what do you mean push the tire towards the rim center?? i am doing the tire in small steps. the last 8 inches is brutal.if i work one side, the other side comes out of the rim. i have to hook a lever on each side of the tire that is still sticking out and then in the center of that i use a screwdriver to force it over the edge. it sounds like its the rims. these tires have only been off once or twice, so they haven't stretched much.