Continental Ultra Sport tires

Hi all,

I've used mostly Continental tires for over 20 years and nearly
100K miles of road riding. Recently I got a half dozen Ultra
Sports (700c x 25), and after putting a new on on the front
noticed a definite bounce as it rolls. I've tried three now, with
the same results. The wheel is very true and round, with no flat
spots.

This review includes a video that shows what miine look like:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-r...SIN=B00HPSCDBE

On top of that, they are damn hard to mount on the wheels! I've
met few tires I can't get onto the rim with just my hands, but
these are almost impossible to mount even with levers.

Is this a known problem with this model of tire? I've used the
Gand Prix and other models before--mabey have used the Ultra Sport
before, but don't keep close track.

Any suggestions are welcome.

--
Ted Heise West Lafayette, IN, USA

On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:40:46 +0000, Theodore Heise wrote:

Hi all,

I've used mostly Continental tires for over 20 years and nearly 100K
miles of road riding. Recently I got a half dozen Ultra Sports (700c x
25), and after putting a new on on the front noticed a definite bounce
as it rolls. I've tried three now, with the same results. The wheel is
very true and round, with no flat spots.

This review includes a video that shows what miine look like:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-r...2KFWEYREVBNBS/
ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00HPSCDBE

On top of that, they are damn hard to mount on the wheels! I've met few
tires I can't get onto the rim with just my hands, but these are almost
impossible to mount even with levers.

Is this a known problem with this model of tire? I've used the Gand
Prix and other models before--mabey have used the Ultra Sport before,
but don't keep close track.

Any suggestions are welcome.

The bead is probably not seated right. I have the same problem with
Schwalbe 20 inch tires. The rim manufacturers and the tyre manufacturers
are just a dinkleberries in disagreement. I am on my third rim and tyre
combo. Still tight AF but will just fit.

Deflate the tyre. Lube up the bead with some soap. Inflate to "Holy
mother of god! How much?" PSI It may decide to pop into its seat properly.

Or it may not. Good luck.
--
davethedave

On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:33:24 -0000 (UTC),
dave wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:40:46 +0000, Theodore Heise wrote:

I've used mostly Continental tires for over 20 years and
nearly 100K miles of road riding. Recently I got a half dozen
Ultra Sports (700c x 25), and after putting a new on on the
front noticed a definite bounce as it rolls. I've tried three
now, with the same results. The wheel is very true and round,
with no flat spots.

This review includes a video that shows what miine look like:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-r...SIN=B00HPSCDBE

On top of that, they are damn hard to mount on the wheels! I've met few
tires I can't get onto the rim with just my hands, but these are almost
impossible to mount even with levers.

The bead is probably not seated right. I have the same problem
with Schwalbe 20 inch tires. The rim manufacturers and the tyre
manufacturers are just a dinkleberries in disagreement. I am on
my third rim and tyre combo. Still tight AF but will just fit.

Deflate the tyre. Lube up the bead with some soap. Inflate to
"Holy mother of god! How much?" PSI It may decide to pop into
its seat properly.

Or it may not. Good luck.

That's possible, but seems unlikely for *three* different tires
mounted at least five times. Also, I inspected the seating of the
tires pretty carefully, and there is no apparent difference in
tire placement around the rim. On top of all that, wouldn't the
bead either seat or blow out on riding for hundreds of miles?

--
Ted Heise West Lafayette, IN, USA

On Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 5:21:05 AM UTC-7, Theodore Heise wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:33:24 -0000 (UTC),
dave wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:40:46 +0000, Theodore Heise wrote:

I've used mostly Continental tires for over 20 years and
nearly 100K miles of road riding. Recently I got a half dozen
Ultra Sports (700c x 25), and after putting a new on on the
front noticed a definite bounce as it rolls. I've tried three
now, with the same results. The wheel is very true and round,
with no flat spots.

This review includes a video that shows what miine look like:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-r...SIN=B00HPSCDBE

On top of that, they are damn hard to mount on the wheels! I've met few
tires I can't get onto the rim with just my hands, but these are almost
impossible to mount even with levers.

The bead is probably not seated right. I have the same problem
with Schwalbe 20 inch tires. The rim manufacturers and the tyre
manufacturers are just a dinkleberries in disagreement. I am on
my third rim and tyre combo. Still tight AF but will just fit.

Deflate the tyre. Lube up the bead with some soap. Inflate to
"Holy mother of god! How much?" PSI It may decide to pop into
its seat properly.

Or it may not. Good luck.

That's possible, but seems unlikely for *three* different tires
mounted at least five times. Also, I inspected the seating of the
tires pretty carefully, and there is no apparent difference in
tire placement around the rim. On top of all that, wouldn't the
bead either seat or blow out on riding for hundreds of miles?

