Originally Posted by
Chris_W
Some people recommend finishing at the valve when mounting the tire. The valve helps to keep the tube away from being pinched between the tire and rim.
For this kind of job, you might want to use the toughest tire levers you can find so that they don't snap on you. Park Tool make the best plastic levers I've ever used, they are indestructible, I now don't bother with any other brands.
IMO, it's easier to mess up the valve stem than anywhere else on the tube, so always start at the valve.
And I've busted a pair of park levers on schwalbe marathon plus in 28mm.
currently I'm using some cheap WTB levers that came with a patch kit.
It's almost all in the technique used, not the quality of the tire levers.