argulator

Picked up a Cervelo Caledonia-5, which has almost new tubeless-ready Reserve wheels and Vittoria Rubino pro tires, which currently have tubes in them. Problem is the tires are nearly impossible to get off the rim. Nearly impossible unless you have a bench vise handy, then it's just really difficult. Roadside, not a chance.

I could set them up tubeless, but am still leery of not being able to get a tube in them roadside, if needed. Should I just toss them, or would you ride with them tubeless?

Ghazmh

I’ve sometimes found that tires that are impossible to initially get on are reasonable to remove and reinstall after a few weeks and a few hundred miles. It’s a tough call.

Welshboy

I had the same thoughts when I put Schwalbe Marathon Plus on my commuter...

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting...l#post22170238

argulator

Yeah, these already have over 1500 miles and aren't any easier.

skidder

No. IF a new tires doesn't fit on the rim when I try it, it goes back to the LBS for a different brand/model. Not going to suffer on the side of the road with a tough-to-mount tire.

79pmooney

I wouldn't. I'm a firm believer in Murphy's Law.

I haven't ridden Rubinos in a long, long time but even back then, they were a tough mount. I'm still using Vittoia G+ which I was smart enough to get a few of. They are a joy to mount. I don't know if that is also true of the G2.0s. Also a joy to ride. Yes, not Rubinos for go anywhere flat protection but in my view entirely reasonable for a very nice riding tire.

Tires and rims both vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, model to model and batch to batch. The accepted tolerances are a range. Most combos work but the smallest tires and biggest rims are near impossible to mount and the biggest tires and smallest rims have to be mounted exactly to not blow off. A little research can make life far better! (Ask a shop mechanic. They know the tires they sell because they have to put them on.)

argulator

The problem really isn't mounting them, that's easy enough with a tire jack. It's removing. You just can't break the bead once the tire's seated. Guess I'll try to sell them and put some on that can be more easily removed.

alcjphil

One question: What sort of rim tape are you using? Tubeless rim tape can make tire removal easier it is thinner than most regular rim tapes and it works just fine with tube type tires

Iride01 

Do you flat so often and so badly with them that you have to change them on the roadside?

I assume you have eliminated all the issues that might be sealant related as to why they must not be sealing well. Or is it that the road hazards you encounter are ripping bigger holes in the tires than anything can handle?

Even with tubed tires that I use, I would never carry a spare tire. Not for just a out and back to the house no matter how far that day.

argulator

They have tubeless tape installed

argulator

Not yet, I haven't been riding them because I know I couldn't fix a flat-they're set up with tubes now. I don't like riding without ability to fix roadside flat.

Iride01 

Then how do you know that it will be an issue if you haven't ridden and flatted with them? Or is any flat not acceptable, nor is calling someone to come get you or walking it home?

PeteHski

I certainly wouldn't ride with a tyre that I couldn't easily remove from the rim with anything more than a plastic tyre lever. Especially not when using a tube. It's inevitable you will get stranded with any puncture.

ofajen

No. Particularly as a 12-month outdoor rider, it has to be quickly and readily doable, since I may be changing a tube at freezing temps. Luckily, I’ve had few punctures on rides in recent years (knocks on wood).

Otto

Hiro11

Just ride with one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tir...54439296&psc=1

kahn

I think it was said that the tires are hard to impossible to get off and the rider has a re-mounting tool. Does that tool also make it easier to remove?

Frank S

Only if I never rode more than a mile from the house.

ThermionicScott 

Keep practicing taking the tires off and reinstalling them in the comfort of your living room until it is second-nature. Then they won't phase you when you flat in the rain.

I don't ride any tires on the road that I couldn't dismount by hand. A lot of people wouldn't believe theirs could be, until I show them. I guess that's my party trick.

jaxgtr

This ^^^^, while my Pirelli's were not a massive pain, they were tight initially, but when I had to pull them recently to check the rim, but they were much easier to deal with when I went to re-install them.

Troul 

Best to just replace them for something else if you're being held back from riding due to fredding of tire dismounting.

Would you go on a long ride knowing you have the potential of hershey squirts throughout the day?

wolfchild

I would never ride a bike which I can't fix on the side of the road.

Branko D

Yes, provided they're tubeless and I have darts or something in case sealant doesn't work by itself. Otherwise, no.

rumrunn6

here's hoping mentioning a bench vise was just rhetorical

bruce19

The only thing I can add to this discussion is my experience with tubeless. So far it's been 3 years with tubeless on 2 of my road bikes and my GF's road bike. We've had zero flats or problems of any kind. Prior to that I would have anywhere from 2-6 flats a year.

argulator

It wasn't. Couldn't get them off with 3 sets of vise grips. Gotta have a bench vise🙂