@BFisher, track bikes = no brakes, so track rims don't have a brake surface and, depending on the model, may have thinner construction on the sides.

Thanks for the info. I'm on the fence, but keep my eye out for NOS deals. Figured I'd do a little homework before I pull the trigger on the wrong rims.

halb
 

Are there some tires that simply won't stretch to fit on rims?
I was given a bike with Mavic Sprint rims. I bought Tufo S33's in 24 width. Can't even get close to mounting them.
I know my hands aren't what they were when I swore off tubulars, but really.

Yes. Just like with clinchers, tolerances vary. I don't know if the Tufos you have were hand sewn, but adding humans into the construction process probably increases variability. Sitting in my basement I have an orange tubular I was given by Ken Freeman about a year ago. It's brand new, but he was never able to get it on a rim. (I'm not home so can't look up exactly what it is.) I've not been able to stretch it over a rim either. I suspect it's a lost cause (or actually a smaller tubular which was mislabeled?)

If you've not yet applied glue, maybe return them and buy something else or exchange for a new set.

do you pre-stretch your tubulars on a rim? or the barefooted hold to the floor and gently stretch by pulling up with your hands, a couple of times?

I have more difficulty with clinchers and not pinching the tube.

I put mine on a rim.

halb
 

Thanks guys. I was trying to get the tub on a rim to stretch it.
I did take it to my son, younger, stronger, and probably wanting to impress Dad.
It was a struggle. but he got the tire on the rim. So its possible.

I experienced that with some Continentals. Other Contis I have had no issues.

Had a heck of a battle with a Continental Grand Prix 4000s II tire just two Saturday's ago. First fight was getting it off of the rim it was already on, which was a wheel for a bike I scrapped last year due to nasty frame damage. Bike I wanted to put it on had experienced a tire failure, thankfully not while riding it, and I had no spare tires other than that. Thought I would never get that tire off!

But the worst was yet to come, I dare say it took me a half hour, and usage of two sets of tire levers, to force that crazy tire onto the rim of the bike wheel I needed it on. And then, of course Murphy's Law came into play, after all that trouble I managed to damage the inner tube and it now has a slow leak. Lesson learned, wire bead tires for me from now on.

Maybe try TUBULARS.
😏

Your comment had me puzzled, and I'm like, "what am I missing?". Scrolled back through much earlier posts in this thread and you know, prior to browsing through the thread a bit more, well I honestly thought tubular tires were the floppy, non-wire bead, type.. But now I'm looking through this, and can safely attest that I have never seen one of these funky looking tire-tube combo "tubular tire" affairs in person in my entire life.

Hey, no charge for the lesson!

Yeah, I’ve dealt with bike shop employees who were unfamiliar with tubulars too.

I have to laugh.
True story -
Was in a rather large, familiar bike shop a few months back and noticed a new poster w/ a lot of writing on the walls (at eye level) in several spots - two in the tire section. It was a detailed poster showing (almost) all the tire sizes and the various nomenclatures for each. Only a couple of images for reference.
Upon checking out I said to the store-manager-looking-guy, "Thanks for trying to keep all us dumb customers clear about the tire sizes we need?" He replied, "Training tool for new employees!" He paused, then mumbled audibly, "and translation guide for the experienced ones." I could only chuckle and reply, "me too, thankfully tubulars are one diameter". Then he said, "We need a bigger one (chart) for wheels and all brake combos".

I had to put my clincher wheels on the vintage bike last week after this terminal tire cut. I've got a half-dozen nice tubulars hanging in the garage but I'm about ready to switch to my summer bike and hang this one up for the season.
Latex tube, slow leak, Stan's didn't stop it.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RX...I=w768-h932-no

Last year I spotted a set of mid-90s Mavic Cosmic wheels on CL (8-10 speed freehub). While not vintage they'd make a nice upgrade for my '93 R500 Cannondale and the price was less than $100. I couldn't tell from the picture as to whether they were clinchers or tubulars, so I asked in an email, "Are the rims for clincher tires or tubular tires?" The answer came back, "I used these on my Tri-Bike and they are tubulars."

So I drove the 1.5 hours to pick them up, excited that I found such a nice set of modern tubular wheels for my C-Dale! As soon as the seller brought them out from the garage, and without me even holding them, I said, politely, "Wow! Those are nice looking wheels, but those are clincher rims with clincher tires." The owner, who was a professor at a nearby state university, assured me, "Oh, no! This is a tubular wheelset. One of the best you could buy in the 90s!"

Well, I bought them anyway. For $75 I felt it was a good purchase. I departed without deflating the tire to reveal the bead nor did I pull up an image of tubular on my phone. The good professor continues to live in his tubular ignorance! :innocent:

Well, that really is tutally tobuler.

I loved the "TUBES" Smash or Trash Album circa 82 maybe........

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...72eb63608.jpeg
This little tool is super handy

Yes it is. But it still doesn't allow a 700C tire to be mounted onto a 27" rim.

He probably thought you were asking whether or not they were tubeless.

Maybe!

If I can't fit or remove a tire with my hands and a basic lever, then that tire or rim will be gone before the bike's next ride. I can't be fished into having a tool for every non-toleranced component. If my finger/hand strength fails me, then OK. and thanks for the recommendation.

this is a clincher tire tool, another very good reason for tubulars!!! :)

There be some superb "toleranced" tires which are tight on some superb "toleranced" rims. The tires eventually loosen up to what some people would consider normal, but even so, a tool like that is a wonderful thing to have handy. Plus they make pinch flats from tire irons nearly non-existent.

I can buy into everything you say - but to what good purpose? Making ill-fitting combinations of tires& rims fit? Balderdash!!! :mad:

Find me a proper fitting tire for this rim/wheelset. Please! A sturdy, touring rim. Maybe this 700c DOES fit 27” tires. Haven’t tried that.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5258925cc.jpeg

had those rims on the torpado i used to have..... diidn't have any problems with 700c tires.....don't remember brand/model..... but I have had tires that took a tire jack to get on.....if that happens, let them sit for a few days and then do a simulated flat on the road and if I can't get them off easily, then put differnt tires on

...but, but, but.....

this is the Totally Tubular thread. ;) :thumb:
I see no further point in clincher problem-fixing with kludge (but effective) solutions. :D

Yeah, and now it's a sticky thread too!

BTW, tubulars fit just fine on 700c clincher rims for stretching purposes. I don't keep my worn out tubular rims but I always have a spare clincher wheel hanging from the rafters for stretching tubulars, and clinchers, and for QC on patched tubes.

Good point, never tried it though because I've always had a spare tubular rim sitting around.

Tubulars fit on a 700c clincher rim well enough to ride when the situation requires it. I mentioned this in a different thread (I think) a few years ago, but I'll mention it again. I was commuting home one afternoon and came upon another cyclist stopped with a flat on the rear. He was trying to flag down a car but it was a bad location where, to put it mildly, ain't nobody gonna' stop there. He had no spare or patch kit, apparently had considered neither the possibility of a flat nor many of the other practicalities of riding. He was hoping to get to a bike shop just a few miles away, an easy ride and mostly significantly downhill. I had a spare tubular so I mounted in on his clincher rim, pumped it up to a reasonable pressure, warned him not to corner or brake too hard, and followed him to the bike shop where he gave me my tire back. Since then I've usually carried a patch kit on my tubular-tired bikes. It's kinda' like carrying a flashlight on a sunny day but you never know when you might meet someone who's still in the dark.

I've also used a tubular tire on a clincher rim in an emergency to get me to a bicycle shop. I've done that when the clincher tire was too badly damaged to use safely even with a boot.

Cheers