Cycling UK Forum

Hi,
I'm new to this forum & have done a quick search but cannot find an answer.

I have recently been given a mountain bike (cheap Apollo make) from which I removed the wheels & tyres to use as spares on my other bikes that I use for commuting.
When given the bike, the tyres didn't seem to seat properly onto the wheels, (part of the tyre would appear to be a greater diameter than the rest) I removed & refitted them & they still will not seat properly (they are Bike Hut 26 x 1.5 and I have since fitted them onto other wheels & they seat great.
I then tried to fit Schwalbe City Jets 26 x 1.5 and some 26 x 1.95 but neither tyer seated properly.
Is there something I am doing wrong or is it best just to throw the wheels away?

Given that the wheel(s) are true, some tyres can be a B**ch to fit and seat. I had some Conti TT 2000, which are worn and I replaced them with Schwalble. I have noticed on my front wheel, it seem to be not seated properly. Then I will live with that the person that I am.

I would check first to that the wheel is true and in line, if that is ok. Then fit the tyre onto rim, insert inner tube and inflate a few pumps of air into tube. Then with both thumbs, working thumbs around the tyre. Spinning the wheel now and again to check.

Hope this helps.

Yes, I agree. Partially inflate and try to sort out the imperfections before blowing up the tyre hard.

Also, smear some Washing up Liquid around the tyre where it meets the rim before fitting it. That'll give the tyre a slippy surface you can work with better.

I think the problem occurs because of a clash of tolerances in manufacture: Tyres and/or rims not being EXACTLY spot on the right size.

Sounds like these rims are undersize, i.e. the bead seat diameter is a tad too small, so the tyre beads don't sit snugly onto those seats. The slack all accumulates in one place, allowing the tyre to bulge at that point.

Either throw away the rims, or easily redeem them by applying a few layers of PVC (electrician's) insulating tape to the bead seats, increasing their diameter until tyres sit on them properly.

I think its worth making the point that this should be in addition to a proper rim tape, NOT instead of...

I used to experience this regularly with cheap 27" wheels and tyres about 30 years ago. I dreaded getting a puncture because of the time spent working round partly inflated tyres with my thumbs getting them evenly seated on both sides. Never thought of tape!

Thank you for your replies.

I have deflated both tyres, eased them into the wheel rims by sqeeezing them with my fingers, pumped them up slowly while squeezing the bead part and they have seated a lot better, not perfect but there isn't a bump every revolution of the wheels.

Next time I have to remove one of the tyres, I will apply electricians tape to the inside of the rim to increase the diameter slightly.

I was going to suggest the opposite to CJ - ie that the rim tape may be riding up onto the bead seat lifting the tyre. To be honest it could be either and the most likely explanation is poor quality rims.