Fixing a flat

gashad said:

Hey,
For SOME rims/wheels, I have a lot of difficulty taking off & putting on a tire from a rim. Many times I can just take a wheel off the rim using my hands w/out tire levers... but once in a while, I have a really hard time taking the wheel off/on. It seems to happen the most on high-preassure (road) tires.

I am always afraid that I'm going to bend the rim or destroy the tire itself... any suggustions?

Thanks,
Pete

PS: right now I'm trying to put on a 27x1.25 tire on a 27" rim... I can get all of it except for a few inches that stick over the wall of the rim

Tire levers?

RWillieK said:

Tire levers?

Tire levers are sold in US bike shops as an aid to getting tires on and off. They're typically plastic levers 4 inches (10 cm) long with a smooth edged
prying surface on one end and a hook to go through the spokes on the other.

Responding to the original question: Just go ahead and use the tire levers. Some tires are just hard to get on, and you can either spend money hunting around for some that are easier, or use levers. I know they're frowned on by purists but the hell with it. I've used them for 20 years or more. So long as you don't pinch the tube with them, you're OK.

I had lots of trouble with this. I could always do the job but it was always pretty hard (with cussing and swearing).
A bike mechanic set me straight on the best method. What you do is slip the first tyre rim around the wheel without the tube. Just put the tyre on first on one side of the wheel rim. Then take the tube, thread the valve into the vale-hole and begin tucking the inner tube into the tyre, (where there's a gap) keeping it evenly placed. After this, simply pull the other side of the tyre around the other wheel rim. As the gap closes it will get harder but you shouldn't need much strength to fully close the gap. Presto! P.S. it helps to put a little air in the tube when you start tucking it inside the tyre but not too much.
Use levers to get the tyre off but plastic is better. Or use spoon edges, insulated with masking tape to get rid of the sharpness. Wedge one spoon and leave it in place. Move up a few inches with another spoon and pull outwards. You should get a chucnk of tyre off. Then just use your fingers.

gashad said:

Hey,
For SOME rims/wheels, I have a lot of difficulty taking off & putting on a tire from a rim. Many times I can just take a wheel off the rim using my hands w/out tire levers... but once in a while, I have a really hard time taking the wheel off/on. It seems to happen the most on high-preassure (road) tires.

I am always afraid that I'm going to bend the rim or destroy the tire itself... any suggustions?

Thanks,
Pete

PS: right now I'm trying to put on a 27x1.25 tire on a 27" rim... I can get all of it except for a few inches that stick over the wall of the rim

Thanks for the suggustions. I destroyed 3 crappy tire levers putting on the wheel & bent up a good tire lever. I'm just glad that I was trying to do this in the comfort of my own home... I couldn't imagine getting stuck somewhere outside this winter when it's snowing & 0 (c) outside, fumbling around with my tire for 30+ min

Do most bike shops sell tire spoons? I haven't found any at my local shop, should I just go look online somewhere?

Thanks,
Pete

gashad said:

Thanks for the suggustions. I destroyed 3 crappy tire levers putting on the wheel & bent up a good tire lever. I'm just glad that I was trying to do this in the comfort of my own home... I couldn't imagine getting stuck somewhere outside this winter when it's snowing & 0 (c) outside, fumbling around with my tire for 30+ min

Do most bike shops sell tire spoons? I haven't found any at my local shop, should I just go look online somewhere?

Thanks,
Pete

if you bent the lever, it couldn't have been too good, eh? never had a problem with those little plastic tirelevers that snap together in a set of 3. just get the tire bead close to the end of the lever so you get more, umm, leverage . . .

and i think he was talking about kitchen spoons as a substitute for tire levers!

I just took a tire changing course at my LBS on Monday night. There is a great tool called "speed lever" that makes this a no brainer. It is made by a company called crank brothers.

crankbrothers.comcrankbrothers.comOpen ↗

drewski said:

if you bent the lever, it couldn't have been too good, eh? never had a problem with those little plastic tirelevers that snap together in a set of 3. just get the tire bead close to the end of the lever so you get more, umm, leverage . . .

and i think he was talking about kitchen spoons as a substitute for tire levers!

the set of 3 levers that I bent are REALLY crappy Bell levers that came in a $4.00 "Delux tube repair kit" that was a waste of money.

and I doubt he/she was talking about kitchen spoons. I know for a fact that tire spoons are used for removing automobile wheels... I've heard they are made for bicycles too, but this hasn't been confirmed.
Check out tire spoons at:
automotive-tools-part.comKenToolTireSpoonsOnePair16in.htmlOpen ↗

