How to fit tyres to Brompton wheels

[plancashire]

I have seen a few old posts about how difficult it is to fit tyres to Brompton wheels. This is my method: use the VAR tyre lever/hook. It seems to be out of stock at the manufacturer's right now. Bike shops here in Germany have never heard of it. It is here (in French): http://www.vartools.com/fr/recherche.php and enter reference RP-42500 (the site has frames, so links do not work).

To remove the tyre you must move the tyre bead into the centre of the rim where the well is (inner must be nearly empty). That gives you enough free circumference to clear the rim. You must do the same when fitting. Wipe a bit of talcum powder on the inside of the tyre bead to make it slip over the rim. Use the VAR hook to heave it up and over near the valve and don't forget to keep the opposite side in the well - it slips up onto the top of the channel. You can't fit opposite the valve because it prevents the bead sitting in the well.

Hope that helps.