What's the most difficult tire you ever had to take on/off a rim?
08-14-20, 06:05 AM
#1
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What's the most difficult tire you ever had to take on/off a rim?
For me recently, it's these Panaracer Fire XC Pro 26's. After fighting with one for a long time, I ended up with a pinched tube and a slow leak. Taking it off and putting it back on with a new tube was just two more nightmares. If it had leaked again, I swear I would have taken the wheel to a bike shop.
08-14-20, 07:14 AM
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Had a bike with probably 20 year old wire bead tires that had never been removed.
Ended up using a pair of tin snips on that one.
Ended up using a pair of tin snips on that one.
08-14-20, 07:16 AM
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Buy a bead jack for home use and you'll only have to worry about it when you are out riding and flat in 100 degree heat or freezing sleet....
08-14-20, 07:27 AM
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Michelin on Mavic Aksium rim. About 10 yrs ago. Now I run tubeless
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08-14-20, 07:28 AM
#5
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Schwalbe Winter Marathons
Schwalbe Winter Marathons are the worst for me. The regular Marathon Pluses are a bear, but when you add the studs into the mix, trying to mount the tires is truly awful. I save my hands and let the LBS take them on and off each year now -- one of the ways I pamper myself now that I'm 72.
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08-14-20, 09:54 AM
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Foldable Conti Gatorskin 700x28
But I finally got her on once I learned to use soapy water. Never needed it on any tire before, but what a difference it made!
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08-14-20, 10:00 AM
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The 14" (IIRC) Cheng-Shin rear tire on my 1978 YZ80 that I had when I was a kid. It took soap and water, several tire tools and a couple of grown men. Those old Cheng-Shin tires were often discussed around camp fires back in the day. It's why I won't run Maxxis bicycle tires today. 
08-14-20, 10:21 AM
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I have a set of 26" Ritchey WCS semi slicks that break tire levers every time I try to get them off. I got them out of a bargain bin at a bike shop and I think they may have been irregulars.
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08-14-20, 11:10 AM
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Panaracer Gravelking SKs. But once on, they were easy to make a tubeless seal, and held air very well. Added air about once a week.
08-14-20, 11:16 AM
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Continental 5000s on Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3s. If I ever flat on the road, I will have to make a phone call. I like to have never got them mounted.
08-14-20, 11:30 AM
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Specialized Armadillos.
Runner up... nearly any 2.1" tire on my Matrix Mt. Titan rims.
John
Runner up... nearly any 2.1" tire on my Matrix Mt. Titan rims.
John
08-14-20, 12:17 PM
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I don't know about the tire but I'm thinking it was probably a Rhyno Lite rim.
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08-14-20, 03:36 PM
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Continental Touring IIs. And Continental Touring Pluses.
08-14-20, 03:41 PM
#15
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Tubeless ready Ice Spiker Pro on a tubeless rim, super tight, always a struggle. I don't use tubeless just happened to buy both separately on sale.
08-14-20, 03:44 PM
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Brand new Conti anythings on a Fulcrum rim. Nowadays I mount them on Velocity rims and run them a few rides first, then swap them onto the Fulcrums.
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08-14-20, 03:49 PM
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Nokian Extreme 294 winter studded tires and Alex rims. This particular combo was absolutely brutal, I don't know if it was because of the tire or the rim or both.
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08-14-20, 03:53 PM
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For me recently, it's these Panaracer Fire XC Pro 26's. After fighting with one for a long time, I ended up with a pinched tube and a slow leak. Taking it off and putting it back on with a new tube was just two more nightmares. If it had leaked again, I swear I would have taken the wheel to a bike shop.
08-14-20, 04:00 PM
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Michelin ProRace 3 on Campy Proton rim. Normal tire levers. Ugh. Broke a couple (resin) levers. Never tried other solutions (tire jack? what's that? have to look into it).
Was most trouble when tires were new, bead loosened a bit after riding for a while, but were still a bear.
Was most trouble when tires were new, bead loosened a bit after riding for a while, but were still a bear.
08-14-20, 05:44 PM
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My spouse has a Surly with 650b tubeless-ready rims. So far, all tires have been hard to get on and off that bike. We returned a pair of Rene Herse because we literally could not mount them. If she gets a flat, it's call-of-shame time because her hands aren't strong enough.
There are certain "advances" in bike technology that may have some esoteric benefit for competitive riders, but are a step backwards for "regular" cyclists.
There are certain "advances" in bike technology that may have some esoteric benefit for competitive riders, but are a step backwards for "regular" cyclists.
08-14-20, 05:48 PM
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I think Conti just makes it difficult to prove some kind of point.
08-14-20, 05:55 PM
#22
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Conti Gator Hardshell on Campy Proton. Never again. Second hardest is the new Veloflex Corsa Evo but it was worth the effort.
Easiest by far are Pirelli P Zero Velo. They go on so easy you wonder if something is wrong.
Easiest by far are Pirelli P Zero Velo. They go on so easy you wonder if something is wrong.
08-14-20, 06:25 PM
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Hands down, it isn't even close. Vittoria Zaffiro 2. I could not get them mounted. I tossed them. Other tires went on the same rims without much difficulty. I was NOT singing Amazing Grace during that wrestling match.
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08-14-20, 06:34 PM
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08-14-20, 06:40 PM
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Another one for Nokian Extreme 294 winter tires. I'm pretty sure I broke a set of Park Tools levers when those puppies were fresh.
