Checking wear on a tyre
To measure the wear on your road cycling tyres and know when they need replacing, you need to inspect the tread. Signs of wear may include:
- the tyre tread beginning to fray
- a series of micro cracks
- flattening of the tread
- the carcass becoming visible.
If any of these signs are visible, or the tyre is worn, it should be changed to ensure your safety.
Removing a tubular tyre
To remove the tyre, deflate the inner tube until no more air escapes.
You can then unglue the tyre from the rim using horizontal pressure. If the tyre is too tightly glued and cannot be removed, you can use a small flathead screwdriver to create a gap between the tyre and the rim, which can then be used as a left and right lever to remove the tyre without causing damage.
Cleaning the rim before cementing the tubular tyre
Use a cloth to wipe solvent on the rim to remove the cement.
Then wipe with a clean cloth to completely dry the rim.
When the rim is clean, you can then move on to the cementing step
Cementing your tyre
Use a brush to apply a smooth, uniform layer of cement.
Leave to dry for 24 hours then apply a second layer.
Inflate your tubular tyre to 2 bars then use a brush to apply a thin layer to the tyre. Allow to dry for around 10 minutes.
Insert the valve into the rim, and gradually ease the tyre onto the rim, maintaining slight tension. Once installed, check the tyre is correctly centred. To recentre your tyre, press on it and roll it under your fingers.
Inflating a tubular tyre correctly
To remove the tyre, deflate the inner tube until no more air escapes.
You can then unglue the tyre from the rim using horizontal pressure. If the tyre is too tightly glued and cannot be removed, you can use a small flathead screwdriver to create a gap between the tyre and the rim, which can then be used as a left and right lever to remove the tyre without causing damage.
Tip from the pros
When inflating your tubular tyre, try to inflate it to the correct pressure for the terrain and weather encountered.
When riding in rainy weather, lower the tyre pressure to increase the tyre's traction.
On the other hand, when riding in dry weather, you can increase the pressure for better performance.