Tight Tires - SO Frustrating!

[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.

[Di bear]

Sara - I have tires with a Kevlar bead that are really hard to get on. I usually put them on as far as I can, let them sit for about 10 minutes, then finish the job. I think the material just needs to think about giving a bit. If you left the tire on and all it needed was for the last bit to get pushed back on, that may have made it easier for the LBS guy.

[Aggie_Ama]

Yep, non-folding tires take me about 30 minutes to get on. I HATED learning to change a flat on gatorskins. My new tires are folding bead and so much easier. I can actually get them on myself without having sore thumbs for days later.

[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???

[SadieKate]

Sara, sometimes certain rims and tires are a bad combination. I had Michelin Carbons which were horrible with Ritchey rims. Turns out once is notoriously small and the latter is notoriously slightly oversize.

And you aren't really pushing with your thumbs, you really roll the pinched tire away from you over the rim until the bead snaps over. Put the wheel in the crease of your hips as Kalidurga suggests and try rolling the tire away and down over the rim on the far side of the wheel.

[RolliePollie]

Sara, sometimes certain rims and tires are a bad combination. I had Michelin Carbons which were horrible with Ritchey rims. Turns out once is notoriously small and the latter is notoriously slightly oversize.

This is going to be my official excuse!

Next time I need to get a tight tire on, I'll try out all your great suggestions. I really think part of the problem is my little hands. My ring finger is a size 4-1/2, which is pretty small. I think my thumbs would be about a size 6. So, small weak hands plus smallish Michelin tires and possibly biggish rims means Sara needs help with her tires!!!

[wavedancer]

Sara, I hear you! I also have small hands, but it is true that there are just some tire/rim combinations that are much tougher than others. I have struggled with tires at that last 3 inches, given them to my large-pawed, muscular, bike mechanic BF and watched him struggle also! He will, however, eventually get them on!

I sometimes find it easier to turn the wheel so the side I am putting on is away from me and using my whole hand and fingers to roll the tire on. I have a bit of arthritis in the thumbs and they just don't have the strength to do the job sometimes.

[Starfish]

This is going to be my official excuse!

Next time I need to get a tight tire on, I'll try out all your great suggestions. I really think part of the problem is my little hands. My ring finger is a size 4-1/2, which is pretty small. I think my thumbs would be about a size 6. So, small weak hands plus smallish Michelin tires and possibly biggish rims means Sara needs help with her tires!!!

OK, girl. My ring finger is a 5, my middle finger is not quite 3" long (despite all the exercise it gets ), and I can barely reach my brakes despite shims. You can change your tires!!! (Get the right tire/rim combo, though.)

[SadieKate]

I have very small hands also and can mount tires as long as the tire/rim combo is right.

[SouthernBelle]

OK, girl. My ring finger is a 5, my middle finger is not quite 3" long (despite all the exercise it gets ), and I can barely reach my brakes despite shims. You can change your tires!!! (Get the right tire/rim combo, though.)

This, strangely, inspired me to measure my middle finger and it is about 2 5/8" long.