Just got in from trying to mount some new tires on my Cross bike. And I am so frustrated.

Got some Vredestein 700x28 touring tires in hopes of using them to do some faster training rides on mostly pavement. They are wire bead and just refused to go on my rim (DT Swiss rr1.1). Getting the first bead on was a bit of a struggle, but not bad. Trying to get the other bead on was torture. Just couldn't get a 6-10 inch section of tire over into the rim. Everytime I made a little progress, the other side popped itself out. I snapped a few tire levers in the process too. So, I gave up and re-mounted my SpeedMax.

I'm willing to try again. Any advice in getting a stubborn tire mounted?

Don't know the inside profile of your rim, but most rims center section is shallower/lower than near the bead area. Make sure you carefully press the two beads of the tire together and into that center section on the side you have already mounted, that should give you a little extra room as you struggle with the bead for that last little bit.

If you are already doing this... a little soapy water might help the last bit of tire bead over the rim.

but also, make sure the beads are together as far around the entire wheel as possible.

If that fails, exchange the Vredesteins for something else. Some combinations of tire and rim are just not meant for each other....

^^^ +1 on rim/tire combos.

a good example are open pros which are rated for 19 to 28 widths... You can go outside that range, but it won't be easy...

I had a weinmann wheelset and I could not get 23's to fit on them! I told myself, 23 thru 25 is pretty standard... not according to weinmann specs.

There are very very few tires and rims that cannot be mounted together. Very few. Its not the tires fault, and its not the rims fault either, its your tire mounting technique. Be patient, don't get frustrated, your thumbs will get sore, they will get chaffed. Start putting the tire on opposite the valvestem and work towards the valvestem, massage the bead of the tire into the center of the rim. Patience.

Here is what I suggest, mail the wheels and tires to me. If I mount the tires on the wheels in less than 8 minutes (both wheels) with no tools I get to keep the wheels and tires. If not I will mount the tires with tools and return them to you. I will post a youtube video as proof.

Lovely offer to mount them for me, but I'll give it another go myself. Truth be told, I might just keep the 32c cross tires on there and get rid of the 28s. Tomorrow is another day.

imagine if you have to change them on a ride :)

Just curious if I am finding this difficult because I am used to foldable bead tires instead of rigid wire beads? I use Vredestein Fortezzas on my road bike, which are folding tires, would a folding tire have a bit more stretch/give in them?

Different rim strips may help. If you're currently using a thicker one like Velox, you'd find it easier to switch out to a thinner one like Rox.

Just got in from trying to mount some new tires on my Cross bike. And I am so frustrated.

Got some Vredestein 700x28 touring tires in hopes of using them to do some faster training rides on mostly pavement. They are wire bead and just refused to go on my rim (DT Swiss rr1.1). Getting the first bead on was a bit of a struggle, but not bad. Trying to get the other bead on was torture. Just couldn't get a 6-10 inch section of tire over into the rim. Everytime I made a little progress, the other side popped itself out. I snapped a few tire levers in the process too. So, I gave up and re-mounted my SpeedMax.

I'm willing to try again. Any advice in getting a stubborn tire mounted?

I feel your pain, I have some DT 1.1 and they are crazy hard to get tires on and off. I now use two tire tools.

The Open Pros are much easier

They used to make a tool called a tire jack. Hooked arm that went under yer bead and a notch on the other half of the tool to brace against yer rim. Worked wonders on some rim/tire combos I've had in the past. Haven't used it in a while tho.

What I DO know is that yer hands are stronger'n yer thumbs. Instead of using yer thumbs to try and push the bead over, grab the bead with the meaty part of yer finger joints and roll the bead onto the rim. Where I'm talking about is right below where yer fingers meet yer hands... Don't know the technical term for it.

Anyway, it works better than usin yer thumbs.

HTH

M

imagine if you have to change them on a ride :)


Yeah, nothing like walking ten miles back to your truck because you cannot fix a flat...:thumbsup: