What’s the secret to getting that “last” couple inches of tire over the rim? My fingers hurt!
- i try to roll with my palms more.
- are these new? the next time it will be much easier
- may want to try a thinner rim tape.
before you begin, assuming it’s a new tire, put some talcum powder on the inside of the tire. it makes it easier to slide on to the rim.
I dunno how the folks that know what they’re doing do it, but I was taught to put the heel of my palm against the sidewall where it hasn’t popped over the rim, wrap my fingers over the tread to the other side, and then roll the tire like I want to shove it all the way off the other side of the rim. The hand/wrist action is something like revving a motorcycle, only with both hands. It’s important to have something of a rolling motion to it, to keep from actually pushing the tire off the other side of the rim.
I find that wearing a pair of bike gloves helps.
All the tips above are good. I’ll just add a reminder to make sure all the air is out of the tube. It doesn’t take much at all to make it very hard or even impossible to get the tire on.
When you are doing the rolling with your palms motion described above,
keep in mind that you are actually working a little away from the last
few inches. If you just put your fingers or palms on the
last part off the rim, its very hard to get on. However, if you start
on either side once it gets hard and use both your palms to roll the
tire on either side as you work towards the middle, the last inch or
two will just pop on before you actually get there.
It’s a fact of life that some clincher tire/wheel combinations are a royal pain to get on the first time. I consider myself pretty good at this and I have one set of wheels that no matter what I do I have to use a tire lever the first time to get my preferred tire brand on. Of course using a lever dramatially increases your chance of pinching the tube and having to start all over so save that as a last resort.
Reverse the tire lever and use to pull the last part of the bead on. I’ve been doing it this way for 15+ years with no problems.
Thanks everyone. What kind/brand of tire lever do you use Spindogg ?
I’ve broken levers so I use a pretty burly one. I think they may be mtb bike levers, they are bit wider. Once you get to that last piece of tight bead to pull on you use the same end of the lever you normally use but use the other side—stick it up under the tight bead between the rim and torque it right on. It should snap right over the rim onto the wheel. Just be careful the lever doesn’t pinch the tube—it shouldn’t but be careful.
Try putting the tire out in the sun or inside a hot car in the sun (best) for a couple of hours. Using rubber kitchen gloves (tight fitting) also helps a lot with tough tire mounts.
(If its cold where you live I’ve heard of putting the tire in a clothes dryer for 10-15 minutes but I’ve never done this.)
All the tips above are good. I’ll just add a reminder to make sure all the air is out of the tube. It doesn’t take much at all to make it very hard or even impossible to get the tire on.
I’d actually suggest having a little air in the tube - as much as you can get in trying to inflate the tube orally. This dramatically decreases the likelihood that the tube will get pinched under the tire in the last few inches and cause a pucture as soon as you inflate it. it also holds the tube in place in the tire. I’ve found that talcing and orally inflating the tube before installing it makes life sooooo much easier.
Smear a little bit of ordinary dish soap on the bead. Works a treat!