Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Mavic CXP22 w/ Conti Gatorskins

So I recently got a pair of Mavic CXP22's and 700x25 Continental Gatorskins. The tires are SUPER tight. I manage to get one tire on with a lot of time and energy, but the second tire just wouldn't go on after an hour of wrestling with it and lots of blistered hands. Has anyone else had this problem? I figured this would be a popular tire/rim combo. I do have 17mm velox tape, could that be the problem?

I don't think I want to ride such tight tires because when I get a flat on the road, it'll be near impossible to change out. What are good alternatives to gatorskins that wouldn't be so tight on my rim? I'm looking for flat protection but also a relatively comfortable ride.

My gator skin (23mm) was equally tight. Sorry, I don't have any suggestions though.

gators are usually pretty hard to get on.
unfortunately its the same with most puncture resistant tires due the excessively thick sidewalls.

I'd assume that the more you take them on and off, that they might get a little bit easier, but I'm not positive. I have a 23c folding gatorskin on my rear CXP22 wheel and haven't had a flat yet (knock on wood).

This might be the wrong question, but did you try applying a bit of soapy water to the bead of the tire before putting it on? It can make an amazing amount of difference.

Of course, that doesn't help in terms of fixing a flat roadside, but I still wanted to throw it out there.

use a tire lever... shouldnt be that hard

Try using tire levers to get them on. I put my tires back on with levers and you don't get pinch flats if you do it properly.

What is the proper technique in using the levers to put on tires? I tried using them last night but I didn't really know what I was doing with them. Nothing I tried seemed to work.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=56

all conti tires are tight as **** to get on the rim

When you have one side on and you run into tight spots on the other side, just stick the flat end of the lever underneath the bead (so between the tire and the rim). Then lever it up using the rim as a pivot. As you lift up the other end of the lever (the end not resting on the rim) it'll lift the bead up and over the rim.

It's pretty simple although difficult to explain clearly. It's pretty much just doing the removal procedure in reverse. Be careful not to snag and tear the tube in the process

the wire bead gatorskins are a *****, kevlar bead aren't so bad
tire levers are a must, there are any number of tutorials on youtube
any road tire worth a damn will be tight enough when its new to require tire levers

all conti tires are tight as **** to get on the rim

i put some conti twisters on pretty easily...not sure how puncture resistant they are though
i am hoping to get my randonneurs today, i am excited about putting skinnier tires on

I dont need a tire lever to put mine on. i have 23 gatorskins on a cxp33 and i havent used a tire lever in a while. i had to when i got them, but they give a little more now. and try not using a tire lever until then end, get as much on by thumbing it then go to the lever. i always end by the valve stem so if i do need to use a lever i can push the tube up by pressing the stem up and not worry about pinch flats. hope it helps

It's a Conti thing. Clincher, tubular, road, cross, or mountain, it doesn't matter. They all fit really tight. With clinchers, though, as long as you get the tube set in the tire before going to full pressure, you'll never pinchflat.

No...no...no...Tire levers are to remove a tire not install it. If you are having a lot of trouble the tube is likely hanging up somewhere and you'll get a pinch flat. Give the old college try again. This time apply liquid dish soap on the inside of the rim and tire bead. With a little muscle and some constipated grunting sounds it will pop on.

Good luck.

Go to the gym. Work your finger, hand, wrist, and forearm muscles. Build those muscles up nice and big, and try to install the tire again after a few weeks.

Also, the folding version is easier to get on and off.

No...no...no...Tire levers are to remove a tire not install it. If you are having a lot of trouble the tube is likely hanging up somewhere and you'll get a pinch flat. Give the old college try again. This time apply liquid dish soap on the inside of the rim and tire bead. With a little muscle and some constipated grunting sounds it will pop on.

Good luck.

Sorry, with some rims I absolutely need to use levers to get a conti tire on. Haven't ruined a tube yet doing that.

While tire levers can be used to install a tire, they should be only used as a last resort. I've installed tires on hundreds of different tire and rim comboinations, and have only had to use a tire lever less than a dozen times.

http://www.hostelshoppe.com/images/products/la_07kol_tirebeadjack.jpg

Kool-stop bead seat jack. Costs $10.

You don't need one, but it makes putting tires back on literally a 2-second job. Worth the $10 to remove the frustration of changing tires and fixing flats. And it doesn't hurt the tube like using tire levers can.

make sure theres a little bit of air in the tube, just enough to the point where when you use your levers the tube isnt going to fold under between the rim and the lever. i cant tell you how many tubes ive pinched like that. +a little bit of pam cooking oil works wonders if you spray the bead.

People put on tires without tire levers?

Be a man, use your hands

No...no...no...Tire levers are to remove a tire not install it.

No No No. Opposable thumbs are for using tools, not brute force...

gatorskins get easier to install and remove after theyve been mounted for a bit.

No experience with the wire bead ones, but my conti ultra gatorskins went on just like any other tire... no tools required. Just get the bead that is already in the rim seated all the way against the opposite wall and work around the tire an inch or two at a time. A little bit of air in the tube helps. And don't forget the post mounting tire massage to get everything nice and relaxed before injecting atmospheres.

i just put a brand new gatorskin on yesterday. Almost did it all by hand

it is technique. you get better at it and tires that were impossible before go on pretty easy. you gotta kinda roll em on, it is hard to describe. also make sure that side that is already on the rim is pulled well in deep and not sitting high and making you have to stretch it further.

i got some white randonneurs today and put them on by hand...it was tough getting the last little bit over the rim but i did it

no soap or levers required

No experience with the wire bead ones, but my conti ultra gatorskins went on just like any other tire... no tools required. Just get the bead that is already in the rim seated all the way against the opposite wall and work around the tire an inch or two at a time. A little bit of air in the tube helps. And don't forget the post mounting tire massage to get everything nice and relaxed before injecting atmospheres.

i like this

I've never needed tire irons to put on a tire.
Just do these things:

Put on one side of the tire.
When you are doing it, the bottom (or opposite side you are working) should be in the center of the rim at the place where it is closest to the hub. This gives you the most slack.

Put in the tube. Put in enough air so it is not flopping around, but no more.

Start at the point opposite the valve and again make sure the bead is in the middle of the rim.
At this point you can set the tire on the ground and maintaining upward tension on the bead (so the bead stays where it should be, work your hands up the sides of the rim. When you get to the top grip the rim with your fingers on the side opposite to you and press the bead along the rim with your thumbs.

It should work. I've done it on all sorts of rims and tires.

Taking the tire off is the same drill, but in reverse, make sure you break the bead off the rim all the way around before you start and deflate the tube so the tire can pull in towards the middle of the rim.

-inflate tube just a little to give it shape
-place tube inside of tire (lining up the tire label with the valve)
-get one side of the tire on the rim completely
-work the other side on the rim gradually and making sure the tube is not pinched between tire and rim
-check the that the tire is seated evenly all the way around
-inflate
-voila!
-drink a beer to celebrate