My Cannondale Bad Boy came with Vittoria Randonneur 700c tires. I tried to take them off the and replace them with cx tires.
I tried to use a regular tire lever, it broke.
I tried to use a Titanium King tire lever, it bent it.
The lower lever is what a King Ti Lever is supposed to look like.
Then I tried a quik stik. It didn’t break but I could not get the tire off using any regular method.
So I jammed two quik stiks in, then hit one of them with a rubber mallet until I got the bead off.
Curiosity got the better of me, I tried it on another set of rims. Same problems.
This time I removed it with a pair of tin snips I mean seriously what would happen if you had to change a flat on the road with one of these tires.
Plastic, titanium, blah. Don't be a gram weenie. Steel tire levers would not bend. I've had a pair for 20 years and they are still good as new. Although, admittedly, I've never encountered beads quite as tight as you describe.
I thought the Ti ones would be unbreakable!
Some steel levers will be on order list…
I have the same set of times and had the same problem. I ended up bringing to the shop to get it changed out. They broke a couple levers too. After the guy man-handled it out, the stepped on the tires with one foot and grabbed the other side with his hands and stretched the crap out of it to strecth it out a bit. It now comes on and off quite easily!!! Just thought this might come in handle for you …
I hate Vittorias for this reason. They all seem to be like that. I just had to fix a flat on my wife's bike–she has Vittorias (came with the bike). Oh, how I hate those tires. They loosen up a bit after a times on and off the rim, but out on the road? Murderous. Did I mention I hate them?
I hate Vittoria tires for this reason. They all seem to be like that. Granted, once you've changed several flats they loosen up, but out on the road? No way. Despise them. Just had to fix a flat on my wife's bike and she has Vittoria's (came with the bike). I hate them. Did I mention I hate them?