FiftySix

There needs to be a list of those combinations to save us the trouble of a misguided purchase. Otherwise, it's just trial and error.

Lemond1985

I have found wire bead tires are generally much easier to mount, never had one of those I couldn't mount by hand with a little baby powder.

Folding tires just give me more problems, especially those Panaracers in 28 mm.

ThermionicScott 

That's not a bad idea. A good tire/rim registry, including the rim tape used. Of course, it would need constant updating, but that's the nature of these things.

Cyclist0108

Sorry, I just thought it was kind of an odd thing to say. Usually you don't know that a tire is going to be a PITA to mount until you discover it the hard way, which means after you purchased it.

In my case, it was 28mm Vitoria Corsa G+ tires and H+ and Sons rims. Neither of these, alone, should be a cause for concern, but I cannot mount that tire on that rim with anything short of a tire jack. I won't be buying them again, but I'd still like to get my $80 worth out of those tires.

I don't have much experience with tubeless, but I do get the sense that most tubeless tires can be a real struggle.

WizardOfBoz

It may be of interest that for installing golf grips on steel club shafts, you use mineral spirits.

Getting the tires mounted can be tough because of the tight fit. But I've also had problems getting the things to seat even with compressor air. And my experience with sealants is disappointing. Stan's seals ok but the rubber particles settled in my bottle. Bontrager has been less effective at sealing, and has some particles that settle out too fast when you first add the sealant. I'll get something figured out at some point, but it's kind of a PITA.

I have found that the hypodermic syringe with tube extensions are very convenient in avoiding a messy disaster. Also, putting the tires on with soapy water, and seating BEFORE you install sealant. Once they're seated, depressurize, remove the presta core and add the sealant. Then reinstall the core and repressurize. At least that's my paradigm. Trying to seat tires with a full sealant complement is just begging for your walls to look like Jackson Pollock had at them.

The hypodermic arrangement I got off Amazon:


https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....aL._SX679_.jpg

ThermionicScott 

Some unacknowledged luck went into my first post. In most of my dealings with bike tires, I've been fortunate that they ended up being mountable by hand, albeit with a struggle sometimes. Nokian/Suomi snow tires have been the worst so far, tight-fitting wire bead and a very thick inflexible casing makes them a beast to work with -- thank goodness I'm using them on single-walled rims that give extra room to get them on and off. The thick rubber helps prevent flats, so thankfully it all works out.

Sometimes you need to be flexible yourself. I cringe when I see people on the C&V forum talk about how hard it is to get tires on and off their new rims, only to find out that they've been using Velox rim tape on tubeless-ready rims and refuse to switch to something sensible.

Cyclist0108

I'd have to take the tire off to check (so no chance, short of a flat), but I think there is an excellent chance I did exactly that (for no reason other than ignorance).




OTOH, my 28mm Clement Strada tires went on and off with no drama.

Cyclist0108

Try Orange Seal.

WizardOfBoz

I've heard good things, and so this is my next step, but I have a 32 oz bottle of Bontrager TLR and at 1.5-2 oz per refill, even with two bikes that are tubeless, that's a couple of years before I need another bottle.

Then again, with my 32oz bottle of Stan's, the rubber had settled like a wad of chewing gum on the bottom of the bottle after about a year. So, we'll see.

HillRider

I'm not sure that's even practical. I've had one make and model tire be easy to install on my rim and another "identical" tire on the same rim be very difficult. Bike tires aren't precision devices.

ThermionicScott 

True, seems like everything with bikes comes with caveats. Still, I think a registry of people’s experiences could be helpful. If a particular rim and tire combination were noted to be “impossible” by several people I’d be happy to know that before buying.

FiftySix

Reminds me of my motorcycle days and mounting my own tires. Lay the tires in the sun to warm, baby powder on the lightly inflated tubes (if a spoked wheel), and dish washing liquid on the beads. I still have my steel tire irons, which required plastic rim protectors of which I seemed to have lost.

Not much worse than airing up a tire you fought to mount and hear the hiss of a pinched tube.

davidad

I had one to install Marathon tires. I will no longer buy them and gave mine to a friend with MS who needs all the help she can get. I have a VAR tool that takes care of any tires I now use.

canklecat

Yup, that Kool Stop bead jack is fantastic. Any good bead jack is a plus for folks with arthritis or chronic hand injuries. Makes all the difference, especially in cold, wet conditions.

I carry it in my jersey pocket on the road bikes or handlebar bag on the hybrid for myself and other folks in group rides. Haven't even bothered to shorten the handle.

While it'd be nice to avoid combos of rims and tires that are too tight, it isn't always practical. I like my Schwalbe Ones and Conti Ultra Sport 2's, and they fit tight on every rim I've tried -- Araya, Wolber, Alex. I'm not gonna give up good tires over a snug fit.

There's a similar but simplified bead jack that for now has only been available in the UK market, but could be mail ordered. Costs a little less. It lacks the articulating doodad on the Kool Stop, but users report it works well. It's flatter too.

TimothyH

I've mounted the same tire on H+ Son Archetype using regular tire levers many times without a problem.


-Tim-

Ronsonic 

With the arthritis in my thumbs there's no such thing.

easyupbug 

Guilty as charged, that's a mistake made years ago andI will only make once.

lvolpe

I had used these and did not find them of much help. Go with the Kool Stop or Var. I have them both and have found them very useful for those tight fits.