My new Trek Fuel came with Line Comp 30's. This was my first Trek bike and first set of Bontrager rims with the prefitted Bontrager plastic rim strip. I tried to fit some Schwalbe Nobby Nics and it was a complete failure. I did (eventually) manage to get one on after hours of battle and using ridiculous amount of effort with strong tyre levers (snapped a standard lever). But the tyre refused to stay beaded .... it would unbead itself within 5 or so seconds.
I noticed the bead on the Bontrager XR5 tyre the bike came with looked to be much "thinner" than the Schwalbe tyre bead so got my vernier calipers out and confirmed the Bontrager tyre beads where substantially thinner / narrower (by about 30%) and hence why they were more pliable and also how they were able to fit into the rim hook clearance.. with the Bontrager plastic rims insert there just wasn't enough clearance for the Schwalbe beads. As I was new to Trek/ Bontrager I wanted to stay with their standards... so I refitted the XR5s and gave my Schwalbes to a mate.
Next set of tyres I think I will remove the plastic rim insert I think and go with Stans rim tape and some Maxxis or Schwalbes.
May 28, 2023, 5:33 a.m. - Paul_M
My new Trek Fuel came with Line Comp 30's. This was my first Trek bike and first set of Bontrager rims with the prefitted Bontrager plastic rim strip. I tried to fit some Schwalbe Nobby Nics and it was a complete failure. I did (eventually) manage to get one on after hours of battle and using ridiculous amount of effort with strong tyre levers (snapped a standard lever). But the tyre refused to stay beaded .... it would unbead itself within 5 or so seconds. I noticed the bead on the Bontrager XR5 tyre the bike came with looked to be much "thinner" than the Schwalbe tyre bead so got my vernier calipers out and confirmed the Bontrager tyre beads where substantially thinner / narrower (by about 30%) and hence why they were more pliable and also how they were able to fit into the rim hook clearance.. with the Bontrager plastic rims insert there just wasn't enough clearance for the Schwalbe beads. As I was new to Trek/ Bontrager I wanted to stay with their standards... so I refitted the XR5s and gave my Schwalbes to a mate. Next set of tyres I think I will remove the plastic rim insert I think and go with Stans rim tape and some Maxxis or Schwalbes.