DT Swiss rims - what are they thinking???

[bluesea]

I like tight rims and 4000s'. My Neutrons are a couple of notches tighter than my 465s.

[buldogge]

Yeah...The older Nucleons are the hardest rims I've ever mounted tires on...especially combined with Conti GP4000s!

Schwalbe Ultremo ZXs are easier to mount and ride great...but...they are more fragile than the Contis.

In addition to talc, you can always throw the tires in the dryer on low for a few minutes...

Additionally, the steel-cored park levers usually finish the job if needed.

-Mark in St. Louis

Originally Posted by bluesea

I like tight rims and 4000s'. My Neutrons are a couple of notches tighter than my 465s.

[Len J]

In the last week I've changed tires (Pro4's) on both DT and neutrons..........the neutrons came closest to beating me.

Len

[soulspinner]

Talc and if yer home throw the tires in the dryer for a few minutes. Outside on cold days with flats i have trouble with my arthritic hands with my 415 and 465 rims.

[jpw]

wheel in freezer, tire in oven.

[soulspinner]

Originally Posted by jpw

wheel in freezer, tire in oven.

[rphetteplace]

ride Michelins

[bluesea]

The last time I helped with a flat out on the road, trying to get the first bead on, the whole tire kept falling off the rim. The first bead on a 4000s' snaps* in the Neutrons to where you can forget about adjusting your labels even just a smidge.

[beestee]

it's likely you had a very forgiving rim prior to this. conti's are tight across the line. with virtually every other brand of tire, bare hands is fine, but conti's are way easier with a tire lever. in my mechanic days i couldn't even mount new ones without a lever.

at least you don't have a campy rim. those things are outta control...

[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

[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.