Originally Posted by Expatriate
2 things here.
One, index your tires. The "Hot patch", or label, should be at the valve. Makes it much easier to check your tire for damage or foreign matter by comparing the damage to the tube.
Two, always start opposite the valve when changing a flat. With the valve on the bottom, pull the tire up/push the rim down. Gives you plenty of slack for getting the tire off. MTB tires rarely require tools, road tires almost always.
Gee Expatriate, Your good! I still use tools to remove my MTB tires. Guess I need to practice.
By the way scarpi41, be sure to check your rim strip after you remove the tube. You want to be sure no spoke nipples are exposed to the tube. I know it's a long shot, but it happened to my freind, the rim strip moved off of one nipple. That's where his tube had a hole.