Originally Posted by
Deontologist
Well, I got my new Vittoria folding tires today... So, now, how exactly do I install them? It's actually very hard to get the bead to stay in the bead channel when the tire is flat. I tried giving them shape by pinching them but ... nope.
As you start adding air to the tube, the aramid fiber bead will become taut, pulling it into shape. It'll seat right into the rim, no fuss required.
Originally Posted by
Deontologist
I'm just going to let 90% of the tire sit on the rim overnight and see if that gives them some shape. The other 10% isn't going on. I'm tired, my fingers are dirty and sore, and it's late. And the LBS has a bead jack I can use tomorrow myself.
Some tire/rim combos are difficult to do without tools, especially when the tires are brand new. I'm sure using levers or a bead jack will make the job much easier. (You don't have tire levers?)
The difficulty mounting them is actually a good demonstration of how a wireless bead works, though. As you pull it taut to mount it, notice the bead resists stretching past its max size? That's also how it behaves under pressure, on the rim. The air pressure pushes the tire outward from the rim, pulling the bead into its circular shape so it can seat into the bead channel.
Originally Posted by
Deontologist
These Vittorias definitely seem more fragile than the Kendas ... the casing just doesn't feel as sturdy as the Kendas. Fingers crossed for no punctures/sidewall slashes/failures.
I run Vittoria Rubino Pro III Slicks on my road bike. The casing is thin and pliable, like most good tires, but don't let that fool you. They're reasonably tough. They're not completely bullet-proof, but I find them to be a great compromise between performance and durability. There are more durable tires out there, but they tend to be heavier, thicker, and harsher. There are lighter, grippier tires out there, but they tend to wear out faster and are more puncture-prone.
Originally Posted by
Deontologist
I feel like the best way to avoid being stranded for me is to have Kenda Kaliente's with puncture resistant tubes on my bike and a spare Vittoria tire and tube in the wedge pack along with Pedro tire levers and a bead jack ... that way if I flat I can throw on a Vittoria relatively easily with a new tube rather than sit around for hours wrestling with the Kendas.
I understand wanting to be prepared in case of a flat, but I'd suggest you might be overthinking this a little. Put 'em on and ride. Carry a spare tube, a patch kit, and a boot for peace of mind.