Ok- here’s my problem- I got a pair of Vittoria Open Corsa EVO CXs. I’m trying to mount them on my 404 clinchers. It is very tight. I know I’m not supposed to be using a lever to mount them, but there is no way in hell I could get this tire on using my hands. I can barely get it on with the lever. I actually have to slide the lever up under the last part of the tire that’s not yet mounted until I hear the lever hook on the rim and then pry it on. This has resulted in punturing several tubes with the lever so that they won’t hold air once I finally get the tire on. It’s extremely frustrating. I need to figure out how to get the tube back into the rim so I can lever the tire w/o puncturing it. I put a little air in the tube prior. Maybe I need to put more?
I didn’t have this problem with the Michelin PR2s that I used to use. Other than that obvious solution, any tips or tricks that will allow me to use the Vittorias? BTW, I got one mounted, but the second one is a bitch.
most good new clinchers with a decent bead take a while to stretch out. this thing will save your life, buy one immediately.
it’s a Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack. Amazing.
throw the tire in the dryer for a few minutes to warm it up. That could help
Otherwise, grab a 12 pack of beer, sit down and man up. Certain tires on certain rims are just hard to put on. Put two zipps and two corsa’s side by side, one might slide on easy, the next might take heroic amounts of force to get mounted. You just got one of the Corsa’s that’s hard to put on. If you had bought the one right behind it at the LBS it would probably not be an issue
Where did you get the idea you couldn’t use a tire lever? I use the Park Tools blue ones as they are the only plastic ones I’ve not managed to break while mounting tires.
Also check that you have the proper rim tape installed. using cotton tape makes it a lot harder because it is so thick.
throw the tire in the dryer for a few minutes to warm it up. That could help
Otherwise, grab a 12 pack of beer, sit down and man up. Certain tires on certain rims are just hard to put on. Put two zipps and two corsa’s side by side, one might slide on easy, the next might take heroic amounts of force to get mounted. You just got one of the Corsa’s that’s hard to put on. If you had bought the one right behind it at the LBS it would probably not be an issue
Good luck
Yeah, I was sweating and cursing up a storm last night. Good thing I didn’t have a 12 pack available or I might have thrown the whole thing through my garage window.
Where did you get the idea you couldn’t use a tire lever? I use the Park Tools blue ones as they are the only plastic ones I’ve not managed to break while mounting tires.
Also check that you have the proper rim tape installed. using cotton tape makes it a lot harder because it is so thick.
Well, I have other rims that I can get a tire on just using my thumbs, which I assumed would be the preferred method. Actually, I have a heavy duty lever/ tire jack tool that goes back to my Spinergy Rev X days. I snapped a couple of standard levers getting this tire off.
Dish soap on the bead. Zipp/Sram rims are a real pain on which to mount tires, especially new ones. Once my GP4000s tires were mounted for a few weeks, they came on and off more easily.
Yeah, I was sweating and cursing up a storm last night. Good thing I didn’t have a 12 pack available or I might have thrown the whole thing through my garage window.
Yup, that would be me. . . LOL
I run Vittorias on my Zipp CSCs, and I’ve come to expect a nightmare. After you mount the tire for the first time, though, it isn’t too bad. I bought Zipp’s narrow rim tape to replace my regular stuff, which seems to help a bit (especially once the tire stretches some). For $6 it wouldn’t hurt.
the dryer might be a bit much, but i will lay new tires in my driveway in direct sun for 10-15 mins before i put them on. makes them a bit more pliable. good luck!
I used tire levers to install both a set of vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks and Maxxis Re-Fuse to HED Jet 9s. I will say that you need to be careful using the levers as I punctured two tubes being sloppy (I had a 12 pack of Pabst in me…).
have the exact same tires and yes, they are a pain in the ass to get on zipps. I threw them in the dryer, used a blow dryer, etc. and my hands still ended up near raw after the ordeal. At first, I was being gentle with the tire lever until I got to the point of taking it personally. Once I showed it who was boss, it popped on. Never had a problem with puncturing the tube though. I have a 1080 that’s collecting dust cause I just am not looking forward to putting the tire on it.
most good new clinchers with a decent bead take a while to stretch out. this thing will save your life, buy one immediately.
it’s a Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack. Amazing.
X2 on the Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack. Works perfectly with zero risk of puncturing tubes. Well worth it compared to the time spent sweating and cursing while trying to get a tight tire on a rim.
or something like windex, which is what i use. it’s to make both the tire rim and tube underneath very willing to move and slip-slide into place, with no pinching of the tube.
per your own note on levers: i can’t imagine trying to wrestle just any tire on without them. there seems to be a huge variety of tire-to-rim fits, often leading to—well----fits. i’m definitely an advocate of easing mood and effort by using tire levers and windex.
peggy
most good new clinchers with a decent bead take a while to stretch out. this thing will save your life, buy one immediately.
it’s a Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack. Amazing.
X2 on this. I just got one (via amazon.com) the other day. It is awesome!
+whatever on the tire bead jack. Can’t believe I went so long without one. Before, I would always end up pinching the tube if I tried to use regular tire levers to mount a tight tire.
Now, someone needs to make a smaller tire bead jack that fits in your seat bag…
Thanks for the tips, everybody. Looks like I need to get a new tool or a 12 pack and HTFU. Hmmm…
Actually, I have a tool similar to that laying around that I had forgotten about and need to find. It sits on the opposite side of the rim for leverage and then hooks under the tire bead and you sort of wiggle (actually a wiggle of heroic proportions) the tire over the bead. I got it for installing tires on Spinergy wheels way back when.