Your options are a defective tire or a tire that is not beading. Some tire and rim combinations a just bad, and you can get a tire that will not bead without soaping, beating, prying, pumping, etc., etc. Untreated, the tire will not bead no matter how long you ride it. Ultra Sports are an unhappy combination on my Sun CR18 rim which has a shallow rim well. They're tight, but they do bead and are round. I quit using them because of poor sidewall durability. I never had one that was mismanufactured.


-- Jay Beattie.

On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:07:49 -0700 (PDT),
jbeattie wrote:
On Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 5:21:05 AM UTC-7, Theodore Heise wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:33:24 -0000 (UTC),
dave wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:40:46 +0000, Theodore Heise wrote:

I've used mostly Continental tires for over 20 years and
nearly 100K miles of road riding. Recently I got a half
dozen Ultra Sports (700c x 25), and after putting a new on
on the front noticed a definite bounce as it rolls. I've
tried three now, with the same results. The wheel is very
true and round, with no flat spots.

The bead is probably not seated right. I have the same
problem with Schwalbe 20 inch tires. The rim manufacturers
and the tyre manufacturers are just a dinkleberries in
disagreement. I am on my third rim and tyre combo. Still
tight AF but will just fit.

Deflate the tyre. Lube up the bead with some soap. Inflate
to "Holy mother of god! How much?" PSI It may decide to pop
into its seat properly.

That's possible, but seems unlikely for *three* different
tires mounted at least five times. Also, I inspected the
seating of the tires pretty carefully, and there is no
apparent difference in tire placement around the rim. On top
of all that, wouldn't the bead either seat or blow out on
riding for hundreds of miles?

Your options are a defective tire or a tire that is not
beading. Some tire and rim combinations a just bad, and you
can get a tire that will not bead without soaping, beating,
prying, pumping, etc., etc. Untreated, the tire will not bead
no matter how long you ride it. Ultra Sports are an unhappy
combination on my Sun CR18 rim which has a shallow rim well.
They're tight, but they do bead and are round. I quit using
them because of poor sidewall durability. I never had one that
was mismanufactured.

Thanks, Jay (and dave). I suppose there is some small chance that
I got a group of defective tires from a bad manufacturing run, but
the non-beading point does seem more likely. I should have added
that getting the tires off takes some active inward pushing to get
the bead out of the hook on the rim. In some spots, a surprising
amount of force is needed. So this too points to bead seating
problems.

I will try one of these tires on another bike with different rims,
see what I get, and report back.

It also seems like my best bet is to go with a different tire for
this bike. I'd like to stay with Conti's but don't want the
expense of the Grand Prix. Any suggestions?

--
Ted Heise West Lafayette, IN, USA

On Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 9:04:52 AM UTC-7, Theodore Heise wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:07:49 -0700 (PDT),
jbeattie wrote:
On Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 5:21:05 AM UTC-7, Theodore Heise wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:33:24 -0000 (UTC),
dave wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:40:46 +0000, Theodore Heise wrote:

I've used mostly Continental tires for over 20 years and
nearly 100K miles of road riding. Recently I got a half
dozen Ultra Sports (700c x 25), and after putting a new on
on the front noticed a definite bounce as it rolls. I've
tried three now, with the same results. The wheel is very
true and round, with no flat spots.

The bead is probably not seated right. I have the same
problem with Schwalbe 20 inch tires. The rim manufacturers
and the tyre manufacturers are just a dinkleberries in
disagreement. I am on my third rim and tyre combo. Still
tight AF but will just fit.

Deflate the tyre. Lube up the bead with some soap. Inflate
to "Holy mother of god! How much?" PSI It may decide to pop
into its seat properly.

That's possible, but seems unlikely for *three* different
tires mounted at least five times. Also, I inspected the
seating of the tires pretty carefully, and there is no
apparent difference in tire placement around the rim. On top
of all that, wouldn't the bead either seat or blow out on
riding for hundreds of miles?

Your options are a defective tire or a tire that is not
beading. Some tire and rim combinations a just bad, and you
can get a tire that will not bead without soaping, beating,
prying, pumping, etc., etc. Untreated, the tire will not bead
no matter how long you ride it. Ultra Sports are an unhappy
combination on my Sun CR18 rim which has a shallow rim well.
They're tight, but they do bead and are round. I quit using
them because of poor sidewall durability. I never had one that
was mismanufactured.

Thanks, Jay (and dave). I suppose there is some small chance that
I got a group of defective tires from a bad manufacturing run, but
the non-beading point does seem more likely. I should have added
that getting the tires off takes some active inward pushing to get
the bead out of the hook on the rim. In some spots, a surprising
amount of force is needed. So this too points to bead seating
problems.

I will try one of these tires on another bike with different rims,
see what I get, and report back.

It also seems like my best bet is to go with a different tire for
this bike. I'd like to stay with Conti's but don't want the
expense of the Grand Prix. Any suggestions?

