max_vain

I bet a good mechanic who works in a shop with high traffic of customers would know which tires fit more generously than others.

Hi, I bought DT swiss RR 465 rims formerly known as the DT swiss RR 1.1. I tried to mount new and used Conti's and Michelin's on the rim with no success. I cant even get the first bead over, these rims are ridiculously tight! I tried blow drying the rubber, stretching the tire etc. still no success.

I am sure a bike shop can get the tires on with some special tools and lots of effort, but the bike shop wont be around when I get a flat out training. So I can't rely on a bike shop simply to get the tire on the rim.

My three types of training tires are Conti's Gatorskin, Conti's GP 4000 and Michelin's Lithon 2, I have failed with all to mount on the DT swiss RR 465 rim. I dont want to think about the possible nightmare of getting a flat out on the road... I will be stuck because its damn near impossible to mount the tire on the wheel.

My question... is there a particular tire that will work with ultra super tight rims like these? Is there a brand/make tire that runs loose that will be easier to mount? Something of decent quality?

Thanks M

SalsaPodio

I have the RR1.1s and use GP4000s. It's definitely not easy to get the tires on, but its not impossible.

AngryScientist 

try harder.

maybe pick up a bigger lever, something like this pedros downhill lever. once the tires are stretched to the rim for some time, they'll get easier to mount.

Psimet2001 

This.

max_vain

Good for you, I have tried and pulled, sat there for 15mins with a blow dryer heating up the rubber, and I have not even come close to mounting the tire on the rim.

Its freaking ridiculous! There must be some brand or make tire out there that will be easier to mount on these rims.

I bet a good mechanic who works in a shop with high traffic of customers would know which tires fit more generously than others. Hopefully one of them reads this thread.

max_vain

Psimet you obviously have not tried mounting a tire on this Rim! Try helping!

Angry Scientist thanks for suggestion, but I cant carry that tool on my rides, however I think I will order it for home use. Thanks
I also took worn in tires off other rims and still could not get them on to the DT swiss Rims.

FlashUNC

I've mounted GP4000's on my 1.1 rims. They are tight, but tire levers will work. Takes some elbow grease and some swearing, but they do get on there. They'll stretch out a bit once they're on the rim too, and it'll be easier to pull off on the side of the road.

Psimet2001 

Considering I am a wheel builder who has mounted more than a hand full of GP4000s on DT 415, 465, and RR1.1 ....I would have to disagree with you. It's your technique or hand strength. Period.

wacomme

I have the 465 rim and while it's tight with new tires, a little muscle and two tire levers work wonders.

Quel

Better or worse than on Kinlins? GP4s are kind of a pain to mount on the Kinlins. Worth it though.

max_vain

Trust me, I am not here to facilitate you stroking your ego, which is what I sense you aim to do... I know a freakin tight wheel when I come across one and this wheel is damn tight and this is the consensus as I have learned from other owners who have posted grievances. I would be in a major spot of bother if I were to get a flat out on the road. So unless you can give me some viable options, rather than trying to impress... then I am willing to listen, Mr. Wheelbuilder. I have tried blowing drying the damn rubber, I even pulled worn in tires off other wheels still no luck. I have mounted numerous tires on my Open Pro's, Zipp's, Kyrisums never an issue, I can't even get the first bead over this rim. And I am a strong guy. Respectfully M

wacomme

Maybe you have a defective rim or tire. Really. If it's that hard, something is wrong.

BikeWise1

What rimstrip are you running? Do you inadvertently have two installed? I have DT Swiss 585s with Velox and my GP4s went on with bare hands. It's true I mount hundreds of tires a year, but rarely do I come across something that won't go on with a carefully applied QuikStik.

Cactuskid

spit - works every time

GPB

I had trouble getting some GP4000s tires on my Soul wheels. I carefully hung a 25lb dumbbell in the tire for about 20 or 30 minutes prior to mounting and that seemed to allow the second tire mount much easier, w/o tools of course. The first one was a royal PIA and required me to wear leather work gloves to save my hands.

