chas58

I have the same experience and the same frustration. Your picture makes it clear – its the rim bed that is preventing you from mounting the tires.
I’ve got the exact same problem with some schwalbe’s (35mm) There is just know way they are going on some of my older wheels without breaking something. Well, I’ve broken about 7 pedro levers. It depends a lot on the wheel. I think with newer style wheels with a deep gutter running in the center of the wheel they will mount fine. But on a wheel more than a couple of years old – with a shallow rim bed – it just isn’t going to happen for me.

How do you get a snake bite on a tubeless tire? Or are you running tubes?
FYI, sealant doesn’t protect against snake bites. I’ve learned the hard way. But the centrifugal force of when riding keeps the sealant away from the snake bite area.

bikemig 

Yeah I love Velox but I think Stans may be the answer. I've also seen a few threads suggesting that there are industrial tape alternatives that will do the job at a lower price. No experience with this but some say it does the job,

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C0Z21PK...rum-convert-20

Mmassey338

Lemond1985

Update: I got some of the Panaracer Paselas, also in 700 x 28. Similar mounting issues but I was ready this time with soapy water, and a Kool Stop Tire Jack.

I was peeved initially, when the tires appeared a couple mm too narrow. But since then, I've put the both sets of tires on various bikes, and was happy to see the the Panaracers in 28 mm fit all of my older road bikes that otherwise won't take tires that really are 28 mm.

So the under-sizing of these tires was genius on Panaracer's part, a 28 mm tire for road bikes that normally can't clear 28's.

fishboat

I run a bunch of these tires(Gravel King slicks in 700cx28) on a number of vintage-early 2000's bikes. The 28s typcally run 26.5-27mm, Nice tire.

Lemond1985

+1

The 28 mm Gravel Kings even fit on my '88 Cannondale Criterium Series. And that bike has terrible tire clearance too, being designed as a crit frame and all. They admittedly max-out the frame though, I'm never gonna be able to fit anything wider on this bike.

5teve

I was able to fit 650bX47 GK's on Easton rims without too much trouble. Had to preset one bead with a tube to get them set up tubeless but that happens with about half the tires I install.

Explosive

This thread makes me feel better about myself lol. Last year i was having a hell of a time getting 700x28 gravel kings mounted up and it was mt first time messing with road tires and found myself wondering how the hell people make it look so effortless in the middle of a ride or race.

Lemond1985

Hopefully mine will stretch out some before I get my first flat. I've used wire bead tires most of my life, these folding tires seem much more difficult to mount. I'm not convinced they're worth the trouble.

I do think part of the trouble was the tackiness of a new tire, and its tendency to not want to slide easily over an aluminum rim, especially when it's been folded up in a freakin box for the last year. Folding tires definitely take some getting used to.

fishboat

After they've been mounted and have some miles on them they're MUCH easier to mount the second time.

sail

A bit of soapy water works wonders.

rosefarts

Just mounted mine today on DT Swiss 460's. I also mounted them with Skinny Strippers. I was worried because of this thread but with some soapy water and one tire lever, they went on fine, even with the Skinny Strippers.

I used a compressor to fill them up and both held air the first time. I deflated them and added 60ml orange sealant. Today they measured almost exactly 38mm. I'll check again after tomorrow's ride.

rosefarts

They didn't lose a single psi overnight (maybe 1). Are currently sitting at 39.5mm. I'm glad I didn't get the 43's.

I put 60 miles on them today. Gravel, hardpack, washboard, and a little paved. They perform great and feel surprisingly unrestricted at 21-27 mph (I got a nice section of pack with no wind and a slight downhill, for once).

They also happen to be the same blue as my bike. Looks sharp on Blackwall.

I'll keep them.

79pmooney

I do a little gravel riding. I just use Panasonic Paselas. They seem to work just fine and mount without difficulty on Open Pro or Velocity Aero rims. Is there a reason I should jump ship and graduate to the Gravel King headaches?

Ben

tofudog415

I recently mounted the 43mm SK model on 21mm internal UST rims. It was really challenging, but this thread ironically gave me the motivation to keep trying. I used two Pedros levers and quite a bit of force (though not enough to think anything was gonna break) to get them to cooperate. This was all to get the to the point of dry mounting the tires in preparation for going tubeless. I was not able to get the beads to seat using a floor pump and soapy water. It took a few tries with an Airshot and soapy water to get them to pop on. Then I had to break the bead (not difficult) and take it off one side to pour in the sealant. The second time remounting the tire post-sealant was considerably easier, but I still needed levers and some force. Tire/rim/sealant combo holds air really well. Experience was identical on both tires and rims. I'm gonna keep the two levers in my saddle bag from now on, just in case, knowing it's impossible (for me) to do anything with this tire/rim combo by hand.

Hondo Gravel

I put Velox tape on tubeless ready rims and that was a mistake. I couldn’t get the tires to bead evenly and the tape wouldn’t stay in place. And I cleaned the rims with alcohol not beer lol. Later I mounted another tubeless rim with tubeless rim tape and no problems. As everyone has mentioned modern bike tires are getting harder to mount. The old school wheels and tires were a snap.

spircix

You all have some really interesting experience with GKs. I just bought 700x32 GK SK and mounted them with no problems whatsoever. Yes, they were a bit tighter than usual (a bit tighter than other folding bead tyres), but still I managed to mount them without using tyre levers. After reading this thread I was prepared for a struggle, but compared to Soviet-made tyres I have mounted in the past mounting GKs was a walk in the park.

Gary64

I have two sets of gravel kings and havent had any problems mounting them.Sounds like some need some tire classes.

basketbro

lmao, this. for the people having issues, i hate to say it, but its a you problem. i've used gravelkings and paselas in various sizes on many different rims, never had an issue.

Dr.Lou

^^^^^^^^^
It's been used in tire shops forever.

That said, I couldn't imagine trying to get those on Campy Protons.

bikemig 

+ 1 on this. I'm a fan of Panaracer tires but I'm done with Gravel king tires. I was able to mount them just fine (even with velox tape) using a kool stop tire jack but getting them off the rim is a bear.

santa fe 2926 

Wow, spent, almost two hour’s struggling to get a 700x32 gravel king slick on. I knew it would be tuff, because I went thru the same thing replacing one last year. Squeezing the beads in, Kool Stop tire tool, and spray bottle of diluted soap. Why do they make it this difficult? I hope they will get loosened up before the first flat. Was thinking about some 38’s but I don’t know if it’s worth it. Felt like I had been to gym and done all the weight machines. 😂. Love my Veloflex, will stay with 25-28’s. Any recommendation for old rims?

fishboat

It's the wheels you're putting them on. I've mounted GK Slicks and SKs on many different bikes/wheels and never really had an issue. They can be a little tight when new(after mounting they stretch and then mount much easier), but using a tire jack solves that issue. If you don't have a tire jack..it's a good (minor) investment.

Hiro11

This thread baffles me. I currently have three different bikes that I've been using GKs of various sizes and types. I've always set them up tubeless. GKs have been my go-to gravel tire for years now. I've never had a particular problem mounting them or setting them up. On the rims on my gravel/adventure bike, they're actually slightly loose which made blowing the beads on slightly (just slightly) more difficult. In all cases, I've never used a tire lever to get them mounted. I'm not saying the people above me are wrong, just trying to provide some balance for people reading this thread.

unterhausen

I would say the GK tires I have used either were perfect on tubeless rims, or maybe a little loose. Never used 28mm GK though.