PoorInRichfield

** Update as of 08/14/2020 - I "transplanted" my GP5000 tires from the Bontrager Aeolus 3V Pro wheels to a new set of Light Bicycle wheels. I was able to get the tires on the new wheels without tools. Therefore, the difference must be in the diameter of the Bontrager wheels. While a huge pain to get the tires on those wheels, the good part about the tight bead was that I really didn't need to put any sealant in the wheel to get it to seal. **

I installed a new set of Continental Grand Prix GP5000 TL tires (700 x 32C) on my Bontrager Aeolus 3V Pro rims today and am now almost too tired to type the rest of this post. I've read various posts on the Interwebs that these tubeless tires are really tough to get on. THAT is an understatement! I was only moments away from selling the new tires and trying something else that wouldn't require the strength of Hercules to get on my wheels.

I eventually did get the tires on using a mounting technique I never had to use before. The technique is so new and odd that I drew-up the diagram below and this new technique shall forever be called "The Taylor Technique" for the rest of bicycling history! I used Park TL-1.2 tire levers. I used to think they were way too bulky, but now I love them because I can't believe they didn't break.

How to Install an Evil Tubeless Tire with an Overly Tight Bead

* Make sure the tire rotation arrow on the side of the tire is pointing the right direction or you will hate yourself after Step 3. (Yes, the GP5000's are directional.)
1. Prop your wheel against a wall so it doesn't go anywhere.
2. Use the spoke-hook end of the tire lever to hold the bead on the wheel (Yes, this is the wrong end of the tire lever, I know).
3. Use the spoke-hook end of another tire lever to slide along the wheel bead, prying the bead on as you go. (Once again, I know this is the wrong end of the tire lever, but it works!) This step is 10x harder than it sounds and is the reason the wheel is propped against the wall!



Now that I got the tires on, the good thing about them is that the bead is so darn tight that I could literally go for a ride with them without a drop of tire sealant. I was also able to inflate them with a regular floor pump with no issue. I don't think it's sane to think I'd be able to remove and reinstall one of these on the road side, however.

I hope this helps at least one of you in the future!

Ross520

* Edit - Was confused as to what technique was used. If you that worked, great, but it looks more difficult than it needs to be
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Batstar

Kool Stop tire bead jack works like a charm for me.

https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tir.../dp/B089B5718Q

Barry2 

Had a similar issue with 5000’s.
my saddle bag now contains a length of parachute cord. I tie the tire to the rim and use one lever to move towards the tied point.

Barry

PoorInRichfield

I've been cycling for over 25 years and know how to install tires. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

Troul 

the wall is the key part with this process. If you use the thick nylon cord & a nearby tree with those levers, it is possible.

Oneder

That's just normal technique so far as I can tell. I sometimes stop when it it is about 9 inches away and then muscle it over with my hand as hard as possible and that works well for even tougher ones.

MattTheHat 

Mine went on fairly tight too. I will say that after about 5-6,000 miles they loosen up nicely. I had to add some sealant to mine this weekend and they just slipped back on by hand.

blakcloud

I feel your pain. I tried to mount Rene Herse Chinook Pass tires on Aeolus Pro 3's and after two hours gave up. Some tire rim combos just are too difficult to manage. Glad that you finally succeeded.

A few weeks ago someone here posted about a broken carbon rim trying to mount a tire. The wheel was warrantied but it reminded me not to push it when it comes to mounting difficult tires on carbon rims.

InvertedMP 

Interesting. I got mine on without tire levers on my Reynolds AR58x wheels.

August West

I just mounted a pair last week on my November rgc36 CF wheels and once I figured out the technique I was surprised how easy it was.

Originally I figured I would just muscle them on by hand but it became quite clear within a few minutes that was never going happen. I was reluctant to use levers on my wheels so I emailed my wheel builder and asked him how he did it since he mounts them on some of the wheels he builds if the customer orders them. He said he had never mounted one without using levers so I figured I'd give it a try. If they were too tight I was prepared to bail and go a different direction since I didn't want to destroy a wheel.

