4 ms·

I've heard quite a few people complain about GP5000TLs, but that's what I've been using for a while (on Prime carbon wheels) and haven't had too much trouble wi

I've heard quite a few people complain about GP5000TLs, but that's what I've been using for a while (on Prime carbon wheels) and haven't had too much trouble with them. With tubeless tyres, you really have to make use of the inner rim well (i.e. the middle bit) to give you the crucial extra mm or so. At least with tubeless tyres you can use tyre levers to get the last bit on and not worry about puncturing a tube. Schwalbe Ones are easier to fit in my experience, but they seem to have the durability of butterfly wings and even worse, they can get slippery in the wet when they're at high pressure (e.g. over 70psi). I've seen videos of people easily fitting tyres using just their thumbs, but I refuse to believe that's possible.

sasawpg 5y ago
It entirely depends on the rim. First generation GP5000TLs were impossible to fit on some rims, difficult to fit on most rims and reasonable on a few. Second generation (I think late 2020/early 2021) are a slightly looser and will fit on more rims. I can't speak about the latest gen. released late last year. I personally love GP line of tires (used 4k/5k clincher and 5k TLs) as they have a good compromise of puncture protection, tread wear and rolling resistance. They generally rate at the top for just about any tire I'd use in a non-race scenario. I will not buy another pair though until I switch wheels as I have no desire to torture myself. I did not go as far as to bake the tires to loosen them, but I did let them sit out in the sun which made a bit of a difference. The other factor to consider is roadside repairs. If you have a really hard time mounting the tire initially and you puncture severely enough to need a tube (sealant leaked and plug won't hold), you're likely calling for a ride back. I did find they loosen after 500-750km so you are more likely to be able to fix it roadside if needed. I sliced the sidewall on my almost new GP5k but thankfully the plug held. Irresponsibly I used it for another 500km+ until it would no longer hold pressure overnight, but I do not recommend that route! As for using tire levers - buyer beware when it comes to carbon. I resorted to levers, but you do run a risk of permanently damaging your wheel. I have seen a picture of someone put one of the plastic with steel spine levers straight through their rim doing this. A tire bead jack is a far safer and far easier option (though I've yet to buy it).

sasawpg 5y ago

It entirely depends on the rim. First generation GP5000TLs were impossible to fit on some rims, difficult to fit on most rims and reasonable on a few. Second generation (I think late 2020/early 2021) are a slightly looser and will fit on more rims. I can't speak about the latest gen. released late last year. I personally love GP line of tires (used 4k/5k clincher and 5k TLs) as they have a good compromise of puncture protection, tread wear and rolling resistance. They generally rate at the top for just about any tire I'd use in a non-race scenario. I will not buy another pair though until I switch wheels as I have no desire to torture myself. I did not go as far as to bake the tires to loosen them, but I did let them sit out in the sun which made a bit of a difference. The other factor to consider is roadside repairs. If you have a really hard time mounting the tire initially and you puncture severely enough to need a tube (sealant leaked and plug won't hold), you're likely calling for a ride back. I did find they loosen after 500-750km so you are more likely to be able to fix it roadside if needed. I sliced the sidewall on my almost new GP5k but thankfully the plug held. Irresponsibly I used it for another 500km+ until it would no longer hold pressure overnight, but I do not recommend that route! As for using tire levers - buyer beware when it comes to carbon. I resorted to levers, but you do run a risk of permanently damaging your wheel. I have seen a picture of someone put one of the plastic with steel spine levers straight through their rim doing this. A tire bead jack is a far safer and far easier option (though I've yet to buy it).