Mounting tubular tires....

[andyfloyd]

I hope this is the correct forum for this question. I have a px10 as some of you may know, I want to use the original aluminum wheels with sew-ups. I have never mounted a tubular tire before, and I was reading about TUFO tape, and then the glue as well. I dont know which method is better to be honest. I bet the tape wouldnt work quite as well but might be easier, however I plan to run the tires for a long time so Im looking for whats going to last the longest and work the best.

For those that know a thing or two about mounting tubular tyres whats your procedure, and how do you do your tubulars on your vintage rides? The rims are Super Competition Champion if it matters. Thanks

[DavyRay]

There's this thing called Youtube. You can even use Google with it.

I do not have enough posts here to post a link. You can go to Youtube
and search on "mounting tubular tires".

Try it.

[zmudshark]

I'm a glue guy. There are many how-to's available, and many different opinions on the glue vs tape thing.

If you use glue, don't rush it and you won't make a mess. Pre-stretch the tires, too, for either method.

[andyfloyd]

Quote :
"There's this thing called Youtube. You can even use Google with it.

I do not have enough posts here to post a link. You can go to Youtube
and search on "mounting tubular tires".

Try it."


I already checked youtube on my thing called a computer, and I even used google too but I want to hear from some people who know. Now having said that if you arent going to help me, then why even post? Your attempt at sarcasm leaves much to be desired.

[andyfloyd]

I'm a glue guy. There are many how-to's available, and many different opinions on the glue vs tape thing.

If you use glue, don't rush it and you won't make a mess. Pre-stretch the tires, too, for either method.

I appreciate the help, I figured the glue would be the BEST method. Im just going to do a lot of reading before I attempt it. Dont want to roll a tire in a turn or something.

[DavyRay]

Sorry to be snarky, but I just wondered if you had checked out the available videos. Some people do just ask in forums before looking around for themselves. I can't help otherwise, as I have never changed a tubular. I'd go to Youtube first myself.

Re-reading your original post, I am not qualified to answer.

For those that know a thing or two about mounting tubular tyres whats your procedure, and how do you do your tubulars on your vintage rides?

[andyfloyd]

Sorry to be snarky, but I just wondered if you had checked out the available videos. Some people do just ask in forums before looking around for themselves. I can't help otherwise, as I have never changed a tubular. I'd go to Youtube first myself.

Re-reading your original post, I am not qualified to answer.

Its all good man, I did some more looking on youtube and found exactly what I was looking for. I just want to make sure I dont screw it up, clinchers are so easy the tubular gluing process takes like 3 days to complete. lol

[BacDoc]

I've always had the LBS do it but this time I will try myself!

My research shows glue is the way to go - some debate to tape failure with high speed descending - maybe, maybe not but don't want to chance it.

Just bought 3 tubes of Vittoria glue, (some good prices on e-bay) and watched the youtube videos. A good one is of a team wrench who cleans the rim, glues the rim and tire and pops it on in about 3 minutes or less total.

My approach will be :
Clean rim.
Pre mount and stretch tire (maybe leave on rim 24hrs).
glue rim 1 coat (with disposable brush) let dry.
glue tire and let dry then 1 more coat of glue on tire.
start with valve/rim hole in 12;00 position and work the tire around the rim.

Tires are Vittoria open corsa and rims are vintage deep dish shamal.

Think 3 tubes will do 2 tires.

Main concern is getting tire centered on rim - hope I don't screw it up!

[paredown]

I've always had the LBS do it but this time I will try myself!

My research shows glue is the way to go - some debate to tape failure with high speed descending - maybe, maybe not but don't want to chance it.

Just bought 3 tubes of Vittoria glue, (some good prices on e-bay) and watched the youtube videos. A good one is of a team wrench who cleans the rim, glues the rim and tire and pops it on in about 3 minutes or less total.

My approach will be :
Clean rim.
Pre mount and stretch tire (maybe leave on rim 24hrs).
glue rim 1 coat (with disposable brush) let dry.
glue tire and let dry then 1 more coat of glue on tire.
start with valve/rim hole in 12;00 position and work the tire around the rim.

Tires are Vittoria open corsa and rims are vintage deep dish shamal.

Think 3 tubes will do 2 tires.

Main concern is getting tire centered on rim - hope I don't screw it up!

Sounds like you are on the right track.

I'd do the stretch routine on a dry rim before trying any glue (as mentioned above), and then do a dry fit on the rims that you are going to be using--just to see how tight it is going to be--obviously, the tighter the tire, the harder it is to get aligned, even and glued down.

As long as the glue is a little tacky, you can move the tire a little--we'd get it down and inflate slightly and look at it to see if we were running out from side to side, and adjust those spots (the adhesive will pull apart and you can nudge it over a little to 'true'.

