Michelin Road Classics

[ShutterPilot]

Just wanted to put this update out there.
I attempted to mount Michelin Road Classics on my 1981 R65 snowflakes, to replace the worn set of lastertec's (front and rear) that were on there.
While the Rear Michelin Road Classic mounted and balanced just fine (4.00B18 64H TL), the front would not seat the bead (100/90-18 56H TL) after repeated attempts over 3 days by my mechanic, and over the following weekend by myself.
Applied all the usual tricks - setting out in sun, warmed up to 140º+-, generous lube, even WD-40. No joy.
Thinking the tire may be suspect, or the bead might be damaged, the supplier generously provided an exact replacement tire upon my asking.
The 2nd Michelin Road Classic 100/90-18 56H TL wouldn't seat either. Even blew the tube out at 90psi attempting to seat it repeatedly.

Now, on my own dime, I've ordered in a Metzeler Roadtec 01 100/90-18 for the front, in hopes that it will mount and seat successfully like the old Metzeler Lasertec did. I'll report in what happens as soon as it does.
(While I should have ordered in a new Lastertec front to truly determine whether its a tire or wheel problem since I know that tire mounted fine in the past, I wanted to try to leave the Michelin Road Classic rear mounted ($$), since it installed just fine, and the Roadtec 01 has a similar profile and is also a radial like the Michelin, as opposed to the lastertec being bias-ply)
Thoughts?

[dogshome]

I had horrible trouble fitting Classic Attacks to my R65. 100PSi, polished inside the rims,  special soap lube and lots of bouncing did it.

They are great modern tyres, but do not want to fit old BMW alloys.

I expect this is not uncommon.

[Bob_Roller]

I've got  .Michelin Roadtec 01 on all my R65's100/90 .
I had been using Metzler Me33 and Me99's / Lazertec from 1986 up until a few years ago .

The Roadtec tires don't follow rain grooves in the road surface.
Have no idea how they are in wet conditions I live in a desert and rarely get rained on .

[Barry]

I had horrible trouble fitting Classic Attacks to my R65. 100PSi, polished inside the rims,  special soap lube and lots of bouncing did it.

They are great modern tyres, but do not want to fit old BMW alloys.

I expect this is not uncommon.

It's very common, all the other airhead forums report the same problem. They fit the old spoked wheels OK but are always a struggle with snowflakes. 

[Dwmadsen]

The snowflake rims were designed for tubes. My rear snowflake ran as a tubeless without any issues. The front rim constantly - albeit very slowly - leaked at the rim. I run tubes now.

[Kelvin]

I have Michelin Road Classics on both my R65LSs. I expect from experience that each time I have a tyre changed that the mechanic is going to tell me it was a right bitch to fit: this seems to have been consistent across both the Road Classics and the previous Michelin Pilot Activs. Also, I've asked him to fit them tubeless and they haven't maintained pressure, despite some effort cleaning up the rims, so I always fit tubes.