WTB rims and tyres! Is it just me, or are they a PITA?

[BridlewayBimbler]

As above, has anyone had experience wirh difficulties seating/unseating various WTB tyres on WTB rims, or mounting other tyres on WTB rims?
I have never had such a frustrating time with any other manufacturer
This is mostly tubeless, BTW

[fatbikephil]

WTB Rangers are the hardest tyres to break the bead I've ever dealt with, including various motorcycle tyres! You need thumbs of steel.....

The rims haven't been an issue with other brands of tyres, it's just WTB tyres.

[voodoo_simon]

It’s not just you

I struggled to even cut a WTB wire bead tyre off a WTB rim, it took far too much effort and force and tears and anger etc etc Was much easier to put Vittoria tyres on tubeless as a replacement (and it wasn’t the best either but they’re on now).

Gravel bike also has the double combo of WTB rim/tyre, all tubeless but fitted them with tubes, not the easiest tyre on or off but pedros levers work well (I have to stand on my tyre to unseat it, so stand on the tyre and on the other side, push the rim to the ground)

Bontrager on Bontrager is a dream and is how all tyres should fit Was the easiest setup I’ve done

[voodoo_simon]

WTB Rangers are the hardest tyres to break the bead I've ever dealt with, including various motorcycle tyres! You need thumbs of steel.....

The rims haven't been an issue with other brands of tyres, it's just WTB tyres.

These were the tyres I had to cut off! They’re also ridiculously heavy too, slow and just horrible

[PaulE]

Strangely difficult, but maxxis tyres on wtb rims are ideal... You'd think wtb would have made their own stuff work together nicely.

[BridlewayBimbler]

Oh! thank god! I thought I was totally incompetent/going mad!
The rims are WTB Frequency Race I23's, shod with 47mm Byways. I was going to set them up tubeless, and that's where the fun began!
I'm now questioning whether I should risk using them, as if I puncture on cold, wet and windy commute, or a ride miles from civilisation, I'll basically be f****d as there's no way I can remove the tyre to put a tube in!

[frogatthefarriers]

WTB Rangers are the hardest tyres to break the bead I've ever dealt with, including various motorcycle tyres! You need thumbs of steel.....

The rims haven't been an issue with other brands of tyres, it's just WTB tyres.

Tell me about it I put a Ranger on to a WTB rim just last month. Broke a tyre lever in the process. I dread to think of ever having to take it off again in the field.

On the plus side - I had no trouble getting it to go up tubeless with a stirrup pump…

[BridlewayBimbler]

Just as an aside, does anyone have any combos that work well with DT Swiss rims?

[Dyffers]

Just as an aside, does anyone have any combos that work well with DT Swiss rims?

I have loads of DT rims and everything works fine. Running 2.25 Vittorias on the 25mm rims and 2.5/2.4 Maxxis on the 30mm rims, both went up tubeless with just the track pump and fitted with just fingers.

[jameso]

I've been using I21 and !25 rims with Byways and Horizons for ages, or Frequency rims with Rangers. They're tight but I've just given them a shove in a certain way* and they're popped off. The benefit is I've re-seated them after fixing cuts etc trailside because I can release one side of the bead knowing the other stays in place, so re-seating with a small pump is possible.

*Put the wheel on the floor with the rim resting on firm ground then put your thumbs / shoe edge on the tyre right next to the rim to shove/tread it down and it'll pull the tyre off the rim bed.

Also, just one later of rim tape when sealing WTB rims, rather than other looser rims where I often need to build up the depth and it can end up shifting or getting tatty.

[PaulB2]

wtb resolute on wtb i19 rims are a pain - I got them on with some swearing but I've not been able to take them off again so my winter tyres have become all year round tyres. I've got a set of 44mm byways just gathering dust because I can't get them on the bike - I might have to admit defeat and book the bike in for a service at the lbs and get them to change the tyres while its in - that'll be cheaper than buying a second set of wheels

maxxis ikon's on wtb i30 rims were a doddle - went on using just my thumbs and taking them off again wasn't too tricky either.

[yourguitarhero]

Not just me!
I was disappointed with WTB tyres and rims not working well together. Or staying up tubeless that well.
Vittoria tyres went on great and stay inflated for a few months at a time