Mount a Bike Tyre With a Wire Bead
Introduction
A tyre with a wire bead holds a roughly circular shape at all times. It's a little heavier than the same tyre with folding Kevlar bead, harder to pack but easier to fit.
Step 2
Step 4
Fit the tube
Feed the tube into the wire bead tyre with the valve adjacent to the label.
Step 6
Fit The Third Quarter
Push the first section of bead over the rim. Lock one hand in position and work the other away rolling the tyre bead over the rim wall. Once your hand is halfway down lock it and work the other in the opposite direction until it's also halfway to the floor.
Step 7
Step 8
Control The Bead
Go back to the start position with thumbs pointing away from each other. Squeeze the beads together and force them down into the well of the rim. Slide your hands apart keeping the tyre in tension so the length of tyre above your hands follows the shortest path available. You don't need to stretch the tyre just hold it in exactly the right position.
Step 9
Roll The Bead On
As your hands reach the three o'clock/nine o'clock position you can lean on the tyre to hold the beads in place. Get your thumbs to the point where the bead is going over the wall of the rim. Work the bead over the rim with your thumbs as you keep the tyre in tension to concentrate the slack at the area around the valve. Use this slack to roll the last section over the rim.
Pro Tip
If the last section is difficult, get the bead to the point where it sticks in place by friction and go back to the top and start again working the slack down to the decisive area. A very tight combination of tyre and rim may take a few repetitions to get on.
Pro Tip
Its never a good idea to use levers to mount a tyre as the lever can trap the tube and puncture it. Finishing at the valve means that if you really get stuck you can use the valve to hold the tube away from the bead and very carefully flick the last section over with a lever, if your technique is good this emergency measure will never be necessary.
Step 10
Check The Valve Seat Is Inside The Tyre
Press the valve up into the tyre to check the valve seat is inside the beads. If not the beads will lift off the rim when you press the valve. If the valve seat is trapped wiggle the valve to force the valve-seat though the tyre beads. If you don't do this the air going in to the tube will force the tyre off the rim, instead of locking the tyre on to the rim.
Step 11
Check The Tube Isn't Trapped
Inflate the tube to about 25psi or 1.5BAR work round both sides of the tyre, in turn, forcing the bead away from the rim to check the tube isn't visible. If you can see the tube it's trapped under the bead.
Pro Tip
If the tube is trapped wiggle the tyre to work the tube out from under the bead and into the tyre.