[Chombi]

3 tubes of glue for two tires?....that sounds like a lot of glue. I usually only use up about one tube for two tires. I buy the small yellow tubes of glue from Continental. I use my bare index finger to spread the glue and I don't end up with too much of it going into the rim spoke head access holes and I have better control on how I spread the glue evenly on the rim and tire. Sometimes using gloves or a brush would cause that to happen. Spreading it with a finger on the base tape also minimizes the glue that gets on the sidewalls. I keep a rag soaked in mineral spirits neaby to clean off my hands/fingers periodiccally during the gluing process and any wayward glue that might get on the rim sidewalls.

Chombi

[BacDoc]

Chombi,
Most info I've seen is 1 tube per tire, I plan on one coat on the rim and two on the tire. Figure having an extra tube is better than being short in the middle of the job. This is my first and with more experience I will get a better idea of how much to use.

Then comes the question of sealant - do you use it? Been using it in my mtb tires with great results.

[zmudshark]

Its all good man, I did some more looking on youtube and found exactly what I was looking for. I just want to make sure I dont screw it up, clinchers are so easy the tubular gluing process takes like 3 days to complete. lol

It takes a few minutes, let dry a day before you ride, though. Where did you get 3 days from?

[antihero77]

Ok I have viewed every YouTube. Read every article and I find that with all the coats of glue it is impossible to later remove the tyre. I put one cost one whel and tube. I dont stretch tyre. I have never rolled a tyre or ever had any problems. Unless ur descending real mountains or a crit racer u really don't need so much glue. Just my two cents.

[orbeamike]

Continental webSite has a good how to video on mounting tubulars. The conti giro tubular is also a reasonably cost tire with the proper gum wall look.

To do it right it takes at least 2 days and minimum 2 coats in both fresh tire and rims. Don't rush.

[LejeuneCdM]

If you use Tufo tape, use only a Tufo tire. They are made to work with the tape. I have seen tape used on a non-Tufo and the base tape of the tire was not up to the task. It started separating from the tire. You will also find that the better quality the tire, the easier it will be to mount and center.

NOTE: The example I saw WAS a cheaper tire. YMMV.

[BacDoc]

Just mounted a pair of Vittoria's on Shamal rims, this is my first attempt and so far it appears to be success. Couple of things I learned from my research:

Prep is everything and removing the old tire and cleaning the rim is 99% of the work. Now I know why used tubular wheels always come with tires! Having a good amount of acetone and scotch brite pads helps. Small disposable brushes work well to apply glue.

Mount tire on rim before gluing and inflate, leaving it on for 24hrs before gluing makes the job easier.

Glue - I used Vittoria in the tube and got 3 tubes since I'd rather have more than I need. What I learned is a light even coat 1 on the rim and 1 on the tire is plenty. I was able to use 1 tube for both tires and rims to get full even coats. Using more coats will make removable difficult. Seems like overkill to me unless you are bombing alpine roads at speeds of 50mph+.

I started at the valve and worked both sides till the tire was on. The Vittorias have a center tread that is good for reference to get the tire on nice and straight.

Valve extenders are necessary for deeper wheels and I haven't found a good one yet.

Should have added sealant before mounting. It might be possible now but I'm not sure. Haven't found the best way to get glue off the side walls. Acetone works great on rim and hands but just smears the sidewall.

Took the bike for a spin after 24hr set and no issues. Got up to high 30mph on decent and a couple of turns in the mid 20mph. Vittoria open Corsa's ride very nice!

The finished job on a Colnago Master Olympic:

[andyfloyd]

looks great! Im still saving for a couple more modifications to my px10 and then its gonna get the tubulars! Colnago looks sick.

[paredown]

Just mounted a pair of Vittoria's on Shamal rims, this is my first attempt and so far it appears to be success. Couple of things I learned from my research:

Prep is everything and removing the old tire and cleaning the rim is 99% of the work. Now I know why used tubular wheels always come with tires! Having a good amount of acetone and scotch brite pads helps. Small disposable brushes work well to apply glue.

Mount tire on rim before gluing and inflate, leaving it on for 24hrs before gluing makes the job easier.

Glue - I used Vittoria in the tube and got 3 tubes since I'd rather have more than I need. What I learned is a light even coat 1 on the rim and 1 on the tire is plenty. I was able to use 1 tube for both tires and rims to get full even coats. Using more coats will make removable difficult. Seems like overkill to me unless you are bombing alpine roads at speeds of 50mph+.

I started at the valve and worked both sides till the tire was on. The Vittorias have a center tread that is good for reference to get the tire on nice and straight.

Valve extenders are necessary for deeper wheels and I haven't found a good one yet.

Should have added sealant before mounting. It might be possible now but I'm not sure. Haven't found the best way to get glue off the side walls. Acetone works great on rim and hands but just smears the sidewall.

Took the bike for a spin after 24hr set and no issues. Got up to high 30mph on decent and a couple of turns in the mid 20mph. Vittoria open Corsa's ride very nice!

