Anyone else struggling to fit 29" tyres?

[timolloyd]

I've just spent the best part of two hours trying to remove a 29" tyre from my 2014 Mondraker. Its running tubeless ready rims but with inner tubes and cheap Kenda tyres. The tyres are an incredibly tight fit on the rim to the extent that I have started damaging the rims trying to extract one bead/one side of the tyre. Having eventually removed the tyre its proving equally difficult to refit it.

Is this a common problem? I've read about people using soapy water, but that's no good if I get a puncture out on the trail.

Is this a problem because I am running tubeless-ready rims with a deeper side wall, or would kevlar folding tyres be easier to fit?

Any advice gratefully received.

[Justin S]

Some tyres and rims don't work that well together. Contis are a tight tyre and also Stans rims can be a sod. Mate has Stans rims and with Schwalbe tyres were a nightmare. We spent hours getting them on. They have stretched a bit now and he can get them off easier. Stans rims have a very small 'well' area in the middle of the rim, so making them hard.

[Kermit power]

If you've got tubeless ready rims, is there a reason you're not runnning tubeless?

It's pretty easy to make the change, and once you have, the risk of having a puncture to worry about on the trails will drop like a stone! In fact, short of ripping a tyre - which would leave me equally buggered even if I had tubes in - I can't really imagine anything going wrong with mine.

Needless to say, I will now puncture multiple times when I get out on Friday evening!!!

[tjdixon911]

I find this sometimes running Stans Rims and Racing Ralphs - I've had a fairly knackered tyre on up until the weekend so have been running tubes and although it didn't puncture till recently I had a lot of trouble getting the tyre back on after fitting a new tube (nipping and splitting the first tube) - I found (after a bit of frustration) that the tyre went back on easier if I released both sides from the bead (so the tyre is as loose as possible) - could pretty much get it back on with my hands alone.

This worked well again Saturday when I finally changed the tyre for a new one - The only problem I have now is I have gone Tubeless again and its not holding air - I cant hear any air coming out anywhere or see signs of leaking sealant - I've only done the change and put the bike away, so I'm thinking that taking it for a ride may get the Sealant distributed and seal whatever small hole/leakage points remaining - does this seem right / make sense?

[Kermit power]

You should be able to find where it's leaking with soapy water. Remember that you need to make sure the tape is sealed as well as the tyre, so it could be coming out of spoke holes as well. Also check that the valve is seated tightly enough.

[walm]

A bit late to this but I thought I was a genius at changing tyres with just my hands.
Then some Conti Gatorskins made me think twice.

The trick that saved me is to get AS MUCH AS YOU CAN of the tyre sat right in the middle of the rim.

The position the "2" is pointing at in this diagram (they tyre is underneath in case it isn't obvious!).


Obviously the radius of the rim at point 2 is FAR SMALLER than at point 4 (which is where I used to put the edge of the tyre when fitting).
So you give yourself far more room and tyres pop on VERY easily.
Don't worry about getting it back to position 4 - it will naturally shift there as you pump it up.
Just my 2p.

[timolloyd]

Thanks Walm, great advice. I'll give this a go.

The bike was supplied with tubes, but the rims are tubeless ready. I've only had the bike a few months, and to be honest, many of my local trails are so flinty that I'm concerned about slashing open a tubeless tyre.

[Kermit power]

timolloyd said:

Thanks Walm, great advice. I'll give this a go.

The bike was supplied with tubes, but the rims are tubeless ready. I've only had the bike a few months, and to be honest, many of my local trails are so flinty that I'm concerned about slashing open a tubeless tyre.

Surely you'd be just as likely to slash open a tubed tyre?

I do carry a tube with me just in case l get a puncture that doesn't seal, but either was you're then going to be in limp home mode.

[Steve_F]

Not much point carrying a tube if you struggle to get the tyre on at home! Always forget the difficultly getting them on until I have to get them back off trail side with cold, wet hands and tyre levers that are guaranteed to break...

[Kermit power]

Steve_F said:

Not much point carrying a tube if you struggle to get the tyre on at home! Always forget the difficultly getting them on until I have to get them back off trail side with cold, wet hands and tyre levers that are guaranteed to break...

I think it helps if you also ride road bikes. The tightest MTB tyres I've ever come across are simple compared to most road tyres!

[timolloyd]

Had another attempt, taking in all of your advice, and while I managed to (eventually) seat the tyre on the rim, I also pinched the tube and ruined it.
I now have to repeat the painful process of pulling the tyre off the rim again.
I don't intend to refit it, but am considering some folding tyres - Continentals or similar. Not cheap, but I'm assuming they'll be easier to fit?

[richardxjr]

Just go tubeless.

[walm]

timolloyd said:

Had another attempt, taking in all of your advice, and while I managed to (eventually) seat the tyre on the rim, I also pinched the tube and ruined it.

Popping it on with your hands should make it impossible to pinch the tube but some tyres are just utter b@stards.
I am sure a different brand will be easier and yes, folders do seem a little more flexible IME.