Upgrading tubeless-ready Bontrager Paradigm Comp wheels on my 2019 Trek Domane SL7 bike from the stock Bontrager AW3's to Continental GP 5000 TR's, I got stuck getting the stiff tire bead over the ledge and into the wheel basin. After struggling for nearly an hour on the back tire, I developed a technique that seemed to work pretty well and allowed the tire to easily and precisely seat. Applying that same technique to the front tire took about 5 minutes (between the front bead and the back bead), and the tire again precisely found its way onto the wheel.
If you, too, are struggling to get that "last bit" of tire bead seated into the tire, here is my simple method using work gloves and a standard tire lever!
The keys are:
- Work in small sections, 1-2 cm at a time
- Keep the bead seated by pinching with one hand while you leverage in the next tiny section with the tire lever
- Go slowly and and be patient, you'll get there!
- Be careful not to lift the tire lever over 90 degrees, as damage to the rim may occur (as per the tire manual)