I've got a problem mounting a Specialized All Condition Armadillo Tyre. 700 x 23c

The problem is that opposite the valve the tyre bead stays in the well on the rim, around the valve the tyre bulges out too far. It simply won't slide over the ridge on the rim all the way round.

I've never had this problem, or even thought about it before. I've made about 10 attempts to get this tyre on correctly.

Has anyone else had an issue like this or found a solution?

Most of the tips on this guide have been followed.
Michelin Guide

This has to be the stupidest problem ever, but until you see it you wouldn't believe it could happen.

You may need to push the valve stem inwards (i.e. into the tyre) so that its base clears the bottom of the rim. Then you should be able to get the bead 'under' the valve's base without trapping the inner tube and pull it out again once it's fitted - or let the pressure push it out.

Be careful not to introduce an offset into the position, though, or it will poke out of the hole on a slant with a possible wear point.

As Neil says, I always push the valve up into the tyre whne seating the bead in that area.

As for those Armadildo tyres, I never had so many winter punctures as i did with them. The deapness of the tread seemed to have the effect of capturing slithers of flint which would then work through the tyre over time and cause a puncture. I had six in one month!

When inspecting the tyre upon removal I found loads of bits of flint still embeded in the rubber.

Thanks Gents

I'll give the valve thing a go.
I'll also try starting from the furthest point from the valve like the Michelin guide suggests.

Armadillos are slow too, but they don't seem to cut / tear and I don't want to mess up any more decent tyres until the conditions get a bit better.

On straight first time.
I changed the rim tape too for one with a slightly thinner profile.

Thanks for your help.

You've cursed it now. no punctures in 1500 miles, then 2 in a week.

700x23c Armadillo? Deep tread? You're having a laugh, surely? I've got the same size tyres on my Specialized Tricross and to me they're virtually slick tyres, the "tread" is only 0.5mm "deep"

Are you getting any punctures Dave?

No, but that's because I'm using the Boardman CX with positively MTB-like Schwalbe Land Cruiser tyres which are proving to be excellent so far (good grip off-road but slick enough on-road, and zero punctures)

Not so much deep thead as thick tread. Just seems to collect flints deep in the rubber which then work through and cause punctures. I just gave up with them, the ride was poor too.

The "treads" are completely pointless - marketing-related nonsense. No idea about the tyres though I've never seen them recommended on any bike forum.

The tread hasn't been any use on the road, but I've noticed a little bit more traction through mud.

I agree about the ride too. It is like they're made of wood.

It will be a good day when they finally wear through to the canvas.

And another puncture yesterday.

I spent a while with a magnifying glass and a pin digging out lots of tiny bits of stone that seem like they've burrowed their way in under the tread, and it has coped OK this morning.

I'm guessing one of these stones - or one I've yet to find- is the cause.

I've been very pleasantly surprised by my Vittoria Rubino Pros for puncture resistance - they also roll extremely well. On top of all that, they are very reasonably-priced compared with many similar tyres. Only had one "puncture" (tyre slashed by a large bit of broken bottle) this year and I've done 3000 miles in 2012

I too have had good experiences with the Rubino tyres, mine were the standard version and came with the bike when I got it last year. They wore out before I had a single puncture, they are easier to fit that michelin or contis too.

Skinflint your experience with the specialized roubaix is exactely as per mine. 2-3 months of zero punctures then endless punctures. The tread on mine was littered with flints and bits of glass which over time work their way past the armadillo "puncture proof" band. Clearing it out was time consuming and a real chore, I hated the things. 3 Punctures on one dank and mucky Sunday ride was enough for me. They still get a great press on a load of cycling forums

Those Rubino Pro tyres seem like just the right thing for the daily bike. It seems you've fitted them and run them almost all year round.
If they're quick too that's a bonus.

That's an impressive haul of miles too. I thought I was doing OK with 2700 but that's in the "soft" South without too many hills.


I think I'll give it another couple of runs and if the punctures keep coming I'll change them. Maybe the tyre's anti-puncture layer breaks down when exposed to lots and lots of small stones and wet weather before the tread wears down?

Thanks - yup I've done 4000 miles in the last 365 days - was aiming higher but work-related travel abroad always gets in the way.

I'm really impressed with the Rubinos and, yes, I run them most of the year - only ice stops me using the road bike and then I'm on the MTB with Ice Spiker Pros. As for speed, I can't detect or measure the difference between the Rubinos and GP4000Ss. The Rubinos are 150TPI and roll really well.

I guess there's next year to do 5000.

Strange to have a nice car, and then start cycling through rain, ice, wind etc....

I guess you're running the Rubino Pro slick tyre?

