MikeEckhaus

I have a Cervelo Caledonia with the stock Reserve (house brand) carbon wheels. The wheels are tubeless ready, but I am running tubes with non-tubeless GP5000’s. The tires are almost impossible to mount or dismount. I’ve had tubeless ready rims a couple of times before, although different brands. Also I ran GP4000’s on the older rims, not 5000’s. Those were always easy to mount and dismount, and I rarely needed a tire lever, mostly just my hands. Anyway, I tried thinner rim tape that sits completely in the groove of the wheel, but I still can’t get the tires to mount or later release from the rims to dismount. I’d like to not invest in new wheels, so I was wondering if anyone can recommend a high quality tire that is easier to mount than the GP5000’s. To be fair, I don’t know if it’s the tires’ fault or if it’s a combination of the rim OD and the hook shape. Regardless, this has been a very frustrating issue since I got the bike and put Contis on, so any suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

shelbyfv

I swapped a tube for a friend who had Specialized Turbo Cotton. The tire was astonishingly easy to reinstall. I don't think they make any claims as to durability. The KoolStop jack tool would be less expensive. Also, someone here was advocating trimming a section of hook off their carbon rim. Don't know how that turned out but you might search for the thread.

Soody

put a fair bit of dish soap with water
rub the bubbles on both beads
that will make it a fair bit easier

MinnMan

This is a common problem. Unless there's somebody here who has your particular rims, I don't think there's a generic "easy tire" for tough carbon rims. Certain combinations are tougher than others.

I also have trouble with the GP5000s on my carbon rims (Light Bicycle). I manage, but it can be a struggle, particularly out on the road.
Thinner inner tubes (e.g., race light) help.

mpetry912 

it is absolutely essential that you keep the beads in the center well of the rim. once the bead goes up on the "shelf" there is no way you will be able to mount the tire.

and give up on your "tire levers". Get a Kool Stop bead jack, best 12 bucks you'll ever spend.

/markp

jerrysneck

Are you using talc (well corn starch is probably better) inside the tire? This makes all of the difference for me.

Davet

As said above; get a Kool Stop bead jack. It will make difficult tire mounting much easier and save your thumbs. https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.US6eZK...r=1.67&pid=1.7

Russ Roth

I find that by starting just to the side of the stem and by pushing the tires in towards the center and up all the way around without releasing the upward pressure, that by the time I get nearly back around to the stem I can pull the tire off without tire levers. Works on every combination I've come across.

momoman

I recently bought the Light Bicycle R45 25mm wide carbon wheelset. I tried to mount a GP5000 tan TDF 25mm tire on it. I couldn't even get the first side of the tire over the rim without using a tire lever. I wanted to save my fingers for getting the 2nd side of the tire mounted. Well, I gave up. If it's that hard to mount a tire at home I'm not going to risk having to change that tire on the road! I also couldn't mount the GP5000 tan 25mm tires on H Son plus TB14 box rims. I've read in this forum where people are recommending carrying a tire jack and some KY jelly in case you need to fix a flat on the road. I'm not gonna do that. I would rather find tires that are easier to fit on the rim.

Which GP5000 did you mount on the Light Bicycle rim? Light Bicycle rates the GP5000 25mm an 8 out of 10 for difficulty for my wheelset. The GP5000 28mm is rated a 1 out of 10 for mounting difficulty. I borrowed a friend's GP5000 28mm and it went on a whole lot easier, but my brakes wont clear 28mm tires on 25mm rims. The tan wall GP5000 TDF 25mm seem to be very difficult to mount on some rims and the black wall GP5000 25mm appear to be easier from articles I've read.

Here's Light Bicycle's tire difficulty chart for mounting tires on their rims: https://www.lightbicycle.com/newslet...th-Charts.html
Here's Schwalbe's chart for mounting their tires on a variety of rims: https://www.schwalbe.com/en/kompatibilitaet

Like you said, certain combinations are more difficult than others.

79pmooney

I have been running Vittorias for years. No Continentals. I haven't used the Vittoria G2.0 tires yet (bought a bunch of the G+ that I love and they are taking their time wearing out). I simply have not seen the issues I hear about mounting Continentals.

Leisesturm

I haven't been without a set (or more) of tire levers since the damn things were steel! If I really concentrate I can barely remember using the method described above to get a tire mounted without tools, but a set of Pedro's or Park Tool's tire levers ... I can't see the harm. What is the aversion some have to using tire levers? I actually linked a bead jack on Amazon to a poster in another thread having tire issues. It never occurred to me that they were trying to mount their tire bare handed! Tire levers are half the cost of bead jacks but if you actually are using tire levers and still have no joy, then a bead jack is not backbreakingly expensive a fix. But, for the love of Dog, use 'something'. Bare hands are so uncool ...

MinnMan

Light Bicycle R55 rims (25 mm outer width) with 25 mm GP5000 clinchers. yeah, they are tough to mount, but I've always managed, including on the road.
I'm just in love with how they roll, so I deal with the hassle.

MinnMan

Light Bicycle R55 rims (25 mm outer width) with 25 mm GP5000 clinchers. yeah, they are tough to mount, but I've always managed, including on the road.
I'm just in love with how they roll, so I deal with the hassle.

It's interesting that the 28 mm tires are supposed to be so much easier. It's a thought....

J.Higgins 

Kool Stop tire bead jack and windex. Just enough leverage from the jack, and just enough lube from the window cleaner. I've never had a problem after resorting to this method.

MikeEckhaus

Update on my problem. Ditching the thick Velox rim tape and putting on some nice slippery tubeless tape helped - yes still running tubes, just taking advantage of the tape. I did get a tire jack, and it makes mounting at home easy, but not sure I'm going to bring it on a ride. I noticed that for some reason, tires go on the front wheel easier than on the rear. On the front, even with a stiff, new tire, I needed just a bit of persuading with a tire lever to mount. On the rear, using an older "pre-stretched" tire, I still needed the tire jack and a bit of work. Supposed to be the same profile, but maybe manufacturing differences have an effect. In any case, changing the rim tape had a big effect. It's still really hard to get a tire to de-bead when dismounting, they want to stick in the grooves. I think I will still experiment with some different tires to see which ones agree with these wheels. Hoping to borrow some to limit the investment, I'll ask my friends.

canklecat

Another vote for the Kool Stop bead jack. And carry it with you on rides. I tucked mine into my jersey pocket or bungeed it to the saddle bag.

The Conti Ultra Sport II tires may be the best bargain in bicycle tires, but almost impossible to mount without a bead jack. Before getting the Kool Stop I tried using my plastic tire levers with rounded edges and still managed to nick the tube, creating another puncture to be patched.

However after a couple of years riding Conti Ultra Sport II's I retired those tires to trainer duty (they're tough enough to use the same tires on a trainer and outdoor rides, which is how I used my 1980s steel road bike for a couple of years). Now I use Conti GP Classic skinwalls, or Soma Supple Vitesse skinwalls, both of which I can mount with just my aging arthritic hands. Excellent tires and values, both.

And ditto the thinner rim tape, as you discovered. I like Velox and other cloth tape but it's often too thick for snug fitting tubes and tires, especially when I try to shoehorn 700x25 tires/tubes into old school skinny rims meant for 700x18 to 700x21 tires.

rumrunn6

of course there's an app for that. oh I mean a product

both at home & in my bag I have

• 2 conventional plastic levers
• 1 Crankbrothers Speedier lever
• 1 Kool Stop tire bead jack
• 2 toe straps
• patches & tubes
• extra rim tape

the pump & co2 inflator stay with the bike & bag

here's a technique for using the toe straps. it def. helps me