Help! New Shimano ultegra 6700 wheelset - can't get tyres on!

I've actually managed to get the Conti Attack/Force tyres on the Ultegra wheels! Still a bit of a struggle and had to use the Var tyre lever (cheers Old Cranky for that), but they're on; and no swearing, no popped tubes, no broken levers, no talc and no soapy water, but some sweat......so apologies to Albert at Madison for calling you a fibber.

Another thing I've done before is attempt to "pre stretch" the tyre by trapping it under the insteps of my feet and giving it a good pull. I think it helped a bit.

I guess that if you have an old rim which you can get the tyre onto, then it might help if you fit the tyre, inflate the inner tube (so that the beads are forced onto the high, largest diameter edge of the rim) and leave it overnight to stretch.

Yes very funny cat1; but joking aside, i have had crazy thoughts like that myself as i've never had such trouble getting tyres on wheels. no, these tyres are ones i've had on two other wheels (bianchi elevation and mavic cx63) with no problems whatsoever.
any more suggestions? (serious ones this time!)

You haven't bought 650c tyres have you? <ducks>

i did scream out loud, but it still didn't make the last bit go on!
glad other people have spotted the fact that they're completely different wheels in the picture - i think we originally started talking about the ultegra 6700 wheelset.
cheers for all the suggestions, but i'm not going to hold my breath. they're so far away from going on they may as well be on different wheels!

Yep different wheels Cat1 - and the reason for the Speed Levers was that Shaun did indeed find them mightily tight.

It's the Vittoria Open Pave Eco

http://road.cc/content/review/15731-vittoria-open-pave-evo-cg-folding-tyre

I wonder if it's because both of the tyres i've no success with so far have either carbon and/or kevlar in making them very tough. That tyre you've got in the picture looks really soft and supple; what is it?

I hate to suggest buying something else when the tyre should just fit, but what about some Crank Brothers Speed Levers - Shaun used them to get the Vittoria Open Paves on to his rims when he was testing them. Maybe it is the tyre though because as Dave said we've been able to get tyres, other than Contis… don't Madison do them too :), on to Dura wheels which have pretty much identical rims.

Shortfat - i'm not pleased to hear that you're struggling, but at the same time i am! Sorry, but I thought i was going mad. I've just finished building a bike up and the last thing i thought i would be struggling with is getting the tyres on the wheels; but I also have brand new Ultegra 6700 wheelset and the tyres are not even close to going on. After lots of head scratching and effing and jeffing I was ready to give up and sell the damn things, but determined not to let them beat me. I’ve tried Michelin and Vittoria tyres and both are nowhere near to going on. Managed to get the back tyre on after loosing my temper but then realised I’d popped the tube! I’ve used Var tyre levers, and talc powder, but still not going on!! (talc just made it easier for the tyre that I’d already got on to the rim to pop back off again – and it made a mess!). P.S. can’t believe the bloke at Madison hasn’t had a single problem – you fibber!........but as I’m now getting desparate and he reckons he’s got Conti Attack/Force tyres to fit…..you’ve guessed it……I’ve ordered those tyres!!! If that doesn’t work it’s going to have to be tubeless, which will be a new one for me.
Shortfat – have you had any luck since writing your original post? Ta, Matt.

move to japan! some sort of secluded mountain top location hidden by mist, and under the eager eye of grey haired master learn the mechanics art of Iron thumb!!

I like the Pedros plastic tyre levers, since they are very strong, but also nicely rounded at the edges to protect both tyre and rim.

Another tip I've found useful is to try to keep the bead of the tyre in the well (centre) of the rim on one side of the wheel while you're levering the tyre over the rim on the opposite side. This slightly reduces the effective diameter of wheel.

You need one of these - http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-VAR-VAR-Tyre-Lever-903.htm

this from the man who's probably put more tyres on Ultegra wheels than anyone else I know: Albert at distributors Madison.

"Not a known problem no. All the wheelsets I used for the press days had Conti Attack/Force clincher & tube combos on and they went on absolutely fine. Likewise, in the past we’ve had to use the Dura-Ace SL Scandium tubeless with clincher and tubes, they pretty much share the same rim profile and were fine."

some tyre/rim combinations are worse than others but i've not heard of any specific problems with the 6700 rims. It's possible that the internal shape of the rim is making it harder to drop the bead into the middle of the rim, this give you more play when you're pushing it on.

if you're doing it at home you can use a bit of talc or soapy water to lower the friction between the rim and the bead, that might help. not much use out on the road though, i'd suggest getting some really good tyre levers. I'd recommend the Topeak Shuttle ones: http://road.cc/content/review/4709-topeak-shuttle-12-tyre-levers.

i've had the same problem but in my case it was a pair of Easton EA50 SL rims. the tyres were Conti Super sports also.
ive always found that mavic rims (CXP33/MA4) were never a problem with any tyres.. apart from that im no help im afraid!