Modern tyre for a Spinergy Rev-X Rox?

[dinozoiks]

This is driving me nuts. Nothing seems to fit. Looking for some new tyres and having a right mare finding something that fits. All are too tight. Tried:

Panaracer FireXCpro (foldable)
Onza Porcupine (foldable)
Maxxis Minion DHF (steel bead)
Schwalbe Billy Bonkers (steel bead)

Been changing tyres for 45 years, worked in a bike shop, I know all the tricks, have all the kit blah blah blah… literally, the beads are too heckin’ tight.

The only one I managed to get on (one side) was the Panaracer. And it’s so tight, it will only sit in the middle of the rim. No chance of it getting anywhere near the side of the rim with a tube in place, and honestly no idea how I’m getting it off as I can’t get a lever under the bead now (I used a KoolStop bead jack to get it on and even that was a struggle).

Tried an old IRC Mythos SXC, went on just about fine. Is this a new “tyre/needs to work tubeless” tolerance thing?

So, any Spinergy owners got any suggestions for modern rubber that fits a Spinergy? #FirstWorldProbs

Not a great photo but it’s a pic of the bead, tightly gripping to the rim tape. Won’t move left or right.

 

[vtwinvince]

I have this problem with a set of Mavic Aksiums, 700C, where literally if I get a flat, I'm hooped.

 

[Nothin-fancy]

I had this problem on a few rims back in the day. If I remember correctly they were the 700c Ambrosio Super Elite 19 rims. I don't know the reason why but putting a thinner (both thickness and width) rim strip on them helped. They were still metal tire removers only. But at least I could get them on and off without dish soap or inventing new curse words.

 

[Corduroyboy]

Are you sure it is 26" and not 650c? 26" MTB is 559mm bead diameter but 650c is 571mm. Can't tell 'em apart by eye but try to put a 26" MTB tyre on a 650c rim and...

 

[dinozoiks]

Are you sure it is 26" and not 650c? 26" MTB is 559mm bead diameter but 650c is 571mm. Can't tell 'em apart by eye but try to put a 26" MTB tyre on and...

Yeah, deffo 26”. Was way before the whole 27.5 / 650b(c) / 29” mountain bike shenanigans started. Thinking of heading over to my LBS and asking if I can hang out by the bins, trying a bunch of discarded tyres until I find one that fits. Kinda like Cinderella, but tyres.

 

[Corduroyboy]

650c has been around since the late 80s. A lot of time trial and triathlon bikes used this size. And I've seen a good number of Spinergy Rev-X Rox in this size too (though admittedly a lot of them also happen to be tubular). If you can accurately measure the circumference of where the tyre bead should sit (using some inextensible string, for example) and thern divide that by 3.14, you'll have a good idea of whether you have got 26" MTB or 650c.

 

[retrobate]

I was also going to mention the 650c possibility but Corduroyboy got there 1st.

Why not try without the rim tape installed, if I remember correctly you don't need it on those wheels.

---

 

[dinozoiks]

Please hold caller… <random workshop noises>

 

[dinozoiks]

Yep, it’s 26” alright. Measured the bead seat diameter across the whee to be 561 (2mm away from the 26” 559BSD). Then got a cat5 cable and measured the bead circumstance at 176.5, did the maths and got 561.8. Close enough. So double-confirmed it’s 26”.

Also had a fiddle with the rim tape. To be fair, the beat has a world of pain just getting over the rim wall. And when I did finally get one side “seated” it was in the trough of the rim profile and no chance of getting anywhere near the rim wall, let alone up to the bead seat level. So rim tape doesn’t seem to factor into this conundrum.

So… we’re back to square one, back to the “comfy-fitting tyre” question...

 

[ishaw]

Can't help with a loose fitting tyre, that said I've not had any problems with tyres from schwalbe on any runs (racing Ralph, Nobby nic mostly, and Kevlar bead).

I have always found continental tyres to be quite a tight fit and recently had a ball ache of a time fitting some schwalbe magic Mary's to a set of Mavic rims.

I have seen some for sale threads recently listing tyres that are loose fitting, suitable for garage queens only. Maybe this is your goldmine for tyres that will work on your wheels?

I have to say that in one of your pics a 26 inch tyre looks so tight with just one bead over the rim that it does make me think they aren't 26 but you've done the maths so they must be.