Can't get tyre on / Tight rim

There's nothing wrong with Velocity rims. They are built for real men though so clearly Europeans will struggle. Rubinos on Campag rims are a pretty toight fit.. work those thumbs bitches!

Don't be tempted by Continentals. If Vittorias are tight then you've a snowball's chance in hell of getting a Continental on.

Michelins are usually pretty easy to get on most rims.

but different batches/models of tyre can vary even from the same manufacturer.
i have some GP4000s that go on easy but some grand-prix's that are a pain

If I have a stubborn tyre (Armadillo) I'm trying to get on, I stand the wheel up, make sure the seated part of the tyre is on the floor and gently stand on the rim. This (should) force the beading into the deeper part of the rim, meaning you'll have more of the tyre to play with at the opposite end.

If that doesn't work, then maybe use a bit of Talc or get Edscoble to help you.

I use washing up liquid.

Dog the warcry tip

Yes, Continentals were hard to put on for me too.
But they were the Ultrasport and made in Taiwan. Oriental products often come in smaller sizes*

*) racist

Today I came across a combo that is proper crap.

Grande Compe SS on Campag Vento.
Not only is it a shit combo for looks and performance, but I think its pipped the 650c gatorskin on any rim for being stooooopid tight.

fairy.

Ha. Yes.

I meant the washing up liquid. I always use it to put my gatorskins on the REMRX rims. Pretty much the only way I can get them on tbh.

Campag strikes back.

Anyone tried these Var levers:

"Often refered to as a "bead jack" tyre lever, this is the answer to people who find getting tyres on and off a pain, especialy useful for tight beaded tyres or rims which have been made slightly oversize."

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/viewindex.asp?article_id=VarTyreLeverReviewCTC

http://www.sjscycles.com/Instructions/VAR/VAR_Tyre_Lever_Instructions.pdf

Sausage fingers!

I have long proportioned fingers thankyou. The camera adds ten pounds..

The high density of British air also ads pounds to mine. In reality I'm well chiseled.

Are you using any tyre levers, Hippy, or going for the hard, but safe on inner tubes way?

Tyre levers? What the fuck are they? How do you think I peeled half my little finger off?
Bloody John double punctured and couldn't get his tyres off so I did it.
Bladed spokes + fingers at speed = skin peeling. :)

Campag strikes back.

What the fuck did you post that on here for? Sympathy?

HTFU straaaalya

Tyre levers? What the fuck are they? How do you think I peeled half my little finger off?

I've managed to scrape my knuckles when taking off those Ultrasport tyres with levers.
Vittorias were always fitted with my porky fingers alone.

Hippy

Can your fingers move with speed? Perhaps you'd be better suited to tiddlywinks.

now I know this is setting myself up for standard lfgss banter but this is really annoying me now.....

My tyres are literally so so hard to take off and put on (700c) it normally takes two people to do it (one to hold one tyre lever while the other to almost wrench the tyre round with the other). There's hardly any space to put a second lever in as the tyre is so tight to the rim(so forcefully that it tends to scratch my deep v)....nothing like ive ever had on any fixed bike. Even when I very first time i put a tyre on that rim me and the guy in the shop had a 10 minute battle with it.

any magic tips to help or suggestions as to why this may be?

I have Vittoria Rubino Pros on Campagnolo Scirocco rims and they are pretty much the same to get on and off. I wear safety glasses to protect me from flying tyre levers and the kids wear ear defenders to protect them from flying profanities.
The problem I believe is the solid rim tape which stops the tyre going deep enough into the rim on the side opposite where you are trying to lever it off and so keeps the tyre tight on the rim.

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

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.

What the fuck did you post that on here for? Sympathy?
HTFU straaaalya

What's that princess? Bee Wasp in your bonnet?

Does it look like I'm looking for sympathy? I was looking for a beer for fixing John's double puncture.. weak Englishmen.

Hippy
Can your fingers move with speed? Perhaps you'd be better suited to tiddlywinks.

All the better to poke eyes out with. Perhaps you'd be better suited to a tandem tricycle and cycle trainer on contract?