BassNotBass

+1.

In most cases I can work a tire on/off the rim with my fingers. But every once in awhile along comes a rim/tire combination where I'll need to use the levers. There have been some situations where the tire was so small it wouldn't even set on the bead whereas another tire of the same make and model seated on the very same rim with ease.

itsjustMATT

This will be my new signature. <3

Agreed, too. Always carry a spare, like m-... where's my spare?!

Syscrush

You want a trick? If you're doing these changes at home, then put a few drops of dishsoap into a cup of water and rub a bit of that on the bead of the tire with your finger before you try to mount the tire. It will make the bead slide on the rim easier, and also help the lever slide between the rim and bead if you're using one. If you're running a brake, then rinse the machined area with a wet cloth and then dry it with a dry one to make sure that you don't have soapy water residue on your braking surface.

Agreed with others here that there are variances from brand to brand and from individual unit to unit. My Deep V rear is a bit harder to get tires on & off than my DA22 front. Every set of tires I've mounted I was able to do the front just by hand, but needed 1 lever for the rear.

Syscrush

Finally got over some sickness that was kicking my ass for a couple of weeks and got back on the bike today on my new tires. They feel fine to me - here's hoping that they last well.

Syscrush

Almost 3 months on these tires now and there's still a bit of the casting seam showing on the front tire (and basically all of my braking is done with the front). I'm pleased with how they ride and how they're wearing. I don't have a computer on my bike, but I would estimate that I must have ~1000kms on them by now and have never had an issue. I check more often now for nicks, cuts, or embedded debris and have yet to find any.

Thanks to those who pointed me to these tires.

I still hate the looks, though.

arp415

Continental Grand Prix 4000s. Done.

Syscrush

The cross-hatch thread stuff on the sidewall of my front tire was starting to look a bit frayed last fall, and on Fri night that tire blew on the sidewall - not sure if I hit something to trigger it or if the tire just gave up. I would estimate that I had 2000-3000 km on that tire when it popped.

I had a pair of tires in stock so I swapped the front on Sat morning, but I'm looking around for a good online source of cheap folding 700x23 Gatorskins to replenish my inventory.

Any pointers?

Thanks,

Ken Cox

If you like gatorskins, next time try 4 Seasons.

A better handling tire with as much or more flat protection.

I presently ride Conti Top Contact wire bead 28mm tires.

If your bike will accept 28mm tires (Conti's 28mm runs narrow), 28mm will give you more flat and cut protection.

Make sure to not over inflate them.

Multiply your weight in pounds by .9 and divide the result by two.

This will give you the correct tire pressure for a 28mm tire.

Top Contact wire bead tires go on and off without tools.

A very easy tire to change.

The center of the tread has no pattern and runs smooth.

The tire has tread on the sides, and unlike tread on most bike tires, in this case the tread helps the tire climb ruts at an angle rather than getting trapped and guided by the rut.

Additionally, the tire has an unusually thick amount of rubber on it, like a 23mm casing with enough rubber to make it a narrow 28mm tire.

This provides a lot of cut and glass protection.

These tires come with a one year no-flat guarantee, and they cost less than either a gatorskin or a 4 Seasons.

My new favorite.

As for popping tubes during mounting, I have had that experience during my ultra-light phase of riding when I experimented with super light tubes.

I don't do that anymore.

Syscrush

Hunting around a bit for reviews and sources for these tires, I found others who had the frayed/blown sidewall problem. Then I find other people who rack up 7000km on a pair. I don't know what to make of this.