[CR]Re: Stretching Tires

(Example: Production Builders:Teledyne)

From: <Cushdelmar@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 14:46:06 EST
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Stretching Tires

As usual, my disclaimer is that I am a Tufo distributor but I have also struggled with Continentals. I bought some back from Germany and though I had made a mistake and bought 650's. I have a post front of my place and I put them over the post and leaned back with all my body weight to stretch them. I have watched bike shop employees Contis from a hook in their ceiling and hang from the tire. Tufos, on the other hand, seldom require such acrobatics. I won't say never because some of the 650's seem to be on the tight side. And it is possible to break the base tape when stretching tubulars.

Still, regardless of how easy a tubular is to get on, you should mount the tire overnight if only to make sure the tire is round and true and not leaking. I usually pump them up to 160 psi both while stretching them and after gluing them. Most dealers will not take back a tire once it has been glued on.

Jim Cushing-murray
Del Mar CA