hey there Mike, take a looksie at this great video of a British chap giving a very comprehensive tutorial on a great trick to help in these $#$@!$%%$@!! type of situations where the air turns blue


using an old strap really does work, but I have just used my hands to do more or less the same thing, and gaining the few mm's here and there that carries on up to the last bit up top can make all the difference--it really does.

I have also wet the rim for the last bit with spit and that can help a treat also, easy to do out on the road where you dont have access to a bit of soap or whatever, but it can help for that last wee bit.

often too tires get a bit easier the next time they are on/off, so perhaps do a trial run in the dry and warmth of your house with a strap, and perhaps already they will have stretched out that teensy smidgen that makes it less of a bear to get on.

PS, every time I see that vid, I am more and more convinced that at the end of it , he hops into his Spitfire without batting an eye to intercept the incoming Me109.....;-)