Tight Tires

[FlyingScot]

Totally OT well maybe not totally. I needed to change my tube (broke the stem). Having never done it before I asked my brother to show me how and by show me I meant help ME do it. Instead he just takes the wheel and does it himself in about 2 minutes flat. Well, gee thanks, I really learned a lot by just sitting there watching. Oh and by the way HE was the one who broke the stem. GRRRR!

Thankfully there's always TE to help me learn all the tricks!

[SadieKate]

As I recall TE's fix-a-flat page is pretty good. Just remember, that some rims are slightly oversize and some tires are slightly undersize. No way, no how, will they play nicely together. Figure it out ahead of time so you aren't stranded on the road or trail somewhere. When the big strong boys at the LBS are using 4-letter words, it probably means you are doomed for aggravation or worse. I speak from experience.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/content/asa_levers

[Eden]

Indeed..... I had a tire so tight once that it took both me and my husband, one of us pulling, one of us pushing, both of us sweating and cussing to get it onto the rim.....

Fortunately it was also one tough sucker and never once flatted the entire time I had it.

[ny biker]

I have this the Kool Stop tool:

http://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tire.../dp/B001AYML7K

I used to bring it with me on rides, but then I found the VAR tire lever, which is smaller so now I keep that in my bike bag and use the Kool Stop at home.

http://www.amazon.com/Var-High-Press.../dp/B004ETKDAA

However I don't know who sells the VAR lever these days.

Both tools are lightweight plastic, it's just that the Kool Stop is a bit larger.

[azfiddle]

Ugh! more issues with tight tires!

I have just given up on trying to get on the new tire by myself. The last one that I put on the front rim was just like this and my DH had trouble with it. After 45 minutes of struggling I have resigned myself to no ride this morning but a trip over to the bike shop when they open to get some help.

So I'm going to go work in the yard now.... hmmph

[nscrbug]

Both me and my DH have resorted to using a tire lever to mount a tire back on, and we haven't encountered any problems doing so. My DH is really meticulous and very slow when it comes to changing a flat...it's not uncommon for him to take as long as 30 - 40 minutes to change a flat. But yeah, we have both struggled with getting tires back on (and getting them off, too)...particularly the Michelin Krylions that I'm using right now. DH insists that they have a wider/thicker bead which makes them extremely difficult to remove/install. This was not the case when I was using Vittoria Diamante Pros...so I may go back to those when it's time for new tires.

[azfiddle]

The bike shop guy got the tire on pretty quick, but he also had to use the tire lever. He just got it done in a minute instead of 45...