Challenge

I have been running Challenge tires for about five years (Almanzo, Gravel Grinder and Strada Bianca). Their suppleness is unmatched at 260 TPI. They feel great, roll fast and seldom puncture. They do, however, have to go on the rim in order to be ridden! My mechanic reports he had to watch a video to figure out how to get these things on my Campagnolo Levante wheels (40mm tires). I have used the non-TLR in the past and found them very easy to get on and off, but the tubeless version is just incredibly hard to fit, even using a variety of tricks. It's a shame Challenge can't get this right, as these are terrific tires.

Holy Baby Hey-Sooos these are massively, ridiculously hard to mount. You better have Popeye forearms and farm boy grip strength. Also helps to do it in the sun over 70 degrees. Work it really hard pushing from the valve stem while losing your fingernails getting that last bead over the rim. After they are ridden and pumped up they loosen up a bit in case you ever flat and need to put a tube in. Just because Challenge doesn't want you to feel any accomplishment upon getting the tire on the rim, it is a nagging process of getting them to seal and stay inflated. Use about 9oz of sealant to basically make an aquarium inside the tire of anti-flat juice. If, and only then, these tires ride great and are fast. Just accept the fact you will fear the day you have to put a tube in them on the side of the road in 40 degree F weather.

I'm enjoying the Baby Limus for gravel riding. It's confident and smooth rolling while running well on paved roads on the way to local gravel. I do wonder about the strength of the sidewall because a stick punctured it while I was biking across a grassy park. I'm now running inner tubes with Orange Seal added.

Comments from others about the difficulty in mounting the tire on rim are on point. it is frustratingly hard, but once they're on these tires are a lot of fun.

The first generation of these Strada PRO TLR tires delivered a perfect ride, but living with them was miserable. Mounting was extremely difficult, they didn't hold air, they drank sealant, and raised your blood pressure.

I am thrilled to report that the folks at Challenge have preserved the perfect ride quality and excellent looks of the first generation and packaged it in a tire that behaves like.....a tire!! They now do incredible things like:

' Go over a rim edge with only one's thumbs

' Seat with a floor pump

' Hold air overnight

' Hold air for many days after that

' Require only a normal amount of sealant to continue holding air

' Keep the owner's blood pressure at healthy levels

I purchased the 28mm variety which inflate just shy of 30mm wide on 21mm internal rims. I now strongly recommend these tires.