Mounting Tires on SUn CR-18 rims (what a B*TCH)
 

Received my SUn CR-18 rims from Velomine and I can not believe how insanely hard it is to mount tires on these things. First tire took me 35 minutes and the second close to 45 minutes. I am using 32c Randos. I really hope I never have to change a flat out on the road. They mounted pretty easily on my Deep V's with no tire levers. Has anyone had this problem with the CR-18's?

you know, some are, some arent, this tire, that tire, this tape or not, anyway, sometimes it's easy, but not always and you can't do it

Not really crying just wondering if this is normal with this rim. Good image in that reply though, just use it the correct way before assuming someone is crying okay, okay.

I know, man...I'm just kidding. I hate when tires are a nightmare to install too.

I dont mind when I am at home but on the road it can be a nightmare especially in the sketchy areas here in San Diego. I might try a different tire. How are your Sun M13 II's when mounting tires on them Scrod? And how wide of a tire have had on them? Thinking about using those for my Bareknuckle build in a few months.

In my experience, narrower tires seem to give more trouble than wide tires. I rarely have trouble mounting a wide tire on a narrow rim.

Some tires are just %$(#$$#^%$#@@#%$#@#$@ to mount. Not much you can do about it, unfortunately.

use a thinner rim tape.

What size CR-18 are you using? I have one in the 451mm diameter size and the Primo Comet 1 3/8" tires I use mount on it easier than any other tire/rim combination that I've ever seen. When deflated the tire can be pulled off the rim in under a second without tools. I'd view this rim/tire combination as dangerous to use on the front due to the chance that a fast flat would result in the tire coming off the rim and jamming in the fork. I also use a CR-18 in the 622mm size and find it to be about average with the tires I've used (WTB Slickasaurus 35mm width and Forte GT 25mm width) - tire changing can be done without tools but it's frequently quicker to use tire levers to dismount the tire.

I've got 25c Paselas (which run a little narrow for a 25) on mine and didn't have an issue with getting them on. I wouldn't go wider than 25/28 with M13s.

How would this help?

I was just scratching my head over that one too.

Thinner rim tape definitely makes it easier to mount and unmount tires. In order to get the last bit of tire over the edge of the rim you need to get the rest of the tire bead down as far as possible into the center channel of the rim. The farther down into the channel you can get it, the more slack you can get in the bit of tire bead you're trying to work up and over the lip of the rim. Thinner tape lets the tire bead sit lower in the center of the rim.

In my experience, manning up is more effective.

lol

Ok, seriously though. I own a set of CR18's and run 28c Pasela folding bead's and they are pretty damn tight. Cant say it takes me 45 minutes to mount though. I mount in about 2 minutes or less.

Iv run some 23c wirebead Gatorskins and they were simple as well as a 23c folding Hutchison Quartz. The Vittoria Ziffaro was a PITA to mount on them though.

I stick to the pic above.

Sun Zero Degree Lite + Serfas Drifters are a fun combo.

Just carry some nice steel core tire levers with ya and all should be fine.

I have scars on my knuckles from mounting tires

if you're careful, you can install the tire with levers and not pinch the tube.
also work on small parts at a time and use some lubricant, like talcum powder or soap water, to make it easier.

Try this:


http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7346/imgp5255x.jpg


It has worked for mounting tires I couldn't get on with steel core tire levers. Just grip it with your palm right at the point where the bead crosses from being inside the rim to hanging out, and squeeze real hard while rolling your wrists up and over.

^ Good advice, dsh.

One of the senior mech at the co-op taught me to wiggle the tire around from that point to where the beads are hanging.

I've broken Soma steel core levers on some tires, but my Pedro's levers havent let me down yet