Bicycle Mechanics - HELP!!! can't get a tire on my new road rim!!!

I just got a new Trek 520, and have had my first flat... I am trying to get the tire back on and can't do it. I ruined one tire already and am trying to avoid doing it a second time. The tire is a specialized armidillo. please help!!!

p.s I have changed lots of mtb tires. this one goes 90% of the way. all but 6 spokes worth on the 2nd side. I can't get the last part in.

The tires found on touring models can be really difficult to get back onto a rim. The only "secret" I can provide it this: Have as much of both beads as possible squeezed into the middle of the rim. Usually, the rim is deeper in the middle, so this give you some slack to work the bead over the rim on the opposite side. Some people will apply a clamp of some kind to hold the beads together, so they can't ride up out of the "valley" in the middle of the rim. Good luck.

Specialized Armadillo tires have relatively stiff sidewalls and, consequently, aren't the easiest tires to install. Try this:

1. With the tire completely off of the rim, install the inner tube in the tire.
2. Stick the tube valve stem through the rim and slip one tire bead over the rim.
3. STARTING OPPOSITE THE VALVE STEM start working the second tire bead onto the rim. Work both sides evenly.
4. When it starts to get hard, hold the wheel/tire assembly vertically in front of you. Place the unseated portion of the tire with the valve stem on the ground. Pinch both tire beads in toward the center of the rim all of the way around. Now grasp the tire at the 9:00 and 3:00 positions with both hands and try to push it directly down into the ground. What you are trying to do is to accumulate all of the slack at the uninstalled portion of the tire. Starting opposite the valve stem is important because that portion of the tube is a little thicker and uses up some of the slack that you need.
5. Most times that will give you enough slack so that you cah push the last portion of the tire on with your thumbs.

it may be hopeless, there seems to be some exposed wire. does this mean that the tire is kaput?

it may be hopeless, there seems to be some exposed wire. does this mean that the tire is kaput?

If you can just see the wire, that's OK. If you can stick your finger between the wire and the rest of the tire, that would kaput the tire.

If you can just see the wire, that's OK. If you can stick your finger between the wire and the rest of the tire, that would kaput the tire.

I can only see the wire so far, still workin' it though. Not Kaput yet :D

GOT IT!!! Thanks to my wifes ingenuity and all of your help. I love this forum. The tire now has air in it and is holding fine wooo hooo!!!