Absent

I like to use 25 mm tires for commuting, but it is very difficult to mount the 25 mm tires that I use (continental ultra sport II wire bead) on my rims. I usually have to use soapy water and pump it up to max pressure before the tire will seat properly-- not very convenient when I get a flat out on a ride. Other than getting a new wheelset, I was hoping for some suggestions--other brands that maybe easier to seat, wire vs. folding...

Thanks

AlexCyclistRoch

One of the things you should expect with Continental tires is that they will be a b***h to mount....

zeeway

I just mounted Conti GP4000 tires (folding type) with no problems.

Berg417448

My Continental Gatorskins mount easily.

rms13

I had one tire/rim combo that was a real pain to mount until I bought one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tir.../dp/B001AYML7K

It's a great investment even if you use it once. It saved me hours of frustrations and skin being torn off my fingers. It's small enough to fit in a jersey pocket. I actually use mine every time I mount tires now just because it makes it so easy

ThermionicScott 

The big thing is to get the bead into the bottom of the rim all the way around -- that gives you more slack to get the last bit of the bead over the rim. Also, put a little air in the tube (I use my mouth and pucker my cheeks rather than blowing with my lungs) before installing it to help prevent it getting pinned under the tire and causing a blowout later on. Lastly, one of the best ways to get the tire seated evenly all the way around is to work your way around the tire and massage the sidewall up or down with your thumbs while the tube only has a few psi in it.

101stairborne

i had rims that were very difficult to mount tires. I pulled out the rim tape and put in a couple layers of Kapton tape. It made mounting tire so much easier. and it didn't cost very much.

Marcus_Ti

Whatever egghead or gearhead originally invented the bead jack, deserves a free beer every night for life.

dsbrantjr

I use a thin rim tape (Continental Easy Tape) instead of the more common Velox cloth tape; it is thinner and more slippery thus making tire mounting much easier.


If you need a tool like a bead jack to mount your tires you had better have it with you on the road or you will have a long walk home. I won't run a tire/rim combo I cannot easily mount by hand; I might need to do it when it is getting dark and/or raining at the end of a long, tiring day. Isn't that when you always get a flat?