Yeah - but you don't get fit driving a car

Mine aren't the slicks I think - they're slick around the middle but slightly patterned around the edges. Basically I think they're the standard Rubino Pros - folding version.

OK thanks. I'll start looking out for some deals.

Just spotted this possibility for an ordeal.

London Paris 24 hr

280 miles in 24 hours.

Conti Podiums 19mm are slick and fast and will go up to 200psi which can be uncomfortable. I run 10 BAR which feels nice without skipping.
Tread on a road bike is a waste of time and can lead to picking up debris.
Why not let the road grip the tyre?

Are those tubular tyres Robshed? What do you do with them when you get a puncture? I bet they're quick

Another good thing about the Rubinos - they'll take 145 psi/10 Bar where most tyres seem to max out at 120/125.

Today has been the all time low.
3 punctures.
All from inside the wheel rather than from the road.

I've ordered some proper Velox cloth rim tape so hopefully this problem will go away.

Ouch! Was that 3 in one journey? Did you manage to carry on by changing tubes? I've only managed 2 in a single trip but had to give up and walk once...

Can you match up the puncture locations with any of the spoke ends that might be sticking up too far inside the wheel rim? Was that 3 punctures in the same (new?) inner tube? What's the advantage of "proper cloth" rim tape? What make of inner tube have you got, some of them bulge all over the place if you inflate them outside of the tyre, which makes me think the tube thickness is not very uniform.

Yep, tubs.
Just put Conti Tempo's on the Spinergy Rev-X's (19mm front/22mmrear) as spare TT wheels. These like 165/175 psi.
When they wear-out/puncture, they get binned. They can be professionally repaired but would you trust them at 55/60mph on a gift hill in a TT ?

Yes they're quick. PB's in 2005/2006 were 21.18 for 10 miles and 54.35 for 25 miles. this year 22.01 and 56.47, however I'm 52 y.o. now so gettin'on a bit !

With clinchers, I too have suffered internal punctures. A cure for this is a layer or two of electrical tape plus a good dusting of chalk inside the clincher (Conti Supersonic).

First one the bike was in my office. A loud hissing noise came on all by itself, hole on the inner seam.
Second was after about 13 miles. Third was just a mile later. I was by the side of the road gluing on a patch when a kindly passer by offered me a lift the rest of the way home.


I tried that by marking the rim, tyre and tube. It does match up with a spoke location, but the punctures don't all come from that point on the wheel.


No, I carry a spare, and neither of them are new.



I looked around on some forums and this stuff is the correct 17mm wide, self-adhesive, and able to take 120 psi. The tape I have is a bright yellow plastic one that slips around the rim exposing the spoke holes when you try to put the tyre on. I can see that it has been pushed into the spoke holes with the pressure, and a lot of the punctures seem to have happened when the tape is a bit off line. It also has sharp edges, and has punctured one tube where it joins itself.


The one that went twice is a Specialized light something or other.. I think the other one is a Decathlon cheapie. They do 2 for £3 or something.

I've seen these speeds on websites and always wanted to find somebody to ask how it is done?
I'm struggling to get beyond 21 mph average. Your 10 mile pace is about 27 mph. Is there a peloton? Are you using tri bars/ aero helmet etc? does the extra 40 psi in the tyres make much difference? I'm keen to figure out what to try next. (once I can get the stupid back wheel to hold air again)



My last effort was similar. I put a layer of electrical tape on, then superglued the rim tape to the electrical tape in the hope that it wouldn't move.

I'll try that if this poncey cloth tape doesn't work.


One more quick question... Is there a pump you can carry with you that actually mates onto the presta valve properly and can inflate the tyres beyond 50 psi?

I'm no expert, but at those pressures isn't any common or garden inner tube going to be hugely vulnerable to the smallest sharp edge or object?

Oddly the opposite is true. A 700 x 23C is really susceptible to pinch flats at 50 psi.

If it is working properly a tyre inflated to 125 psi can resist punctures really well. (in my experience 700 - 1500 miles puncture free with various Michelins and Specialized tyres)

The secret is training at FTP on the turbo.
No, Time Trialling is a solo effort against the clock.
Yep, lycra, head fairing, and loadsa carbon (look like a wally).
Ramp up the psi for billiard-smooth tarmac and drop it a bit for rougher surfaces. It's a rolling resistance thing with trade-off for a little comfort and trying to avoid your power contact point on the road skipping the surface.

Track Pump-wise, I used to use Blackburn but switched to Geniune Innovations Top Dog to easily hit 160psi.
I don't carry any spares in a race.

Punctures at these pressures are actually a rarity in TT'ing so ..