Tip - fitting Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres

[noonoosdad]

I've just spent about an hour replacing my worn Maxxis Overdrive tyres with 2 x new brand spanking Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres.
I was warned that these tyres can be difficult to fit but managed to get them on okay.
The problem is that these tyres have quite a 'definate' beading and the trick seems to be to get one side of the tyre over the rim first then. On the other side, keep repeatedly slowly turning the wheel and feeding the beaded edge of the tyre onto the rim. During the procedure, I did initially inflate the innner tube a bit but then let a little air out. Eventually the tyre just pops onto the rim with perhaps two or three levers. I then made a final check of the tyre to make sure it was equally seated on the rim on both sides.


<moderator edit: have copied this topic to "Too Good to lose" as it contains some good hints and tips, especially the link to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4 by Spa Cycles>

[thirdcrank]

The reason using standard tyre levers to refit a tyre is generally regarded as a bad thing is that it's very difficult to avoid nipping the tube and causing a puncture.

[noonoosdad]

The reason using standard tyre levers to refit a tyre is generally regarded as a bad thing is that it's very difficult to avoid nipping the tube and causing a puncture.

Yes I agree. That's the reason why I only now use sturdy plastic Park Tools levers which also stop any scratching of the wheel rims.

[cycleruk]

The reason using standard tyre levers to refit a tyre is generally regarded as a bad thing is that it's very difficult to avoid nipping the tube and causing a puncture.

The trick is to just inflate the tube enough so that the tyre lever can't catch it but not to much that tyre bead won't roll on:
"Just enough" is the secret.

[robgul]

The other trick with these (excellent) tyres is (as well as the slight inflation of the tube ... I thought that was standard practice) is to use a toeclip strap tightened around the tyre/rim once the tyre starts to go on to stop it "running round" while you grapple with the 3 handed process to get the rest of the tyre bead over the rim

Rob

[nomisp]

having recently fitted a pair of these excellent tyre ( 700 x 32 ) I found the only way to fit them was to use a number of straps , one every 8 inches and aslo partially inflate tube , I found if i did not use straps i would be having problems with the beading popping out all the

nomisp

[cycleruk]

What do you do if you get a p###ture when out on a ride.

[rogerzilla]

That's why I sold them after trying to fit them - I realised all this faffing with zipties etc was never going to work out on the road.

[drossall]

I've never had that much trouble. I do have a VAR lever for refitting tyres, but I don't always need that.

[Paul Smith SRCC]

Chris Juden had a good tip for fitting them:



Paul_Smith
Touring Tips

[neilob]

For what its worth....I use these tyres and have had just one 'deflation event' on the road in over 10k miles. That day I learnt to keep a small bottle of washing up liquid in my barbag. Put some on the tyre bead and it is much easier to slide over the rim using the Schwalbe plastic tyre levers. The rest can be used to clean hands!!
Neil

[gilesjuk]

Or buy the proper stuff:

http://www.dotbike.com/ProductsP2097.aspx

[neilob]

But washing-up liquid is so much cheaper! Although does it have salt or other stuff in it that you need to be careful with?
N

[Ivor Tingting]

Using washing up liquid the ultimate in clean sustainable transport

[ersakus]

Some talk powder on the inner tube to start with helped me. No strings were necessary if I remember correctly. I had inflated the tube little bit before pushing the sides in. it was a struggle surely but was doable without any special tools in my case.