalvai]

He probably snuck some clever little gadget in while you weren't looking.
My bike shop mechanic has the coolest device, I can't possibly describe it but you get it in there and just push a lever up and presto! (or schrader!) the tire is off. It is pretty big actually. You couldn't take it with you on a ride without big storage device. I mean it wouldn't fit in a seat pack by a long shot.

[teawoman]

you get it in there and just push a lever up and presto! (or schrader!) the tire is off.

Hee hee! I'm feeling silly enough today to giggle at that!