steve_sordy
Wedding Crasher
I bought a 29x2.5 Vigilante TCS Light High Grip TT SG tyre because of the reviews and I was favourably impressed with the tyres that came with my grandson's bike.
I run my tyres tubeless and have done for many years on different wheel sizes, different tyre brands etc. But I could not get this WTB tyre to engage properly on the RaceFace AR30 (30mm internal rim). One quarter of the tyre on both sides, opposite each other just would not pop onto the rim. Only when I removed the tubeless valve and used an inner tube could I get the tyre installed and properly seated; and I had to take it up to 60psi to do it. But when I came to remove the tube, the tyre would not budge. I tried everything. My arthritic hands were not up to it on this occasion, not even with tyre levers. I laid the wheel flat on my Black& Decker Workmate and pressed a hammer shaft down onto the tyre, resting the hammer head into my armpit. I pushed as much of my weight onto it as I could, so much that I was concerned that I might tear the sidewall. Nothing! I have the bruise to show how hard I was pushing.
In the end I took the tyre to my LBS assuming that the fit owner with his strong hands experienced in all the tricks of tyre removal would have no trouble. He thought the same, but after a few minutes he asked me to leave it with him overnight. I ended up ringing him at noon the next day and he'd only just managed it. Eventually, he had used a vice to grip the tyre while using the wheel as a lever. He got one side off and removed the tube. That was all I had asked him to do because I was going to refit the tubeless valve and go from there. But when I got home I thought I'd play safe and remove the tyre completely and then remove the rim tape, clean up and fit new tape, but this time make sure it was clear of the rim wall. But I could not get the second side off. I even gripped the tyre in the jaws of my workmate and tried the same trick as the LBS. I really thought I might tear the tyre wall, or even bend the rim. I gave up and took it back with the LBS. He said that he'd do it while I wait, but his trick with the vice didn't work this time, so I've left it with him. Not sure what to do if he can't get it off!
Coincidentally, the retailer (BikeInn) that sold me the tyre just invited me to write a review, so I told a shortened version of the above. It will be interesting to see if they respond
Any tips on tyre removal?
I run my tyres tubeless and have done for many years on different wheel sizes, different tyre brands etc. But I could not get this WTB tyre to engage properly on the RaceFace AR30 (30mm internal rim). One quarter of the tyre on both sides, opposite each other just would not pop onto the rim. Only when I removed the tubeless valve and used an inner tube could I get the tyre installed and properly seated; and I had to take it up to 60psi to do it. But when I came to remove the tube, the tyre would not budge. I tried everything. My arthritic hands were not up to it on this occasion, not even with tyre levers. I laid the wheel flat on my Black& Decker Workmate and pressed a hammer shaft down onto the tyre, resting the hammer head into my armpit. I pushed as much of my weight onto it as I could, so much that I was concerned that I might tear the sidewall. Nothing! I have the bruise to show how hard I was pushing.
In the end I took the tyre to my LBS assuming that the fit owner with his strong hands experienced in all the tricks of tyre removal would have no trouble. He thought the same, but after a few minutes he asked me to leave it with him overnight. I ended up ringing him at noon the next day and he'd only just managed it. Eventually, he had used a vice to grip the tyre while using the wheel as a lever. He got one side off and removed the tube. That was all I had asked him to do because I was going to refit the tubeless valve and go from there. But when I got home I thought I'd play safe and remove the tyre completely and then remove the rim tape, clean up and fit new tape, but this time make sure it was clear of the rim wall. But I could not get the second side off. I even gripped the tyre in the jaws of my workmate and tried the same trick as the LBS. I really thought I might tear the tyre wall, or even bend the rim. I gave up and took it back with the LBS. He said that he'd do it while I wait, but his trick with the vice didn't work this time, so I've left it with him. Not sure what to do if he can't get it off!
Coincidentally, the retailer (BikeInn) that sold me the tyre just invited me to write a review, so I told a shortened version of the above. It will be interesting to see if they respond
Any tips on tyre removal?