F***ing tyres!!

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Having destroyed 2 Park Tools tyre levers, 2 tubes and exhausted my famously extensive vocabulary of expletives trying to fit ridiculously tight Schwalbe Ultremo ZX tyres, has anyone got any bright ideas on how I could complete this seemingly simple task? I'm down to my last tube...!

Edited by TheGreatSoprendo on Saturday 28th March 16:44

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Rob_T said:

Watch this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4

Watch it again and then again. Pay attention!

It works. The straps arent really necessary but make it easier when you first start using this method.

No tyre levers required.

Very satisfying.

I had high hopes for that, but alas, no joy and my last tube has just gone for a burton.

[TheGreatSoprendo]

BadgerBenji said:

Just remember if you have to go to such effort to fit them, when you puncture on a ride, how many spare tubes do you take with you?

The thought had occurred to me! I might need to hitch up a trailer!

[TheGreatSoprendo]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Find someone with stronger hands

Surely when you're snapping tyre levers and still not getting the tyre on, it's more than a simple matter of hand strength?

CoinSl0t said:

Also once you have the tyre 75% on the rim then let some air out of the tube (not sure if the old duffer did or not?).

Thanks. The video didn't mention letting air out of the tyre, but that would definitely make sense.

Anyway, I'm now awaiting the arrival of these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/pedros-tyre-lev...


these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/airwave-road-tu...



and this:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/crank-brothers-...


so those tyres will be on next weekend by hook or by crook! Watch this space...

Edited by TheGreatSoprendo on Monday 30th March 10:35

[TheGreatSoprendo]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Still reckon you are better off lubeing up the rim

Fnar!

[TheGreatSoprendo]

JRM said:

Why do you say that? I'm curious because I'm using Ultremo ZX at the moment due to lack of supply of Conti GPIIs

Same here. Ultremo's were the next best tyres with a yellow stripe and I need the yellow stripe because I'm a massive tart!

I've had Ultremos before, though, and was very happy with them.

[TheGreatSoprendo]

Went to the sorting office this morning to collect the new levers and tubes, and the tyres are now on!

A combination of the technique in the video above and using the crank bros speedier lever (recommended) did the job without too much trouble. I also hit on the idea of using some over size peg things (intended to be used to hold you towel in place on a sun lounger) to hold the 2 sides of the tyre bead together in the well of the rim, which seemed to work quite well. Letting some air out of the tube also helped I think.

Thanks all for the advice!

[TheGreatSoprendo]

SixPotBelly said:

Sorry, you'll have to take them off and mount them again. The labels aren't by the valves.