Fapping Tyres

As summer is well and truley over I decided to change my tyres on my Caldera over from semi slicks to some Porc re issues.

Now I have been riding for the best part of 20 years in some form or another (I'm 27) and know how to change a tyre. But funk me............


This was the result of trying to fit the front tyre.....the levers are Park tools:



:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:


The rear tyre had to be fitted with this:




Much easier - doubt Mrs LMTTM would see it like that :roll:


Is it just me or have other folk experienced surch frustration?


I can absolutley add that this was not ham fisted Mark - he's reserved for special occassions!

Finished product;

You're not alone, I have one pair of slicks are an absolute arse to fit. Oddly enough one is worse than the other and I have one rim it just won't go on without serious effort, so I avoid that combination if I can.

Guess it shows that even tiny variations in manufacturing tolerances can make huge differences.

I've been using dessert spoons as tyre levers since I was about 8 or 9 when at home, it saves busted plastic ones and honestly, in 30 years I've never found a purpose made tool that works as well.

washing up liquid can help a bit .

cchris2lou":3pjp8vgc said:

washing up liquid can help a bit .

Click to expand...

Yup, works a treat

I wrecked 3 levers and 2 MILK LEVERS with some Schwarble tyres recently! 1hr to change 2 tyres :evil:

Pickle":1ii8lj1v said:

1hr to change 2 tyres :evil:

Click to expand...

Yep. that was about the time I spent too - Looked a mixture of these afterwards >>> :evil: :twisted: :shock:

without wanting to delve into the murky depths of a tyre lever conversation...

...i think park tyre levers are rubbish.

i use those old tricolor ones you got in bike shops in the 80's - much better.

retro down to the tyre levers.

The steel Park workshop items are excellent for really tough combinations. There's also a trick using a vice - not ideal for out on the trail/road though...

Can't remember the porcs being that tight when i fitted them :?
I did recently end with a huge blister on my thumb fitted some tyres to some stupidly tight rim though.

(i notice in your frustration, you didn't line up logos/valves)

P20":1bzq17vh said:

(i notice in your frustration, you didn't line up logos/valves)

Click to expand...

They are.....runs down stairs to check........

Rim sticker and tyre decal.

letmetalktomark":3h6ewyjl said:

P20":3h6ewyjl said:

(i notice in your frustration, you didn't line up logos/valves)

Click to expand...

They are.....runs down stairs to check........

Rim sticker and tyre decal.

Click to expand...

Lol. Fairs do's. What wheels are they?