--
Ted Heise West Lafayette, IN, USA

Gatorskins for durability, although they can be tight, too -- and they have a pretty dead road feel. 4-Seasons for a great-but-expensive all weather tire. The 4-Seasons ride really well, but because of cost, I typically buy the Michelin Pro4 Endurance for a winter fast tire. The Michelin are consistently on close-out. Otherwise, its the GP. I think there are better deals on Michelin and other tires domestically.

-- Jay Beattie.

On Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 9:04:52 AM UTC-7, Theodore Heise wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:07:49 -0700 (PDT),
jbeattie wrote:
On Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 5:21:05 AM UTC-7, Theodore Heise wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 07:33:24 -0000 (UTC),
dave wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:40:46 +0000, Theodore Heise wrote:

I've used mostly Continental tires for over 20 years and
nearly 100K miles of road riding. Recently I got a half
dozen Ultra Sports (700c x 25), and after putting a new on
on the front noticed a definite bounce as it rolls. I've
tried three now, with the same results. The wheel is very
true and round, with no flat spots.

The bead is probably not seated right. I have the same
problem with Schwalbe 20 inch tires. The rim manufacturers
and the tyre manufacturers are just a dinkleberries in
disagreement. I am on my third rim and tyre combo. Still
tight AF but will just fit.

Deflate the tyre. Lube up the bead with some soap. Inflate
to "Holy mother of god! How much?" PSI It may decide to pop
into its seat properly.

That's possible, but seems unlikely for *three* different
tires mounted at least five times. Also, I inspected the
seating of the tires pretty carefully, and there is no
apparent difference in tire placement around the rim. On top
of all that, wouldn't the bead either seat or blow out on
riding for hundreds of miles?

Your options are a defective tire or a tire that is not
beading. Some tire and rim combinations a just bad, and you
can get a tire that will not bead without soaping, beating,
prying, pumping, etc., etc. Untreated, the tire will not bead
no matter how long you ride it. Ultra Sports are an unhappy
combination on my Sun CR18 rim which has a shallow rim well.
They're tight, but they do bead and are round. I quit using
them because of poor sidewall durability. I never had one that
was mismanufactured.

Thanks, Jay (and dave). I suppose there is some small chance that
I got a group of defective tires from a bad manufacturing run, but
the non-beading point does seem more likely. I should have added
that getting the tires off takes some active inward pushing to get
the bead out of the hook on the rim. In some spots, a surprising
amount of force is needed. So this too points to bead seating
problems.

I will try one of these tires on another bike with different rims,
see what I get, and report back.

It also seems like my best bet is to go with a different tire for
this bike. I'd like to stay with Conti's but don't want the
expense of the Grand Prix. Any suggestions?

--
Ted Heise West Lafayette, IN, USA

Ted, this is quite easy to see - there is a line that would normally be showing above the rim edge. That is symmetrical so if that isn't showing in about the same height above the rim all the way around you've discovered your problem.

On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:40:46 +0000 (UTC), Theodore Heise
wrote:

Any suggestions are welcome.

What's your rim strip? I was a long-time Velox user until just this
summer when I switched over to FSA rim strips which are much thinner.
They make more room for the beads of the tires, rsulting in easier
installation and easier seating, especially with the tighter beads on
foldable tires.

On 9/21/2018 2:40 PM, Tim McNamara wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:40:46 +0000 (UTC), Theodore Heise
wrote:

Any suggestions are welcome.

What's your rim strip? I was a long-time Velox user until just this
summer when I switched over to FSA rim strips which are much thinner.
They make more room for the beads of the tires, rsulting in easier
installation and easier seating, especially with the tighter beads on
foldable tires.

I still use 1/2" adhesive tape on a lot of rims. I started doing it the
factory original rim tape caused three flats in one day during a bike
tour, and adhesive tape was the only thing available. But it worked so
well that I've used it many times since. It is thin, and surprisingly
strong.


--
- Frank Krygowski

On Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:05:17 -0400,
Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 9/21/2018 2:40 PM, Tim McNamara wrote:
On Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:40:46 +0000 (UTC), Theodore Heise
wrote:

Any suggestions are welcome.

What's your rim strip? I was a long-time Velox user until
just this summer when I switched over to FSA rim strips which
are much thinner. They make more room for the beads of the
tires, rsulting in easier installation and easier seating,
especially with the tighter beads on foldable tires.

Interesting question. The (Ritchey) wheels came with a yellow
plastic rim strip, and a year or so ago I replaced it with basic
Velox. I'm not sure I got the right width, but in any case it
seems to ride just a bit high on the edges. I can see how this
might be a contributor.


I still use 1/2" adhesive tape on a lot of rims. I started
doing it the factory original rim tape caused three flats in
one day during a bike tour, and adhesive tape was the only
thing available. But it worked so well that I've used it many
times since. It is thin, and surprisingly strong.

Interesting thought. I'll file this one away for consideration
in the future.

--
Ted Heise West Lafayette, IN, USA