Originally Posted by squirtdad

While on the flat subject....make sure you have levers that will get your tires off. I had one set of tires that would not come off with anything less than a full 1/2 hour mma cage match with steel levers....plastic one did not work. I got rid of those tires (some forte kevalar on cr18 rims for those that are about to ask)

Originally Posted by rekmeyata

Not sure what your level of experience is but most tires will go on, some harder then others, but not a 1/2 an hour harder. Did you squeeze the bead into the center of the rim as you worked the tire on? Are you using a slightly smaller tube then the tire or slightly larger perhaps? Smaller tubes make it a bit easer to put on a tire. The most difficult tire I ever had was the Specialized Armadillo All Condition tires, those were a pain in the arse to put on. So I got a tire tool called the VAR, it's small enough to go into a seat bag, and it makes installing tough tires a snap; see: http://www.cyclebasket.com/products....3s281p92&rs=gb The single separate tire lever they provide is useless, I chucked it and use Soma steel core levers instead. But that VAR tool you simply use it when you've gone as far as you can get installing the bead then put the VAR over top of the tire and hook the hooked end onto the bead and the U end onto the rim, then just pull the bead on and SNAP it's on.

Keep in mind, tough to install tires are only tough to install when brand new, once their on the rim for awhile they get easier. Also keep in mind that the harder the tire is to get on the harder is for the tire to roll of the rim if you lose air pressure...that's a huge benefit.