With the DH casing completely mounted on a rim? I've tried getting it on my rear wheel, but just can't get it mounted, had no problem with the 2.7 on the front, but can't get the 2.35 on the rear wheel.
Good luck. I busted 2 tubes trying to fight with Intense tires. I ended up getting metal tire levers and fought with it. Some rims though seemed easier to get their tires onto.
I feel ya, short of soap or bead wax it's just a fight
general tips are to center the bead which is already inside the rim into the deepest part (ie center) of the rim, which will give you the max amount of room to work w/ the other.
i used to use a bit of phil wood grease on the rim/tire bead of particularly recalcitrant tire/rim combos, but metal levers are also yr friend. just be careful not to pinch yr tube; nothing's worse than finally winning the tire mount struggle only to have to face it again.
It's no easy task getting that tire mounted. It took two people and some moto tire levers to get my friend's tire mounted--not to mention a lot of foul language and some bloody knuckles...
When you finally get the tire mounted, pray that you did not pinch the tube... Good luck!
I find the best thing to do with Downhill tyres is to treat them as if they were "Motorcycle tyres".... after all they are not so diferent in terms of stiffness and how tight the beads are to the rim,, well at least kind of similar.
A.K.A.... first Use lubricant to help them slide (from soapy water to fancy dry profesional products so the tube does not currupt when wet) big and strong (usually Steel) tyre levers are very helpful (round and get rid of the sharp edges of them with a file, sandpaper or whatever {I use a scotch grinding wheel with exelent results} so they are less prone to damage the tube and the rim) but more important that anything try to keep the bead at the shallowest part of the rim (center of the rim) that way you have a little more slack since they feature a smaller diameter at the center of the rim.
i hope this help, i change a million bicycles and motorcycle that way with out much trouble.
Warm up the tires. Leave them in the house overnight by the fireplace. Works awesome. I rarely have problems if the tire is somewhat warm. I can mount and dismount a lot of tires by hand if they are warm. I change tires....... A LOT.
In the summer, I just leave the tire on the driveway for an hour or two till its nice and warm, sometimes even hot.
Warm up the tires. Leave them in the house overnight by the fireplace. Works awesome. I rarely have problems if the tire is somewhat warm. I can mount and dismount a lot of tires by hand if they are warm. I change tires....... A LOT.
In the summer, I just leave the tire on the driveway for an hour or two till its nice and warm, sometimes even hot.
If heating tires works, I vote for cooling the rim. Put it in the freezer, Rip.
*seriously - I haven't ever used metal bars on bike tires, but soap will work wonders. They make some special tire soap that is badass for truck tires. I would assume it would work. I do use some thick palmolive for UST from time to time. Lube is your friend with tires.
I never had a problem mounting DH tires after I was shown how to angle in the levers. I really should video tape it and post it on the web.
Until I do that:
1) get some metal levers (Intense or similar)
2) use only the end with the slight bend. The double curved end will cut the tube every time.
3) make sure the bead is in the center of the rim (smallest diameter portion of the rim.
4) use WD40 if neccessary. I never need this on a DH tire but use it on new Moto tires when they are super tight. I have tried soap and all it does make the levers slick and even worse it allows the tires to slip on the rim. I have spun a moto tire with 2 beadlocks due to soap residue on the rim/tire.
If you think DH tires are tough, don't attempt to mount a moto tire. Do like most everyone else does and pay a shop $15-20 to change it.
Nah it only takes a second to see if it fits. If tire compays would get off their a$$es and size the tires the same, I wouldnt have any problems. Or maybe if Foes would build a bike that would fit something bigger than a 2.5. This tire badgering is getting a little old here Brian. I am now a tire size expert so if you have any questions let me know.
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