DT Swiss rims - what are they thinking???

[Grant McLean]

As has been discussed to death on most forums,
the difficulty of installing a tire is determined by the combination
of the tolerances between both the rim bed and the tire bead.

Given that you may already own a wheelset that has difficulty mounting,
keep in mind:

Conti tires are among the tightest.
Vittoria tires are loose, stretch a lot after 1 install.
Thin rim strips are key - forget about velox tape, it's way too thick,
which makes the inner diameter of the rim bed larger, making
the tire harder to install.

-g

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by jpw

wheel in freezer, tire in oven.

who has a freezer that big??

[54ny77]

i have 465's and run that same combo, no problems at all.

make sure you use a very, very thin rim strip. makes all the difference in the world. i've had velox cloth and another rim strip (performance bike shop blue plastic strip) on there prior and could not get any tire on there without losing life and limb.

fyi i use zipp red plastic rim strip.

[rice rocket]

Originally Posted by fourflys

who has a freezer that big??

You do, it's your backyard.

[cachagua]

Fiberglass-reinforced strapping tape makes a great thin rim strip.

Are those little rubber plugs some rim makers sell any use? I've never tried 'em. But, couldn't get much thinner than nothing at all. . .

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by rice rocket

You do, it's your backyard.

very true... lots of things shrink here...

[svelocity]

Originally Posted by Grant McLean

As has been discussed to death on most forums

Pretty much every topic has been discussed to death but we still come back and discuss it some more.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by svelocity

Pretty much every topic has been discussed to death but we still come back and discuss it some more.

What's your favorite way to glue tubulars?

[SoCalSteve]

I love Conti GP 4000S tires...I sold a set of DT wheels cuz they were impossible to mount...they don't play together well. Either sell the wheelset or try a different tire...seriously!!!

[Louis]

Originally Posted by SoCalSteve

Either sell the wheelset or try a different tire...seriously!!!

I'd try Michelin PR4 (or PR3 if you can find some leftovers cheap) - It's not as if there's a massive difference between that and the Conti. I've ridden both the Conti GP 4000's and PR3's quite a bit and there are some ride differences, but not enough that they would prevent me from trying the Michelins on that wheel.

[dgauthier]

I always damage the tube when I try to use tire levers.

I swab a little soapy water on the inside of the last bit of the bead with a kitchen sponge. Not enough to get the outside of the bead wet -- so my thumbs still have grip -- just enough to lubricate the bead. Works every time.

When changing a flat out on the road the tire has stretched out enough that it can be removed and replaced very easily.

[godfrey1112000]

some of the toughest workouts has been mounting Conti Attack/Force, the Gatorskins go on easy

same fear, don't flat on the road,

I did purchase the Park Tire mounting that seeds the tire in place, works great, but have not seen it available for a while

five minutes in the dryer in a pillow case also helps

Originally Posted by 67-59

So I've just spent 45 minutes trying to mount a GP 4000s tire on a new DT Swiss RR 465 rim. I've been using the GP 4000s for years on OP rims, and have never had a problem mounting a tire in a couple of minutes. I decided to give the DTs a try after hearing from numerous sources that they are higher quality, more precise rims. Now, 45 minutes later, the first tire I've tried to mount still isn't fully on...and at this rate it could be another 45 minutes of wrestling. My thumbs are cracking.

I've tried everything I know about how to stretch a tire over a rim, with no success. There has to be a trick, or DT would've been out of business years ago...right? Anyone want to share the DT club secret with me?

What on earth do people do when they're out on a road and get a flat with these wheels...or is that just not an option?

[67-59]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Re the PR4s: are these more flat-resistant than the PR3s? I used to ride PR3s, but switched because I flatted so often. Since riding Contis, I usually wear the tire out before I flat.

Other thoughts for "loose" tires that ride well and are pretty flat resistant? Vittorio Rubino Pros?

[54ny77]

OP--what kind of rim strip are you using? It just may be too thick.

Seriously, your solution might be a $5 permanent fix.

I have used Conti GP4000s, Gatorskin, and Vittoria CX clinchers on those same rims, without issues. I posted above that I use Zipp rim strip. It's skinny, leaving the entire rim sidewall open and unencumbered, i.e., the tire bead seats fine.

An extra mm or two of rim strip material will make or break your experience. I had Velox tape on there once before, and NO way a Conti tire would fit.

[Len J]

Originally Posted by 67-59

Thanks for all the feedback.

Re the PR4s: are these more flat-resistant than the PR3s? I used to ride PR3s, but switched because I flatted so often. Since riding Contis, I usually wear the tire out before I flat.

Other thoughts for "loose" tires that ride well and are pretty flat resistant? Vittorio Rubino Pros?

I had just the opposite experience. Ymmv.

The pro 4's now come in endurance and service course.....the endurance have longer wear and more puncture resistance at the expense of grip and suppleness.

Len