MOPED ARMY

Michelins (specially Gazelles) are notorious for having bead cords that are to tight, a lot of the European made (or ones made for the Euro manufacturers) are like that, so there is the added challenge. It is not just a you thing.

Probably have read the tips of soaping the rim, make the tube semi inflated, make sure the beat at 180 from where you work is deep into the rim well, use real spoons not blunt screw drivers... those are the 'tricks' that work for me.

So yeah - there are easier tires to mount. If you go tire hopping, just buy ones to fit how and where you ride because lets face it, even easy changes are not fun.

I think he knows he's not doing it right . And , zip ties have nothing to do with it .

The trick I learned when I was just about driven to insanity was very simple :

SLOW DOWN . Be meticulous about every step needed , making sure everything is in it's correct place . IOW , pay close attention to detail .

And ,use lots of soapy spray . ;)

By the way , I've never used tire irons or zip ties while changing tires or tubes .

I do remember once nipping a tube and having to waste my time redoing the job . :(

I've mounted two sets of Michelin City Pro's and two sets of Gazelles this year and haven't nipped one yet. I only use soapy water and two motion pro spoons. I don't know what I'm doing right; I didn't know there is a common issue with them as they've always gone on easy for me. Even 2.5-17 Gazelles went on like butter. I don't know. I've never heard of using zip ties. Sorry I'm no help. Good luck.

I can and have put them on all different ways, I do not recommend water on steel rims for it can start the rusting process right away,

Using Zip ties are a very easy way to install a tire and tube but I put the tube in with no air! people say to some put air tune but it makes it much more difficult,

2.75s go on with like one hand

Looks like a waste of zip ties, and I don't see how they make it easier. Guess I'm gonna have to watch it being done to see the benefit. I just don't think they're tough to install. Maybe because I worked as a tire jockey for a few years in my early twenties, I dunno. I put em on just like a car or truck or any tire with a drop center rim really. put a set if 2.25-17's on my Free Spirit with skinny spokes last month. That took a little effort, but not bad.

Get em on any way you can, I guess. Whatever works. But 50/50 dish soap and water does wonders. Or use vegetable soap if you're picky. Another good lube is electrical cable/conduit lube. Get it at Home Depot. But soap and water has always been my go to. Smear it all around the bead of the tire and go at it with spoons. Put one bead on, slip the tube in, pull the stem through ( until you get the hang of it, if you're not calloused, you'll lose some knuckle skin here, but suck it up), put a nut loosely on the stem to hold it, then work the uninflected tube all the way into the drop center of the rim, then while on the floor, start the second bead by hand, holding it down in place with your knees, then work your way around both directions evenly with spoons, holding in place with your knees as you go, and it will pop right on. Hasn't failed me yet in eight sets of tires in the past year, four sets of which were michelins.

Wait, you put the tube into the middle of the rim? I assumed that's the place I'd be most likely to rip it up. I've been shoving it up into the tire to get it as far from the bead as I can. Is that wrong?

Sweet. I'll try the hell out of that.

A little water in a steel rim never hurt anything .

If that were the case , why would the rims be made of steel and be expected to last 40 years while running through mud puddles and any other kind of weather , let alone being washed .

I've never had a problem in over 50 years . I don't think it be a problem in the future .

But , the water has changed over the years . Now a days , we have to worry about Necrotizing Fasciitis . :(

Save the zip ties . There's already way too much plastic waste floating around . (edited)

Looks to me like your trying to mount both beads at once.

Mount one whole bead all the way around rim in a COMPLETE circle BEFORE starting on second side.

Fill tires with expanding foam??

Are you sure you're not trying to mount a 16" tire on a 17" rim ?

And if you have air in the tube , it would make it harder to manage .

Good news/bad news.

The good: that direct feedback is exactly the kind of thing this growing boy needs, and I now know how to do it with zipties. Next time I'll dive deeper into without.

The bad: while you're all still invited to my backyard bonfire, we're now going to be burning wood and not a bike.