rear flat/almost crashed...!!!

[mightbesane]

I do a lot of my own maintenance but never tires. One failure at low speed was enough - a valve failed and, like you, I was one my side in seconds. Fortunately, I was doing a slow turn at a traffic light so I could just lay my scoot down without much trouble. Glad that you're OK.

[scorpakid]

i didn't crash...just wobbled into the side of road.... im pretty sure it was the tyre weld...coz thinking back...the times i have used tyre weld to get me home have been with a tubed tyre....

i only used the stuff coz the aerosol had just enough ooomph to get the tyre seated...i usually have no probs but this new tyre..(conti twist) was a bit of a pig..

i was thinking of trying that technique they used on top gear to seat the 4x4 tyres...spraying some lighter gas inside the tyre then ingniting it...the resulting bang seats the tyre..... good for a HUGE 4x4 tyre but not really safe on a scooter tyre...lol....

i have used 70psi on the many bikes i have owned over the years to seat the bead correctly then deflate to 30 something psi.. and never had any probs... but advice taken onboard for future home fettling...

[Data]

Scorpa, you obvously know a lot about tyre fitting and I can't tell you much more. It sounds as if you have identified the problem. The ability of the equipment used by the tyre fitting professionals, the compressor in particular, lets them avoid having to push up the fitting pressure beyond the norms. It's not so much high pressure that is needed but the ability to reach a normal or slightly beyond normal pressure very very quickly that does the seating of the bead. And of course, plenty of soap or anything without salt or solvent in it. Good on yer!

[poldark]

I wonder if the tyre itself had any bearing?

Reason I mention it is I recently had City Grips fitted and during chit-chat with tyre shop manager I commented on lack of Contis in his wide range of stock (I've had a pair before on old AN400X, but sold it soon after).

He was none too complimentary and mentioned several failures that "allegedly" were related to construction & build quality, so he no longer carried them. Perhaps that's at least contributory.

Having said that my City Grip on the rear lost pressure over first few days and had to revisit to have it refitted, but that was down to internal wheel corrosion that they spent a lot of time grinding/cleaning off, at no extra cost, so it sealed properly with lots of black sealant along with a right-angled boltable valve rather than standard "loose fit" and it's not lost a single pound in over a month since.

[Deeping]

If the tyre was inflated to the right pressure and undamaged, I don't see how it could come off the beads and into the well, bazaar!