Fitting Marathon Pluses - what's the secret?

[campagman]

Try using an inner tube of smaller section diameter than you would normally use. This helps avoiding pinching the tube when you use tyre levers to put the tyre on. As the Pluses have a thicker tread there is less space underneath for the tube so that is why you can get away with the smaller dia.

[rogerzilla]

Problem identified, I think.

The rims are 13.4mm wide.  Schwalbe recommend 25c tyres for rim widths down to 13mm, but Marathon Pluses are a special case, with their thick construction, and this is pushing it.  It can probably be done eventually, but...sod it...Fortezza TriComps are virtually puncture-proof, half the weight, more grippy and a hell of a lot faster.

Oh, and campagman, it's a really small tube.

[Wowbagger]

Is it just me or is his physique rather revolting?

Why is this an either / or question?

I've got Marathon plusses to go on the tandem and the brompton. My hands aren't strong - they're arthritic, but it was all done with thumbs, fingers and hand heels. I reckon it's a knack, not strength.

I did have one spring off the Mercian (700C) whilst pumping it up for the first time, the resulting explosion persuading me that a hearing test would be a good idea.

[pdm]

+1
Choose your rims...
I have no trouble with M+ 35's on A719 rims and 25's or 28's on CXP33 rims. I usually get them on with thumbs alone and they sit pretty once on. I have had to use some tyre levers to get them off when they wear out, though...

[rogerzilla]

They went on my Brompton with a bit of a fight - I'm not against M+ per se, just this particular size combination.

[Valiant]

Speedlever. That said, if it's that difficult (girl in the office uses them) then it's not a good idea to use them on the commute bike as you're more likely to throw your bike over the wall then you are likely to do a repair in the cold while it's raining.

Mind you, Julia seems to get punctures monthly on her Marathon Pluses. A lot more than I ever did on my ProRace2s and I did 3 or 4 times the milage.

[Andrij]

Yes, they are a bugger, but also bomb-proof.

I needed to take one of mine off last night (rim tape failed and tube p*nct*r*d by bottom of nipple).  In the past I've managed to snap a few tyre levers, including a Speedlever.  Resorted to some spares which came with a cheap spare parts kit. Ha! They were as useful in removing the tyre as well cooked spaghetti.    Luckily I was able to contact a someone who lived just a few minutes away and he brought over his levers (Park Tools, IIRC).

During lunch today I will be out on the hunt for some steel levers, sod the weight!

[LEE]

I've got some Continental MTB tyres and at first they seemed about 4" too big in diameter, the wheel just fell through the tyre.  it was an absolute bugger to get on (I still don't know how it achieves a tight fit, something odd within the time-space continuum happens when you manage to get the final bit of bead over the rim).

I just started at the bottom, held it in place with my knees and started squeezing up both sides until, by some miracle, it all popped on at the top. (Sounds vaguely pornographic now I read it back)

Note, this took about 30 attempts.  Swearing helps, as does occasionally hurling the tyre down the garden.

[Tom B]

ts a mystery to me because I fumble around and like you, I'm convinced the tyre is too lose and then all of a sudden, it seems to fit. The very first time I fitted them I was convinced we had been sold the wrong sized tyres.

This was my experience also when my rear tyre went down for the first time last week. I didn't realise M-plusses were problematic in this respect and struggled for a while before it finally went on.

Unsure what caused the puncture but there was a 2-3mm long hole in the tyre. Maybe a bit of sharp wire or similar: something was tangled briefly between tyre and mudguard and when it fell out the tyre went down. It's the first time it's punctured in the six months I've had it; the front tyre, which a lighter, more sporty one, has gone half-a-dozen times 

[clarion]

Speedlevers seem to only do about two or three operations before they give up completely.  Park levers recommended

[Jacomus]

Attempting to fit my Conti Sport Contacts 26x1.9 to the DT rims was the biggest challenge I've ever had.

I broke a Park Tool blue tyre lever in the process! (You can imagine just how quickly I ran out of swear words if I broke one of those levers )

Fitting them to the Mavic rims on Trix required the use of only one swear word, and no tools.

[fuzzy]

When it comes to fitting, I find Conti tyres to be the spawn of Stan, no matter what rims I use

[Notsototalnewbie]

I must admit I don't really have a problem getting Marathon Pluses on...

...getting them off is another matter, as Notsototalnewbie will testify.  She and I spent about 20 minutes once trying to get one off after a puncture.  We broke two plastic tyre levers.  I now have levers that have a metal core.

Sweetheart...I'm fairly sure they were Conti Sport Contacts, were they not? I think this because as we struggled manfully, I made sure to make a note of the name.

That was such a fun end to a first date  The Chelsea supporters were really helpful, too...

[Andrij]

During lunch today I will be out on the hunt for some steel levers, sod the weight!

Near the office I havev a choice of Ev*ns and OnYourBike - both had only plastic levers.  I've opted for a pair of Pedro levers.  I hope it's quite some time before I can comment on their quality.

[Notsototalnewbie]

Minx allegedly sell the Soma steel core ones, but whenever I go to add them to an order (given there is no free postage I'm not ordering them specially), they are out of stock. More back in stock on the 16th apparently.

I expect you chaps are all adding them onto your orders for skorts and the like...

[Gattopardo]

Have you tried the park levers?  3 for £1.95 from parker international with free delivery.

[Notsototalnewbie]

Park levers were one of the ones that Reg and I broke 

At least I think they were, they were that same blue colour...

[Gattopardo]

Park levers were one of the ones that Reg and I broke 

At least I think they were, they were that same blue colour...

Was it these?
         Park TL1 Tyre Levers  - Only £1.95 - Worldwide Cycling Mail Order Specialists and Consultants - Parker International
      

Crumbs

[Jasper the surreal cyclist]

Soma ones are good.......got mine from Russtler (minx for blokes)...

[clarion]

Park levers were one of the ones that Reg and I broke 

At least I think they were, they were that same blue colour...

A lot of levers are blue these days, probably riding on Park's tailcoats.  Did they actually say 'Park' on them?

I've been told that there are two different types of Park lever - one with a metal core, one without.  I'm pretty sure it was someone on here who said that.

[tiermat]

I find the best ones I have are a pair that I bought from the LBS in Brighouse, they are about 10" long and can get any tyre off any wheel (and back on again).  Even managed to get a pair of Michelin Prorace2s onto Vuelta rims (which is as difficult as getting M+ onto other rims, from the sound of it, I managed to snap 5 normal levers, and lose 3 more to dark recesses before I bought this behemoths)

Bit long to fit in the seat pack tho...

EDIT: These are 'em: Large Tyre Levers

[clarion]

I like levers with a spoke hook on hte end, so you can put them in place whilr you get the next one in...

[toekneep]

Fitting tyres - four pages of discussion - geeky? Nah, course not. 

[Chris S]

Fitting tyres - four pages of discussion - geeky? Nah, course not. 

But over here is the longest run of Cow Puns you'll find anywhere - which is just chuffing sad really - gimme Geeky any day 

[clarion]

*chuffing sad geek*