How to Stretch a Spare Tubular Tire?
08-19-13, 02:44 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
How to Stretch a Spare Tubular Tire?
I understand, in theory, how to conduct an emergency change if I happen to be riding a tubular and it flats, but this assumes that I have a pre-stretched tubular tire with me. My conundrum is that I have only one pair of tubular wheels and they are both occupied with glued-on tires. How do I pre-stretch the spare? Do I stretch it on one of my clincher rims (seems like a bad idea, but I'm not certain why)? Is pre-stretching not critical, so I just shouldn't worry about it?
08-19-13, 02:46 PM
#2
South Carolina Ed
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Greer, SC
Posts: 3,889
Bikes: Holdsworth custom, Macario Pro, Ciocc San Cristobal, Viner Nemo, Cyfac Le Mythique, Giant TCR, Tommasso Mondial, Cyfac Etoile
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 291 Times
in
138 Posts
You can use a 700c clincher rim/wheel
08-19-13, 02:53 PM
#4
Senior Member
I don't stretch my tires (Bontrager, Vittoria) unless I have some time to plan tire stuff. The last few tires I've glued I've glued straight, no stretching, and one I did like that in 20 minutes (the Missus went to the hospital to be induced and I decided to glue a rear tire before I joined her at the hospital).
I do think it's important to inflate a tire for a bit of time, just to see if it goes really flat in a few hours. This is to check for any manufacturing problems (bad tube etc). I haven't done that in a while since it would be a pain to return a tire if it's bad and since I usually don't do this right when I get my tires. It might be a year or two before I finally use a tire.
I do think it's important to inflate a tire for a bit of time, just to see if it goes really flat in a few hours. This is to check for any manufacturing problems (bad tube etc). I haven't done that in a while since it would be a pain to return a tire if it's bad and since I usually don't do this right when I get my tires. It might be a year or two before I finally use a tire.
08-19-13, 02:59 PM
#5
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
I understand, in theory, how to conduct an emergency change if I happen to be riding a tubular and it flats, but this assumes that I have a pre-stretched tubular tire with me. My conundrum is that I have only one pair of tubular wheels and they are both occupied with glued-on tires. How do I pre-stretch the spare? Do I stretch it on one of my clincher rims (seems like a bad idea, but I'm not certain why)? Is pre-stretching not critical, so I just shouldn't worry about it?
08-19-13, 03:05 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
My LBS had a few wrecked tubular rims in the back and gave me one that was still good enough to use for stretching a new tire or for practice in gluing technique.
08-19-13, 03:16 PM
#7
Senior Member
Take off one of the tires you already have mounted and use it for your spare. Tires that have been glued and mounted make for better spares. Mine tend to be those with lots of mileage on them, but taking off a newer one will give you more confidence.
08-19-13, 03:47 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1958 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times
in
1,489 Posts
You can stretch on a clincher rim, I do that all the time.
08-19-13, 04:39 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
08-19-13, 05:12 PM
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I third the using clincher rim advise. Works well. And to the guy who doesn't pre-stretch - obviously you've never mounted a Conti tubular - pre-stretching takes it from impossible to just barely doable.
08-19-13, 05:26 PM
#11
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Old tubular hoops aren't expensive.
08-19-13, 05:46 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Perth, Australia and sometimes Penang Malaysia
Posts: 1,916
Bikes: Litespeed L1r, Litespeed Ghisallo 07, TCR Advanced Team SL 0 ISP, Giant TCR Advanced SL, Giant TCR Advanced Team - T-Mobile, Giant Propel Advanced SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Don't use Conti's as a spare, their even a bugger to get off especially if your using tape, because they are so tight to get on in the first place
I use Stan no tubes sealant in the tubulars I've tried, the only total failure was a sizeable gash high up in the side wall with a veloflex extreme tubular, with the other smaller punctures the Stans have fixed them up without stopping.
I would say the Conti Competitions are the most puncture resistant and durable, also if you use the 19mm size you can still keep the weight down to around 230gms
Last edited by kleng; 08-19-13 at 05:50 PM.
08-19-13, 06:31 PM
#13
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,056
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22600 Post(s)
Liked 8,928 Times
in
4,160 Posts
08-19-13, 07:42 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 1,657
Bikes: Cervelo S2, Workswell 062, Banshee Spitfire
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The easiest tire to get on after the pre-stretch is any high end Vittoria tire. Proabably because the tire is so thin and runs latex tubes. I can usually muscle the tire on even if its not stretched.
I'm currently using the Conti Sprinter Gatorskins...and even after stretching for over a month...I still struggle to get the tire on the rim (thick ass rubber)...where the Vittoria pretty much just slips on.
I have a pair of 303 tubulars and I use that to stretch my tires.
I'm currently using the Conti Sprinter Gatorskins...and even after stretching for over a month...I still struggle to get the tire on the rim (thick ass rubber)...where the Vittoria pretty much just slips on.
I have a pair of 303 tubulars and I use that to stretch my tires.
08-20-13, 11:03 AM
#15
Full Member
Thread Starter
Thanks. Great advice. This is, thankfully, simpler than I feared.
08-20-13, 11:45 AM
#16
Senior Member
Heh.
Although there are many intraweb things on how to mount a tire I do the following and it's been good to me:
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...e-tubular.html
You can put a piece large cardboard on the floor or use a not-dusty floor (swept garage, etc) instead of using a truing stand. The tricky part is where to put the wheel after it has glue on it, not so much the "getting the glue on". The tire is easy, it sits glue-side-up, wheel is trickier. It's totally possible to hold the wheel in one hand while applying glue with the other. Tire I prefer to leave on the floor, too much wiggling and I inevitably touch the tire after it has glue on it.
Any doubts about your glue job and you should reglue it. Rolling a tubular is not good.
Good luck.
Although there are many intraweb things on how to mount a tire I do the following and it's been good to me:
https://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.co...e-tubular.html
You can put a piece large cardboard on the floor or use a not-dusty floor (swept garage, etc) instead of using a truing stand. The tricky part is where to put the wheel after it has glue on it, not so much the "getting the glue on". The tire is easy, it sits glue-side-up, wheel is trickier. It's totally possible to hold the wheel in one hand while applying glue with the other. Tire I prefer to leave on the floor, too much wiggling and I inevitably touch the tire after it has glue on it.
Any doubts about your glue job and you should reglue it. Rolling a tubular is not good.
Good luck.
08-20-13, 12:09 PM
#17
South Carolina Ed
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Greer, SC
Posts: 3,889
Bikes: Holdsworth custom, Macario Pro, Ciocc San Cristobal, Viner Nemo, Cyfac Le Mythique, Giant TCR, Tommasso Mondial, Cyfac Etoile
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 344 Post(s)
Liked 291 Times
in
138 Posts
Any excess glue on the tire or rim cleans up instantly with a little miner spirits = paint thinner on a rag.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ljsense
Bicycle Mechanics
8
10-03-16 06:25 PM
