Can't get tyre on / Tight rim

Has anyone tried just putting the tyres next to a radiator before you put them on? Also leaving a tube inflated inside a tyre for a while or using washing up liquid. I used to have a trials motorbike and if you think bike tyres are hard you should try changing them.
Regardless, ambient temp makes a big difference to how easy it is to put tyres on.

Do you do motorbike tyres with your hands?

Pretty much. 8" steel levers and some stout boots. You can't use the machines because the rims are too narrow / have tubes. The wheels have tyre locks too. I've had punctures during competitions and had to change them in sleet / snow - f***ing nightmare.

By hands I meant, without levers, ie. just your hands. I try and avoid tyre levers if possible. I didn't think you'd be doing that with a moto tyre :)

tight rims you say, I would suggest:

I use some thin oil or soap water on the tyre bead in such cases..

Back in Straaaya I saw old Eric the swiss dude change a car tyre with levers and a mallet about as fast as a tyre machine. After seeing that I am convinced it's all in the technique.

I asked him how he got to know how to do it and he told me that he used to run a workshop in Onslow, Nth WA in the 60's. He'd have to travel out to stranded cars and trucks and get them going again, often he was there only hope the drivers would have of actually getting out of there.

How in the name of all thats unholy do you get a zaffiro pro back onto a dp18. My fingers are bleeding but that last bit of bead wont budge an inch!

have you let all the air out?

yeah, just cant for the life of me get that last bit of bead to budge even the slightest

have you let all the air out?

oof!

I use HTFU ...

^I seem to be lacking severely in the htfu department

tight rims you say, I would suggest:

Fixed

yeah, just cant for the life of me get that last bit of bead to budge even the slightest

I used to have this on a previous set-up... Stick a plastic lever up into the middle of the gap with the 'claw' on the rim, slide it as far to one side as you can, lift up the lever and hopefully it'll ping into place... (you've probably tried this though)

Just seen this thread over at yacf. May be useful.

Sorry to drag this thread up, but it's taken me forever to get some Conti Super Sports onto some rims.

I ended up using the technique in the thread above, but did it off the edge of my stairs so I could lever it down better.

Thought that might help someone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4&feature=player_embedded

all the detail you need to know about tight tyres, marathon being one of the worst, just ask Ed, he learnt the hard way.

^^ used that method to fit Randonneurs, which are just about as bad as MP's, worked a treat, didn't need levers (or the toe straps mentioned in the vid).

Never knew about that technique, cheers Dylan.

^^ That's what I was shown by Chris at cycleactive, and what I now teach the kids in the schools where I teach puncture repair. Mostly no need for toe straps, just patience and the knack. Really hard to explain in writing, so this video is excellent resource. Thanks for posting it up Dylan.

Has anyone tried just putting the tyres next to a radiator before you put them on? Also leaving a tube inflated inside a tyre for a while or using washing up liquid. I used to have a trials motorbike and if you think bike tyres are hard you should try changing them.

Regardless, ambient temp makes a big difference to how easy it is to put tyres on.

Oh yeah had a honda 125 mx bike myself, the 21 at the front was okay, but the 18 on the back, fuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

Epic bedwetting thread

Feel like a right pansy posting in this thread again (dont think Ill ever be able to look Nhatt in the eye again hehe) but the problem persists.
Just bought a set of ultra gators to replace my worn out vittorias but cannot for the life of me get them on my damn rims. Anyone got any tips for stopping the damn things unseating themselves?

Man up?

Joke.

Have you watched the video above? The tip about getting the tyre bead to sit in the rim bed is one it sounds like you need to learn.

God, the older I get the more I appreciate tight rimming.

Ill be the first to admit Im lacking in the htfu department but this is doing my head in. Id given up due to more pressing matters before Christmas but even now that Im back with a vengeance I still cant get the fuckers on! Ive zip tied them on like in the video but somehow they still just keep unseating themselves. If I push one bit it, it just unseats further around.
Should I ring ed for help?