Putting Gatorskins Back On

I got my first flat in over 3400 miles yesterday, and I'm having a difficult time putting my Gatorskins back on the rim.  My hands are too raw from trying for so long, so I'll bring it to a shop if I can't get it tomorrow.  

Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone have any tips?

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Permalink Reply by Barry Niel Stuart on June 22, 2012 at 11:24am

I remember having this problem with Velocity Aero rims.  I gently used my tire levers to help the tire mount.

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on June 22, 2012 at 11:29am

Tire levers help a ton. Just be careful and try not to damage the tire, and especially the tube. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 22, 2012 at 12:16pm

Some tire/rim combinations are harder than others.  Some can be downright buggars. 

This dude shows you a few tricks on one of the tougher tires. 

Every once in a while I get one that is a real bother -then I pull out the heavy artillery. 

Permalink Reply by william on June 22, 2012 at 1:31pm

Install thinner rim tape. Or use Velo-Plugs.

Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on June 22, 2012 at 3:08pm

All the above replies are true. I've also heard of using soapy water that make it all slick and will dry up.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 22, 2012 at 3:17pm

Soapy water works, but you may need more water when you get your next flat as it'll be sticky as heck down the road -and keep getting worse as time goes on.  I've used yellow-77 electrical cable-pulling soap which works VERY well and also dries up pretty hard over time.  

I grew up racing motorcycles so I learned to change  a motorcycle tire before I ever had to change a bicycle tire.  After doing a really stiff MX knobby any bicycle tire is a piece of cake -levers or no.   There isn't such a thing as  motorcycle tire that you can do with your thumbs. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 23, 2012 at 1:19am

I agree that some tire/rim combos can be much tougher.  I love my Marathon Plus tires, but their stiffness makes them a challenge.  Good thing they rarely get flats!

James BlackHeron said:

Some tire/rim combinations are harder than others.  Some can be downright buggars. 

This dude shows you a few tricks on one of the tougher tires. 

Every once in a while I get one that is a real bother -then I pull out the heavy artillery. 

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 23, 2012 at 2:54am

"Wire bead down into the well of the rim"  I'll be trying that today as I have another flat on my Panaracer RiBMo. Thanks!

Well, that is assuming I still feel like working on a bike after helping Working Bikes fill a shipping container with bikes bound for Ghana. http://workingbikes.org/shippingparties

Permalink Reply by Matt Talbert on June 23, 2012 at 3:35am

The first time I had to change my tubes, I struggled horribly. I almost gave in and went to the shop, but did not thanks to encouragement form my wife. After trail and error I learned an essential lesson: I found it MUCH easier to get the treads back on if you do only ONE side at a time. Toward the end it'll still be a little challenging, but I found doing just one side at a time made the task A LOT easier.

Permalink Reply by Alex Moroz on June 23, 2012 at 6:32am

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I managed to get it on using levers, though I think some plastic got shaved off of the levers and is now trapped in the tire.  The inner tube I replaced it with has a valve that's too short for my pump, though, which I didn't realize until after I installed it.  So I replaced it with another tube that I attempted to patch, but failed.  So now I'm just going to take it to the shop =P

I've been riding for a while, but now I feel like a noob!

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on June 23, 2012 at 4:15pm

BAD advice.

Using tire levers often damages the tube.  Purchase a rim jack or work on your hand/thumb strength.



Jim S said:

Tire levers help a ton. Just be careful and try not to damage the tire, and especially the tube. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 23, 2012 at 5:17pm

Using a lever to put on a tire without the necessary feel and experience of having done it many times will greatly increase the chances of pinching the tube.  But I don't think it is any greater than taking the tire off with a lever.  Both are equally likely to snag the tube if you don't know what you are doing.

Installing tube-type motorcycle tires has to be done with levers.  Once you learn how to do it without snagging the tube it's a snap for a bicycle tire.  But a rim-jack is even better.  

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