It's my first tire change experience and I got so far using youtube videos but now I'm stuck. Got these Schwalbe 365 tires yesterday for my folding bike. It is an all season model which feels a bit harder than the tire that was on the bike from the factory but both are 40-406 20x1.5". The bead doesn't sit properly on the rim. This is the case from both sides as seen in the images. There's a small misalignment between where the problem manifests itself on each side of the rim. The tube is also brand new (Continental). The temprature in the bicycle room where I tried is around 16-22 deg.

Hadn't used soapy water when installing the tire and can't measure tire pressure (it's recommended 3-6 bar).

What do you recommend to solve the issue?

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Update: bought a pump with gauge, rotated the tire and used a bit of liquid soap to end up with this result:

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One thing that I discovered today is that the tire is literally tighter at the point where there's a problem which makes me think the tire might have some issues due to how it was stored I the shop. But that would be too sad because despite the issues I really like these tires.

  • Note that the reflective bands on Schwalbe tyres don't always run parallel to the tire bead, so you should check tyre seating by other features on the tyre, not by these bends. – Marjan Sep 26 '18 at 7:41
  • In these tires they are perfectly in place (as well as my new 26" bike). – AlexStack Sep 26 '18 at 19:39
  • One thing to check is that you have the right tubes. An oversized tube may fold and create a lump, while an undersized tube may not inflate evenly. (Yeah, not too likely for a 20-inch tire, but definitely a risk with 24/26 inch tires and some of the older road tires.) – Daniel R Hicks Sep 27 '18 at 0:17
  • This is the tube: m.bikester.se/… which if I understand correctly fit any tire 32-406 > 47-451 mine is 40-406 – AlexStack Sep 27 '18 at 6:48
  • Given the efforts you've made to get the tyre to seat properly with no success I would remove and examine the tyre, particularly around the problem area. It is quite possible that this is due to a manufacturing default, and if this is the case, you should return the tyre and have it replaced with a new one. – T_Bacon Sep 27 '18 at 7:55

The tire sidewall is just hung up on the rim a little. It’s a common problem.

Deflate the tire until you can deform it a little with your hands, rotate the wheel so the problematic section is at the top. Grab the tire from the side and lever it back and forth. You should be able to pop it out so the bead sits on the rim properly.

BTW, a pressure gauge is a good investment so you know you are inflating your tire to the proper pressure.

Here's a link to Park Tool's video on tire installation, at the point it addresses the bead being too high or low.


  • Some soapy water on the rim-sidewall interface can also help. It also helps to do it in a warm environment -- ie., leave the bike outside in the sun for a while if it's sunny (be sure to lock it up!) -- or gentle application of a hairdryer. – RoboKaren Sep 25 '18 at 18:07
  • For more leverage I have clamped the tire in a vise before torquing on the wheel to get a suborn tire to seat. – Rider_X Sep 26 '18 at 19:52
  • I did everything you said (except the sun part because I'm in northern Europe) and updated the question with a slight improvement. I guess I need to lubricate it even more (today's soapy water was too little) but I don't dare to pump it more than 100 psi and my pump gauge doesn't even have more than 100! 😁 – AlexStack Sep 26 '18 at 19:53
  • @AlexStack If the pumping to max pressure does not work, you need to deflate it so the tire is almost loose on the rim, You should be able to push the sidewall in off the rim with your thumbs, then essentially push and pull it manually until it seats properly. – Argenti Apparatus Sep 26 '18 at 20:03
  • 1
    @AlexStack I can tweak language though – Argenti Apparatus Sep 29 '18 at 15:41

Sometimes I've found that pumping up the tyre to the rated pressure (or a little over), deflating most of the way, and pumping up again does the trick. You can chuck some water on the bead while its deflated (I use plain rather than soapy water for that; it's not as effective but doesn't leave a slippery residue)

You can also try riding a few hundred metres gently with the tyre fairly soft then pumping up hard.

A pump with a pressure gauge is really useful for stubborn tyres, I run mainly Schwalbe, and some of theirs can be tricky, though I've had worse.

  • Conti even recommends 150% of the rated pressure to seat some of their stiffer touring tyres. That may not always be advisable though! – gschenk Sep 25 '18 at 19:47
  • @gschenk funnily enough the "I've had worse" referred to contis, though I hadn't seen that advice. I'd push my marathons that hard if necessary but haven't needed to, and wouldn't risk it with cheap tyres – Chris H Sep 26 '18 at 5:45
  • The idea with running the bike half deflated is a good one. Will give it a try (updated the question with today's efforts) – AlexStack Sep 26 '18 at 19:55

Pump up the tire more until it seats itself properly on the rim. Deflate to desired pressure afterwards.


Make sure the tire is properly seated and the tube is not pinched anywhere. Then pump up to maximum allowed pressure (or even slightly higher). If the tube is pinched anywhere it will rupture with a very loud bang. If you are unsure, better wear some hearing protection or do it outside and keep as much distance to your head as possible.

Deflate to desired pressure afterwards.

Sometimes it’s actually the reflective stripe which is misaligned.

  • It would be much better to make sure first that the inner tube is not pinched between rim and tyre by Argenti Apparatus' method. – gschenk Sep 25 '18 at 19:50
  • It's not pinched. I even redid the whole process carefully again just to make sure of this. – AlexStack Sep 26 '18 at 20:21

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