I have some super tight tires. What I have to do is get 3 levers under the bead all at once, and then hold 2 of them in there while I pry with the third, then hook it over a spoke, and move on to the next lever. I'm convinced this is why lever sets come with 3. The hooks are because you don't have 3 hands. It doesn't always "take" on the first try, and you may have to fiddle with exactly where to place the levers.