Well, I got my new Vittoria folding tires today which are supposed to be easy to install.

They came flattened out. As are most folding tires when they are shipped.

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.

I guess I'll take it to the LBS and have them fit the tire and after a few rides they should have molded to the general shape of my wheel.

But what if I get new tires in the future and want to install them myself? How exactly do you get new folding bead tires onto the rim when they come with NO shape?

ETA:

1) Okay, I have wrestled the tires (without tubes) mostly on the rims. I have noticed that the Vittorias seem to stretch more than the Kenda Kalientes. Good sign. I'm sure with a bead jack they'll be completely on the rim in no time flat.

2) 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.

3) Side note: 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.

4) 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 unfold the tire on the floor and put a slightly inflated inner tube in it to give it shape. Then I install the tire/tube assembly together. I install wire bead tires that way too.

Put on a pair of gloves and roll the last part of the tire up and over the rim with your palms. Don't baby it, and don't use tire levers. It'll go eventually.

+1. Once you have one side of the tire around the whole rim there are no issues with it taking the shape of the rim. If the last part is really tough to roll over, just keep massaging it from the two sides and eventually it will pop over.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Koolstop Tirebead Jack or strengthen your wrists

You replace the whole tire when you have a flat ? I've had up to three flats in one day while commuting (one on the way in and two on the way home). By your reasoning I'd have to carry at least three tires with me .

I've had folded tires (never Vittorias) that have been stubborn to get on the rim. But so far, I've never failed to eventually get it on the rim eventually. I keep telling myself to unpack the tires a couple of weeks ahead of time and let them warm up in the house (or in the garage depending on time of year) so they'll be easier to maneuver onto the rims - so far I've forgotten to do that. Every. Single. Time.

tires are cheap, why not replace them when you have a flat...some folks feel better that way.

No I mean if I flat then I might as well throw on a Vittoria since there's no way in hell I'll be able to remount the tires I took off (Kendas). Hell, dismounting the Kendas once nearly broke my Pedros. It seems like I'll have a fighting chance mounting a tube and a Vittoria.

I've rode for a bit on the Rubinos and I found your observations to be pretty spot on. Compared to the Kenda Kalientes, the ride is noticeably smoother. It seems that the Rubinos smooth out road imperfections such as small holes and the such much better than do the Kenda Kalientes. Traction seems pretty good and they do seem tough ... took them over some serious gravel (about 10 miles worth) and not so much as even a grain of rock embedded in the tread! By serious I meant that the entire ride I heard "crunch crunch" and a few times the bike in front of me would kick up gravel that would hit my shin (ouch!) ...

Tough yet almost buttery smooth. The new tires made me realize that the Kalientes I had before were a tad bit on the harsh side. I like the Rubinos!