Stans Rims + WTB tires = why you no fit

[Baracuda]

I had the same issue last weekend - attempting to fit Schwalbe Marathons on to a Stans ZTR Crest rim. They were impossible at first, but then after a bit of kicking and screaming, I googled a hell of a lot and figured it out.

 

The trick is using the dip in the middle and talcum powder (in the case of tubeless, you would need to use another form of lube.

 

Before you start, dust out the whole tire and rim and especially the beading with lots of talcum powder.

 

Start to put the tire on like normal, but take care to keep the part that you have on the rim, in the centre of the rim, in the dip, this give you more to play with. It then takes 2-3 levers, but you can get the rest on at that point.

 

(x)

 

Then pump it up a little so it starts to expand and seat against the rim. Going around the tire and see where it is not seating on the rim but stuck in the middle. Mark or remember that point.

 

Then let down the tire, and push the whole of the tire back to middle - into the dip - so one has a little bit of play.

 

At those places where it was not seating and popping out onto the rim, apply more talcum powder and physically pull it out to the rim with your tyre lever.

 

Once that is done, pump up the tire really hard - like 80-100 psi. At about 60-80 psi you start to hear it "pop" onto the rim at it expands.

 

(y)

 

The entire tire should have seated and popped out to the rim. At which point you can release air out down to your normal mtb pressure.

 

If part of the tire is still stuck in the middle and not seated on the rim, repeat process from x to y above.

 

It may take a couple of iterations, but after 2-3 attempts, it is normally done.

[Odinson]

It's a bit of a catch-22. 

 

Through a lot of effort, you might be able to fit the tyre to the rim, but then you better hope and pray you don't encounter any issues out on the trail where you might need to take off and refit the tyre. 

[scotty]

" Wtb tightened their tolerances after someone in the states rolled a tyre off the rim and sued them. " 

 

Above is true -- they are paranoid now. Stan's Rims also have their own tolerances and the fact of the matter is that STANS + WTB is not a good route to go.

 

STANS + KENDA ( or MAXXIS or CONTINENTAL or SCHWALBE ) is perfect. 

I struggled to fit Maxxis Crossmark on my Stans Arch rims. 

[nonky]

It's a bit of a catch-22. 

 

Through a lot of effort, you might be able to fit the tyre to the rim, but then you better hope and pray you don't encounter any issues out on the trail where you might need to take off and refit the tyre. 

 

and THAT'S the reason I said goodbye to my much-loved WTB tyres...

[TheBritishTwit]

thanks guys for the help 

 

will be looking at getting a set of Maxxis as a replacement for my WTB tires 

[rouxtjie]

It's a bit of a catch-22. 

 

Through a lot of effort, you might be able to fit the tyre to the rim, but then you better hope and pray you don't encounter any issues out on the trail where you might need to take off and refit the tyre. 

yea, but there is a con to them loosy goosy tyres, besides inspiring no confidence when moering into conrners. Its getting a seal going in tubeless. Many a bomb / liters of stans have been wasted in attempts to get them seated. Not everyone have compressors at home so its a ballache. 

 

As someone said, once the tyre is on and been on for a amount of time, its easy to work with....(WTB trailboss). Yes the virgin cold casing is a beaaatch but leave it in the sun for an hour and soap the bead and rim makes the job MUCH easier.

[rouxtjie]

thanks guys for the help 

 

will be looking at getting a set of Maxxis as a replacement for my WTB tires 

Buy lots of stan's and a 4x4 compressor(min 240L/min, you need mucho air). You will thank me later.

[raptor-22]

How much soapy water are you using to fit the tyre?

Lots of liquid soap or take a cake of sunlight soap (solid kind) and rub it all along the outside of the rim bead lip and on the inside bead of the tyre.

 

When fitting make sure the one side of the tyre is in the channel all the way around and then start fitting the other bead. apply water via a sponge or spray gun (the type used for windowlene) to wet the bead and make it slippery.

It should go on now with less effort.

 

Bear in mond the kevlar bead does not stretch much so removing is always going to be problematic till the tyre is aged.

[nick_the_wheelbuilder]

WTB's and Stans are just not compatible. It can work if you struggle, but why do that to yourself?

 

The Stans rims are designed for tubeless, so if you use any other Tubeless Ready tyre, you should be good. The Maxxis UST tyres are very snug on some rims, but work. In my experience, Schwalbe tyres work best on the Stans rims. The Specialized 2bliss tyres also work well.

 

When mounting any tubeless tyre, use a spray bottle with some soapy water (I use sunlight liquid and water) and spray the rim/tyre interface well. This makes a huge difference - trying to lever a dry, sticky rubber tyre over the rim doesn't make me happy.

[Odinson]

yea, but there is a con to them loosy goosy tyres, besides inspiring no confidence when moering into conrners. Its getting a seal going in tubeless. Many a bomb / liters of stans have been wasted in attempts to get them seated. Not everyone have compressors at home so its a ballache. 

 

As someone said, once the tyre is on and been on for a amount of time, its easy to work with....(WTB trailboss). Yes the virgin cold casing is a beaaatch but leave it in the sun for an hour and soap the bead and rim makes the job MUCH easier.

 

True. Even the most hardegat of tyres limber up with time. 

 

I also had a hard time with my Michelin's, because of how grippy the rubber is and how stiff the casing. After a while I developed a bit of a technique that made removing and fitting the tyre a lot easier. 

 

Setting up tubeless was also a breeze.