The finished job on a Colnago Master Olympic:

Nice job; nice bike. A lot of folks are afraid of tubs--but they are not that hard to install, and the ride is like nothing else.

[il sogno]

Do the stretch routine. Before you mount the tire put about 10 lbs. of pressure into in. Makes it easier to get the last bit on.

[shoegazer]

there is great advice above. I'd like to reiterate prestretching and a trial run at installing. I used to use electrical tape to protect my brake track from my rookie / accidental sloppiness - this helps to add confidence but only use electrical tape for ease of removal. Then air slightly, center the tire, then expel the air, and roll the tubular on a broom handle to make sure it's centered & sides are good & secure. remove tape and bomb away. I ride all tubulars - replacing a flat is no problem as long as you've brought along a prestretched/preglued spare. I haven't much luck with pit stop but ymmv.
try FMB tubulars for a sublime ride - especially the Paris Roubaix if your frame will allow fat 28s.

[Bill Silverman]

I didn't see it mentioned in previous posts, but unless the old dried rim cement is flaking off or there are big chunks of glue built up, it shouldn't be necessary to remove the old glue from the rim. Actually, the layer of glue makes a better bed for the new cement.

What I've done in the past is use an old spoon and scrape off any old cement that wasn't strongly adhered to the rim, then put on a fresh layer of glue. I usually find that putting a moderate amount of glue on the base tape of the new tubular is sufficient (I also roughen up the base tape with a serrated butter knife prior to putting on the cement).

I usually let the cement dry overnight. I apply a thin layer of fresh cement onto the rim, wait about a half-hour, then mount the tubular. I pump up the tire with a little air, center the tread and base tape, then pump it up to its full pressure. After a day it's ready to ride.

I have 8 of the 9 bikes in my stable riding on tubulars. I haven't rolled one ever. This method also permits me to remove the tire (without ripping off the base tape) if I need to patch it.

I agree it's VERY important to pre-stretch and dry fit the tubular before beginning the glue-up.

[shoegazer]

I had to make a double take at BacDoc's Colnago

[tmf]

I didn't see it mentioned in previous posts, but unless the old dried rim cement is flaking off or there are big chunks of glue built up, it shouldn't be necessary to remove the old glue from the rim. Actually, the layer of glue makes a better bed for the new cement.

What I've done in the past is use an old spoon and scrape off any old cement that wasn't strongly adhered to the rim, then put on a fresh layer of glue. I usually find that putting a moderate amount of glue on the base tape of the new tubular is sufficient (I also roughen up the base tape with a serrated butter knife prior to putting on the cement).

I usually let the cement dry overnight. I apply a thin layer of fresh cement onto the rim, wait about a half-hour, then mount the tubular. I pump up the tire with a little air, center the tread and base tape, then pump it up to its full pressure. After a day it's ready to ride.

I have 8 of the 9 bikes in my stable riding on tubulars. I haven't rolled one ever. This method also permits me to remove the tire (without ripping off the base tape) if I need to patch it.

I agree it's VERY important to pre-stretch and dry fit the tubular before beginning the glue-up.

I've been using tubulars for about 30 years now, and this post comes very close to exactly how I glue my tires on. I'll add just a few additional thoughts:

- I always use Vittoria Mastik glue. It holds great, dries to the point of not being too sticky to touch fairly quickly, and is available in a can (I have lots of wheels). I use disposable "acid brushes" to keep glue application neat & tidy (a tip I first found in these forums - I used to use my finger to spread the glue). I bought a pack of the brushes on ebay pretty cheaply.

- it's really handy to have a spare rim or spare wheel to use for pre-stretching the tire, and for putting the tire on to stay stretched after applying glue to the base tape. After the glue is applied to the tire, the base tape tends to constrict as the glue dries if it's not on a rim and will be harder to mount. I let the glue dry a little before putting it on a spare rim (mostly dry to the touch) so it won't adhere to the rim. I've always found it easy to pull the tire off when I'm ready to mount it on my wheel. Again, vittoria mastik dries to the touch pretty quickly - other glues I've used stay a lot more tacky.

- I put the final coat of glue on the rim, and at that point the tire has already had glue applied and has been sitting on the rim overnight or at least for a few hours. After the final coat on the rim has dried slightly, take the tire off the spare rim and mount it on the wheel. By doing it this way, the tire is not too wet or sticky so it will be easier to handle as you pull it and stretch it onto the wheel. If you have applied a recent coat of glue on the tire, and it's still wet, you will be more likely to get glue all over and end up with more mess.

[BacDoc]

I had to make a double take at BacDoc's Colnago

Sweet Pinarello, deltas and the aero bottles are nice touch! Are those Vittoria open corsa tubs and did you mount them yourself?


Always good to see these Italian art deco paint jobs!

[andyfloyd]

thanks for all the help guys, ill be mouinting the tubulars very soon. will post pictures when its all over.