Fitting

What is the correct way to fit a tire?

All spoke holes must be completely and securely covered with an appropriate rim tape.
Observe any rolling direction markings on the tire sidewall.
Never use sharp fitting tools.
Pull one tire side onto the rim (fig.1)
Slightly inflate the tube until it is round.
Fit the valve through the valve hole in the rim.
Place the tube into the tire. (Fig. 2)
Starting at the opposite side to the valve fit the other tire side onto the rim.
Ensure the tube is not pinched between the rim and the tire.
The valve should be in an upright position.
Center the tire before inflating it to the required pressure.
Adjust the inflation pressure using a pressure gauge, e.g. the AIRMAX pressure gauge. The permissible pressure range is marked on the tire sidewalls. The higher the inflation pressure, the lower the rolling resistance, the tire wear and the less likelihood of a puncture.
The inflation pressure should be checked at least once a month.

Why is it sometimes so difficult to fit a tire?

Fitting difficulties often arise when the diameters of the rim and the tire do not match perfectly. Rims can have a diameter tolerance of +/- 0.5 mm. In addition, each rim flange height can also have a tolerance of +/- 0.5 mm. These figures add up to a total diameter tolerance of +/- 1.5 mm, or 4.7 mm over the circumference. This corresponds to a maximum possible circumferential difference of 9.4 mm between the largest and the smallest rim. A tire has to fit on both extremes, so because a safe fit has to be ensured even on the smallest permissible rim diameter, the proper centering of the tire on the largest permissible rim can prove quite difficult. The circumferential tolerance of SCHWALBE tires is +/- 1mm.

How do I fit a tire that is hard to center?

When the rim diameter is at maximum tolerance and the tire diameter is at minimum, it is difficult to get the tire beads onto the rim bead seat. Solution: Slightly over-inflate the tire for a short time, or put soapy water onto the tire beads to make them slip into place more easily. When the rim diameter is at minimum and the tire diameter at maximum, the tire cannot be seated properly irrespective of the inflation pressure. This situation can generally be addressed by centering the tire by hand at low inflation pressure. Move the tire until the rim line is parallel to the rim all around the tire.

What is a tubeless tire?

As the name implies the tubeless system needs no tube. The tire and the rim are made in such a way that fitting them together provides an airtight seal. So special tires and rims are necessary and at the moment tubeless tires are only available for mountain bikes. The Mavic UST (Universal System Tubeless), which was introduced in 1999 has become, to all intents and purposes, market standard. The advantage of tubeless tires is that there is no sudden loss of pressure in case of a puncture. The perforating object either remains in the tire, sometimes even sealing itself, or it is dislodged and the air escapes very gradually. It also provides better impact resistance and valve tear off due to the tire slipping on the rim is impossible. It is important to note that fitting requires more effort and is significantly different from the fitting of traditional tires, so the fitting instructions must be followed closely (see section on fitment). The tire and the rim must be perfectly clean, especially in the contact area, in order to have an airtight seal. A puncture can be repaired from the inside with a traditional repair patch. But because the hole can often be hard to find, it is recommendable to insert a standard tube to repair a roadside puncture. In order to fit a tube, the valve first has to be removed from the rim.

How are tubeless tires removed?

Deflate the tire.
First loosen only one tire side by pressing the tire bead into the rim well (2) (3) (4).
Starting next to the valve, lift the tire bead over the rim flange (5).
Loosen the opposite tire bead by pushing it into the rim well (6) (7).
Remove the tire (8).

How are tubeless tires repaired?

The tire can be repaired from the inside with all standard repair patches. It is also possible to install a tube, but first, in order to do so, the valve must be unscrewed from the rim. Refer to the sections on fitting and removing a tubeless tire.