Changing a Road Tyre puncture

[Piginapoke]

Any tips for making the above any easier? Had a few punctures recently, and refitting the tyre has been a ball ache every time.

Must be a easier way?

[Marcellus]

Make sure the bead is in the middle of the wheel between the rims and squeeze it round the outside with your thumbs so that then there's only an inch or so to pop over.

[TheInternet]

Obvious one: use good quality tyre levers.

[BoRED S2upid]

Puncture resistant tyres like you OP I thought it was a PITA to fix one so went over to these tyres and have not had one since no more carrying spares and pumps.

[Piginapoke]

Thanks. Had 2 punctures today through (I think) pinching the inner tube with the tyre lever for the last bit of tyre. Can’t see a way to avoid this, and changing inner tubes on my CX bike is a piece of cake.

Tubeless is perhaps the way to go!

[cuprabob]

TheInternet said:

Obvious one: use good quality spoons.

FTFY

[Marcellus]

Strengthen your thumbs don't use levers to get tyre back on.

I saw a youtube video on the technique gcn one i think, i'll see if i can find it.

[Piginapoke]

It’s chuffing tight!

[Marcellus]

I think this shows what i was trying to explain but not as well as ive seen it explained before/elsewhere;

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wkPbGfZoZCY

[murray]

This works well, https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tools/var-tyre-levers/

[Piginapoke]

That looks excellent, thank you. Will give that a go.

[breamster]

OK - so they are not on trend but I've just bought some slime tubes for my road (ish) bike. They work brilliantly at avoiding the punctures in the first place. The only downside is a little extra weight if that really matters to you.

I used these for years on my mtb (now tubeless) with no issues at all (or punctures). Whenever I changed the tyres you could see countless punctures which had been slimed that I hadn't even noticed.

[bakerstreet]

schwalbe levers help. Think they are £6 and I've used thewm on a variety of tyres including marathons and Gatorskins and they are well known to be a pig to change.

If I ever get a puncture out on a ride, I always make a point of getting myself organised. Take off helmet and put glioves, helmet and garmin in the helmet. Put bike upside down and remove offending wheel.

Deflate tyre all way and then push back the tyre off the rim and hook a lever under it and do the same 6 inches along. Then you can pull the tube out.

I don't repair punctures. Just throw a new tube in. They £1.50 each from Wiggle!

Inflating the tube with air makes it easier to slot in. Also reduced the chance of pinch flats. Once the tube is in, I pat the tyre all the way round to make sure everything is settled and don't forget to remove what ever caused the puncture. You don't make that mistake more than once!

[TwistingMyMelon]

Only use levers to get the tyre off and just use your hands to put the tyre back on

Use the technique in this video, job jobbed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZwH2Sww3qE

[Pothole Racing]

Get some releasable cable ties to take on rides, can even put them on your bike so always available and don't forget them. Get your tyre on as much as you can the last stiff bit use said cable ties to hold the tyre in place on the rim leaving your hands free to use levers to get last bit of tyre over, makes life easier to get a stiff tyre on!

Like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyESOxmq67U

[upsidedownmark]

There are some (a small number) of tyre/wheel combinations that are absolutely horrible to get on - sometimes the answer is to try a different tyre. Otherwise, it's just technique - very few really NEED levers to put on, let alone faffing around with zipties. Concentrate on rolling the bead over the lip a bit at a time.