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I am having a very difficult time mounting and dismounting tires on my Eurus rims. I've yet to find a tire which goes on or off reasonably easily nor have I found one which is easy enough to make field tube repair possible w/o carrying my 14" steel levers (ugh). I can't say I've tried them all. So far only last year's Conti Ultra Gatorskins and Conti 4000's.

I'm ready for a new set of tires. My two requirements are some modicum of puncture resistance and at least the possibility of getting them on / off in the field. Can anyone with these *#&# rims offer a suggestion? Given the persistence of flatting in bicycling, I'm surprised that there is not more mention of tire mounting ease.

Also when I removed the rim tape, I noted a green plastic strip clearly meant to shield the tube from the nipples. Does this green plastic strip replace normal rim tape? I bought the bike used so the tape may have been added by the PO. It looks to me as if the tube would be all right and protected from the nipples with just the green plastic, but I'm not sure.

Any additional information about green plastic and easy to mount tires greatly appreciated.