I swapped over the tyre on one of my rears yesturday - hardest I've ver done.
Took off the MT21 (140/80) I was trying to put the more aggrassive Mixxis intermiatiate on. The MT21 did not want to let go!
I'm not talking about technique here either - the beed just did not want to let go. In the end I had it rested on another tyre, with me stood on it (both feet) and digging my toes in while also levering the beed out with a tyre lever! Eventually it worked.
It seemed it wasn't the side of the beed holding on to the wheel rim walls but the end edge of the beed that was just tight on the rim. I suppose that as the MT21 was a 140, and it had an extra heavy duty inner tube, it really didn't want to compress and drop into the rim channel. Maybe the inner diameter is just a tad smaller than most other tyres also..
I dunno, I just know that I'm not looking forward to taking it off again after I use it next summer - one for the tyre place I think.
bob gave me a hand the other evening (well i stood and watched) and it really was hard work! been off the bike a little while and was a cold evening, must be why 'we' struggled so much! after a few choice words job done and not a mark on my new straight rim and nice tight spokes
Did you ride it around a bit first to warm and soften it ?
or had it been stood for a while in the cold ..............
It was cold and had been stood for a while in a cold garage. Never had this problem with other tyres though. No doubt it would have been easier if the tyre was warm, and next time I'll probably take it for a quick spin with just 6 psi in it - that should heat it up nicely.
Taking the maxxis off prior to installing the MT21 was not easy as it's a tough MX tyre. I had to use big levers to get it going and nipped the inner tube a few times in the process. The beed broke easily though. The Maxxis had been on that rim for several years but the beed feel away easily when stood on, just like every other tyre I've done.
I would say that fitting the MT21 a few months ago was about equal in terms of difficulty as fitting the Maxxis this time, both done cold.
One difference is that the Maxixs is a 120 width & the MT21 is a 140. Also the MT21 is considered to be a hard surface rally tyre so may be a stronger tyre.
) and it really was hard work!
