eazywind

I am having a hell of a time with clinchers on this wheelset. Shimano says they are clincher compatable, but I have been having a hell of a time mounting tires without putting a hole in the tube and I have been seeing others having the same problem. I realize that some tires are harder to mount than others but I don't feel that I should have to buy tires I don't want just because they can fit easier. Forget the Michelin carbon training tires. They won't even get close. The Michelin pro races Are the easier of the three ( Some virenz........don't know the spelling off the top of my head, the other pair that I have on hand ) but I can only get the pro races on using tire levers and I get a hole in the tube almost every time I try to mount them. I am not a full blown mechanic and I have only been riding regularly for about 5 years, but I do all my own wrenching for the most part and have built up 4 road bikes from scratch, so I am not a novice either and I am really getting fustrated with this. Any help, info, experiences with this wheelset is welcome before I call shimano to vent. Thanks, Marc

Retro Grouch 

Try this:

1. Install one tire bead all of the way around.
2. Start installing the second bead exactly opposite the valve stem (important). Work around in both directions as far as you can.
3. When you run out of slack, go back to where you started and squeeze both beads into the center of the rim.
4. Now hold the wheel vertically in front of you with the valve stem near the floor. Grab the tire at the 3 O'clock and 9 O'clock positions and push straight downward. What you're trying to do is to accumulate all of the available slack at the unseated portion of the bead.
5. Using your hands attempt to seat the remaining portion of the tire bead.

Incidentally, a similar process also works for removing tires from the rim. I seldom have to resort to using tire levers.