I might have to check out the crank bros tire levers.. I have some crankbros eggbeaters, one of the best pedals in existence! 🙂

gashad said:

the set of 3 levers that I bent are REALLY crappy Bell levers that came in a $4.00 "Delux tube repair kit" that was a waste of money.

and I doubt he/she was talking about kitchen spoons. I know for a fact that tire spoons are used for removing automobile wheels... I've heard they are made for bicycles too, but this hasn't been confirmed.
Check out tire spoons at:
automotive-tools-part.comKenToolTireSpoonsOnePair16in.htmlOpen ↗

I might have to check out the crank bros tire levers.. I have some crankbros eggbeaters, one of the best pedals in existence! 🙂

i stand corrected, i guess. good luck with your tire changes, with or without spoons!!! 😎

i've got the egg-beaters on my MTB and think they're great too.

gashad said:

I might have to check out the crank bros tire levers.. I have some crankbros eggbeaters, one of the best pedals in existence! 🙂

The crank brothers tool got the tire off or back on in less than 30 seconds each time. It was truly amazing to watch. The only secret is to only hold it and apply pressure at the end of the tool that inserts into the tire. If you attempt to rotate it around the rim and push from the middle of it while it is extended, it will snap in half.

I use the handle of an old toothbrush and it works perfectly for me!

Yes indeed! I was referring to kitchen spoons, folks.
I have usually been able to get a tube out with just the spoons but I think it's far safer to wrap some thick tape around the edge of the spoon, to be safe. This blunts the edge.
I'll repeat this again, seeing as I've had nightmare problems with this in the past - being stranded miles out at work with a flat and trying to fix punctures.
Take the wheel off the bike. Prize an insulated spoon under your tyre and wedge the other spoon end behind a spoke (hopefully it won't bend the spoke).
Take another spoon and prize the tyre out about 3 or 4 inches apart from where the first spoon is stuck. A few inches of tyre should now have come out from the wheel. At this point, try and grab the tyre edge with your fingers and slide your finger down the rim (it hurts a touch), pulling out more tyre (you may still need to use a spoon to lever a inch or two more). Once one side is off the rim, pull the tyre off.
Get your new tube out (after checking for thorns in the tyre).Thread one side of the tyre in one side only of the wheel but forget the tube for now. Now once one side of the tyre is threaded, tuck the tube in the gap that exists on the other (non-threaded side). Just find a gap and work your way pushing it in. Make sure you do it evenly and get the valve through the hole first. Finally start to push the tyre onto the rim on the other side of the wheel, bit by bit. You should need no lever at all if you have a good tyre.
P.S. continental tyres are very easy and require no finger strength to fit.
There are harder ways to fix tyres I used before but a bike mechanic showed me this far easier system. The only time I need levers is to get the tyre off, not on.

gashad said:

the set of 3 levers that I bent are REALLY crappy Bell levers that came in a $4.00 "Delux tube repair kit" that was a waste of money.

and I doubt he/she was talking about kitchen spoons. I know for a fact that tire spoons are used for removing automobile wheels... I've heard they are made for bicycles too, but this hasn't been confirmed.
Check out tire spoons at:
automotive-tools-part.comKenToolTireSpoonsOnePair16in.htmlOpen ↗

I might have to check out the crank bros tire levers.. I have some crankbros eggbeaters, one of the best pedals in existence! 🙂

Carrera has mentioned two important points.

Always check the inside of the tire for thorns, nails, glass, etc. as the new tube will be ruined the minute to attempt to inflate it if you don't.

Inflate the tube with just a little air before inserting it into the tire. It definitely goes in easier and helps to prevent the tube being wedged between the tire and the wheel rim once you add more air.

Usually I can get by just using my hands and man-handling the tire. However ya obviously levers work well. But for very tight fits I have learned that soapy, bubbly water is THE solution. I learned this from fixing a flat on my motorcycle.

gashad said:

Hey, For SOME rims/wheels, I have a lot of difficulty taking off & putting on a tire from a rim. Many times I can just take a wheel off the rim using my hands w/out tire levers... but once in a while, I have a really hard time taking the wheel off/on. It seems to happen the most on high-preassure (road) tires. I am always afraid that I'm going to bend the rim or destroy the tire itself... any suggustions? Thanks, Pete PS: right now I'm trying to put on a 27x1.25 tire on a 27" rim... I can get all of it except for a few inches that stick over the wall of the rim

I use the VAR tire jack. Try it, even the most difficult tire can be mounted. I pack it in my saddle bag...