Psimet2001 

Honestly I don't notice a difference. I mount a ton of tires on a ton of different rims. In 20 years I have found 1 rim that was an issue.

max_vain

Hey thanks for replying, I was using velox at first, but took took them off when I had trouble mounting the tire and I replaced the velox with zipp rim tape I had stored away. But same result. Tire not even close to coming on, I will take the wheels to LBS tomorrow... to see if they are defective in some way. Or maybe I am defective.

GP 

Try wearing mechanics gloves.

I read somewhere, probably here, the baby powder works too.

Psimet2001 

Welcome to bike forums.

I guess I am not sure what you are trying to achieve with this thread. You say that the rim/tire combo is impossibly hard and that you are having extreme difficulty mounting them. Others with a lot of experience have come on here and told you that they don't have the kind of trouble that you seem to be having. If you have tried other tires and they are still difficult for you then either:

1. Your rim is out or on the high side of tolerance for rim diameter
2. Your technique for mounting this combination is lacking.

Since you swear it's not you well then....it must be the rim - or at least that's the conclusion you had already drawn before starting this thread. So...what do you need us for? Someone to pat you on the back for already determining the cause of your problem but posting a thread about it anyway?

Your position is that something is wrong and it isn't you. My feedback is that DT makes very good quality rims and that in the ton of them that I have handled while wheel building over the years I have yet to run into one that I would say was out of tolerance in the way you are implying. I am not saying it's impossible I am just quoting my experience. Logic would then point to the one variable that is different in this situation....you.

Your technique is off or your hand strength is lacking.

jonathanb715

I use the RR1.1 rims and never had trouble getting GP4000 tires on - it seems to take about the same effort as it did with the Mavic Ksyriums I used to use. For one tire, I had to lever the last part of the bead on using tire irons, but for the most part I've been able to just roll the tires on with my hands. Something is wrong here.

JB

Blackdays

Lol, out of any poster on BF to say that to, you picked the absolute wrong person.

Welcome to BF, hope you have a thick skin.

FlashUNC

Just use a lever and go nuts.

socalrider

I have the RR 1.1 and they do not seem tight to me... My Campy Eurus wheels are a bear compared to the DT's.. I found that some of the Vittoria folding tires are a little easier to put on tight beads or most wire bead tires seem to be a little easier fit than folding..

max_vain

PSIMET look dude, seriously!!! I mean seriously! I know you must think you are some sort of guru or something (and you might just be), and you may want to reestablish your hierarchy on this forum or some crap like that. But I got no time to match wits with you right now, don't really care for it.

Your first reply was along the lines of "try harder" big help there dude, gee thanks! So you see why we get off on the wrong foot. Try harder just isn't the type of advice I was looking for.

And I never discounted that I am completely blameless, I did not say that at any point, but you are trying to win a battle of wits, so you resort to that, I understand.

What I am saying and have said is that these rims are extremely tight, so much so that they require a vast amount of effort, and even if I do achieve to get a tire on the rim, maybe by using some craftsmans gloves, a jar of lube, some spit, heavy duty levers etc... I still wont be confident because I wont have these things on me when I am riding. What I am worried about is flatting and having to possibly change them at the side of the road. They are tough man trust me, I am no wheelbuilder, but putting on a freaking tire on a rim is not supposed to be this hard, and it has never been until now. Start at opposite side to valve work my way to middle, massaging tire along the way to get slack, stick it into stomach and work the tire around etc... tried it, blow dryed it, stretched it no luck! Hardest thing I ever mounted prior to this was specialized armadillos on some 808's (don't ask why). I will take the DT swiss rims into the bike shop tomorrow and see if they can get it on without special tools. With just their hands and regular tire levers. I may even video tape it!

Do you have recommendations on tires that are generally looser to mount? I have read Conti's are generally on the tight side? I also have white DT Swiss 465 rims, I wonder if the anodizing or powder coat is thicker than the regular alloy color? I also changed the rim tape from velox to zipp rim tape, but no luck, not even close, I am sure I use a crobar like wedge and work it over with force, but for sure I will damage rim.

Blackdays

You could try Ultremo's, although I doubt they would be much better.