Easiest tubular brand to install?

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

Post Reply
gb103
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:07 pm

by gb103

Hi, tubular newbie here.

I have only fitted one pair of tubular tyres (vittoria pave), which I found easy to get on the rim and straighten. My question is what other tubular brands are easier to fit/straighten? As I am wary of purchasing tubs which are a bugger to fit, for example I have read continentals have good puncture protection, the ride may not be as supple as vittoria's, but are a difficult to run true/straighten once installed. I know they definitely need to be streched before gluing.

Don't want to waste £70-80, sweat and tears on a pair of tubs I cant align.

Cheers

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Brandonnie
Posts: 94
Joined: Sat May 12, 2012 5:48 am

by Brandonnie

Zipp tangentes mounted up almost perfectly when they went on the rim. Only 3-4 spots to straighten out nthey were monted on hed stingers

User avatar
elviento
Posts: 1199
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:09 pm
Location: In the industry
Contact:

by elviento

Contis are harder to install than Vittoria but I find them to be better tires. Low rolling resistence and better traction.

Vittorias are pretty easy to install though.

One thing I have done to straight tires is jam a plastic piece, like a tire lever or a plastic ruler, through the space between the tire and rim. By sliding that piece along the circumference of the rim, you can easily move the tire both along the rim to straighten the valve, and side ways to make sure it sits in the center.

Hope that helps.
Fast falcons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3mTPEuFcWk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
www.falcobike.com
Facebook: falcobikeglobal

cwilli15
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:31 pm

by cwilli15

How do you put a piece of plastic between your tire and rim when you have glue all over the tire and rim?

User avatar
elviento
Posts: 1199
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:09 pm
Location: In the industry
Contact:

by elviento

Yes jamming it across is the tough part. I guess part of the reason is the base coat is dry and last layer of glue is still fresh. Plus the idea is not slide the thing aound the whole rim, but only a section of it that is enough to allow you to adjust the position.
Fast falcons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3mTPEuFcWk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
www.falcobike.com
Facebook: falcobikeglobal

Northoceanbeach
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2012 11:12 pm

by Northoceanbeach

My Vittoria evo slicks were my first and so easy I wondered what people are talking about the difficulty of tubulars.

Compared to my new clinchers, conti 4 seasons that we're almost impossible to mount.

thprice
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:34 am

by thprice

Veloflex Carbon & Extreme seem easy to install. Do not need much pre-stretching, no fitting or straightening issues encountered. Puncture protection seems fine. I use Carbon or the rear and Extreme on the front.

User avatar
theremery
Posts: 2658
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 10:56 am
Location: New Zealand

by theremery

The easiest tubular to install is the one you pre-stretch the best. Centering is a different story. Veloflex anything is good to centre but I've had a few Vittorias I simply could not do easily. Of about a half dozen, one vittoria crono evo was simply not centerable (period...it just wouldn't) and one CX was very difficult (30 mins of swearing). Some others took considerable effort until I was finally happy that it was perfectly straight. FWIW, the crono was also "out of round".....I wish I'd have checked it earlier.....I'd have taken it back!
Updated: Racing again! Thought this was unlikely! Eventually, I may even have a decent race!
Edit: 2015: darn near won the best South Island series (got second in age
-group)..woo hoo Racy Theremery is back!!

sethjkay
Shop Owner
Posts: 57
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:39 pm

by sethjkay

Veloflex. Super supple and don't need pre stretching because of this. Also, they perform really well across the broad spectrum of traits that are required from a good tub.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



fdegrove
Tubbie Guru
Posts: 5894
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 2:20 am
Location: Belgium

by fdegrove

Hi,

elviento wrote:Yes jamming it across is the tough part. I guess part of the reason is the base coat is dry and last layer of glue is still fresh. Plus the idea is not slide the thing aound the whole rim, but only a section of it that is enough to allow you to adjust the position.


A piece of steel cable is even easier to use as it has far less surface area.

The only brand of tubulars I know of that's a royal PITA to mount is Continental. Especially on Campa rims.
You can stretch them for a decade, they just don't seem to stretch or if they do they regain their original shape as soon as they're off the rim....

In general the more supple (high true TPI count) the tub the easier it will be to fit. Vitto or Veloflex in particular do not even need to be pre-stretched IME.

Ciao, ;)
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

Post Reply