The trick I found worked well for me was to use the Schwalbe tire levers I already had. Simply start on the side opposite the valve and mount by hand until they start to get tight. At that point attach the clip part of the levers to the hook on the rim (see photo). Then take the remaining lever and gently lift the bead up and over the rim. The trick was to take little bites at a time right next the the clipped levers then slide the levers up each time as you go.

By doing a little at a time I was surprised how little pressure I needed to coax the bead over the rim. In fact, on the rear tire I noticed after I got it on the logo had become mis-aligned with the valve stem by a few degrees so being somewhat OCD I removed the tire, repositioned it and installed it again. I wouldn't advise levering it in the middle as in the photo since that will but and extreme amount of pressure on the rim. Insert the lever under the bead at that point but slide it over next to the clipped lever before lifting up. Also wanted to make sure I would be able to do this on the side of the road in case I ever need to put a tube in so I ordered another set of levers. One set for the shop and the other to keep on the bike.




https://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2019/...re-levers.html

Slightspeed

Me too, even works for Panaracer Paselas, which are worse than Contis when new.

surak

Yup.

Also, how has no one mentioned that tubeless rims have a central channel that you should press the beads into to get more section of tire around the rim?

shelbyfv

The Crank Bros "Speedier" lever is another choice. Not as useful as the Kool Stop but small enough to fit in a seat pack.

bruce19

This is exactly why I went with Mavic USTs. Thanks to a GCN video.

PoorInRichfield

Thanks for this link... I didn't know this tool existed and will definitely be adding it to my tool arsenal. My forearms are actually sore from wrestling with the GP5000's yesterday

ThermionicScott 

No mention of putting the tire beads in the well of the rim. Sounds like you're working harder, not smarter.

GlennR

Looks like fun to fix a flat when your 40 miles from home.

PoorInRichfield

** Update as of 08/14/2020 **

I "transplanted" my GP5000 tires from the Bontrager Aeolus 3V Pro wheels to a new set of Light Bicycle wheels. I was able to get the tires on the new wheels without tools. Therefore, the difference must be in the diameter of the Bontrager wheels.

DrIsotope

Some wheels just don't like some tires, and vice-versa. I'm lucky in that my Kinlins (which are on 3 of 4 bikes) aren't super particular about tires, and I haven't had much of an issue outside of the infernal Maxxis Padrone. Bike 4 has a mix-n-match Crank Brothers Iodine/Cobalt wheelset, and they are without parallel the easiest rims to mount tires to, hands down. Tires practically fall onto them.

Toespeas

dude you just need high quality tire levers and a really long flat head screw drive , you can just slip the plastic lever under a bead and push down the floor use gravity and your body weight to lift the bead over the rim , and to mount hold one side of the bead , and just use a large drive to flip the bead over the rim , wrap it in electrical tape if you have delicate rims !

PoorInRichfield

Thanks everyone for the helpful tips on what I "should've done", but unless you were there, you have no idea how tight the GP5000s are on the Bontrager wheels. Per the advice of @Batstar, I purchased the Kool Stop tire bead jack as well and that's by far the best tool I've seen for helping to get some leverage on a tight bead w/o having to do what I did to get a tight tire on.

icemilkcoffee 

Or maybe the tire got stretched out so the second time was easier.

BHG6

Those were my thoughts exactly when I tried mounting a set of those on my Mavic UST rims. I probably could've forced them on if I really wanted to but, they put up so much resistance (even after laying in the Arizona sun for over an hour) that I decided it wasn't worth the effort knowing that I'd be screwed six ways from Sunday if I ever had to boot a tire or install a tube while out on a ride.

Pop N Wood

I wouldn't rely too heavily on that tool, it doesn't always work. It can be hard to hook the bead especially with thin road tires.

Even with that tool you still need to make sure the tire is in the well of the rim and not up on the bead seat.

I use small plastic clothes pin type clips around the tire to hold both sides of the tire together. This makes it easier to keep the tire centered in the rim well. A ratcheting bar clamp ($3 at harbor freight) holds the bead still and takes the place of your second tire iron. The clamp is quicker than tying a cord or fastening zip ties and has he added shop advantage of holding brake calipers closed when adjusting cable lengths.

Soapy water would have made your day go better as well.

Oh, and don't expect those little hooks on your tire irons to live long. Flip the iron over and used the flat side in the same manner.