Sjtaylor

I had Michelin Speedium 23c on Mavic MA 40 rims. I wanted to fill up space with more tire for a more supple ride so I bought Continental Grand Prix 4-Season 25c. I had a very difficult time getting those tires on the rims and they seem not that much larger. I’ll have a heck of a time changing a flat on the road and don’t think I’ve gained that much with the new high price tires.

I’m not that experienced with this stuff. Maybe I could fit a 28c tire. Maybe all folded tires are difficult to mount. The Michelins weren’t that worn and now I’ve got tires that seem to tight.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

dsbrantjr

I think that unfortunately tires do not run true to size, so one company's 23mm tire may be close in size to another's 25mm, as you have found. They may even vary within a given company's different models of the same nominal size.
I agree that running tires that you cannot easily mount is problematic and I won't do it. Having said that I would suggest that your new tires may stretch somewhat and it might be worthwhile to see if they are easier to mount now, having been mounted and inflated for some time. This does not solve the size problem but at least you may be able to get some use out of the new tires.

Or perhaps you can return or exchange the Contis for a different size/model.

Andrew R Stewart 

Better shops will allow their customer to test mount a prospective tire before purchase. But since we don't know where the OP is we don't know if there're any shops in the area. Andy

Sjtaylor

Thanks.

i’ll probably visit the LBS tomorrow and we’ll resolve this together. He warned me about tight fitting tires and I don’t need a tire like the ones I just purchased. I think the beads are Kevlar and I doubt that stuff will stretch. I don’t think we had folding clinchers back in the 70s when I was riding a lot. There is a lot to learn these days.

surak

Obligatory get a Kool Stop tire bead jack reply.

The 4-season doesn't have a reputation for being the most comfortable, supple ride, if that's what you're going for. There are plenty of other tires that inflate wide but are 25c, are considered cushy, and can be found with some deal hunting in the same price range. The Bicycle Rolling Resistance site tire reviews include inflated widths as a good starting point.

canklecat

Ditto, Kool Stop bead jack. I carry one in my jersey pocket most rides. Essential for tight fitting beads. I like my Conti road tires so I'll put up with the jack.

trailangel

They will be easier the second time.

delbiker1 

The Kool Stop works well. I have never had the Grand Prix tires but have had other continentals that were difficult to mount. My experience is that most tires are much easier the second time mounting them, as they stretch when mounted on a rim. I have a pair of Vittoria Rubino Pro G that were horrible the first time mounting. Once I got them on older wheels, that I do not get used, with the help from the Kool Stop, I left them on for a while. I took them off the old wheels and mounted them on Mavic Open Pro's with no problem.

ThermionicScott 

I recommend buying a pair of calipers ($2 or $3 at Harbor Freight) so you can quantify how wide your old and new tires are, and use allen wrenches as feeler gauges to measure how much clearance you have from your tires to the frame. It's very possible that you could have made the jump to 28mm.

seedsbelize 

The rim is the problem. I use Continental tires and they are just really, really tight on my one MA40 rim. All the Araya rims I can put them on with my bare hands.

dmanthree

Just ordered a Kool Stop jack. Didn't know about them and have struggled with some tires, like the recently mounted Michelin Power Endurance. Live and learn.

Sy Reene

+1.. once on the rim, inflated and sitting for days or weeks, just enough stretch usually gets introduced that changing and remounting should be easier down the road.