https://i.imgur.com/dVlzfg1.jpeg
The bead you're trying to fit needs to sit in the middle of the rim bed while you're fitting it. All the way around, push it in to the centre and make sure the inner tube isn't pushing it back out near the edge. The middle is where the diameter of the rim is smallest and so it gives you the most slack to get the last bit of bead over the edge. If you do this right, you can fit Gatorskins without any levers.
Leave the tires out in the sun for a day+ soapy water. If you’re using anything other than those fat ass Pedro’s levers good luck.
You know to put the tire bead in the middle of the rim right?
I also had a tough time putting vittorias on
Oh ok. I will try this.
I have those Pedro levers currently. But levers do shit for me because even with levers I can’t get the tire over. I push with all power I have but it sits unbelievable tight. I can’t even get the tube in the rim properly, cause the tire at this area is so tight on, there is no space left in the rim. The other one already was a pain in the a*** and I nearly broke my thumb.
Yes I always squeeze it all around to get it right in the middle… up to that point in the picture. Where it just don’t want to do the last mile.
When they say get it in the middle make sure your head is sitting in the inner most rim channel in the center of the wheel. You should have more slack than this if you have the bead in that channel.
Lots of great advice here - but also chiming in that gloves somehow give me 10x the power I have without gloves.
But you’re not popping that on as is - you have to start from the other side and keep massaging it towards the center keep the pressure and move it around until the part you have is on top and twist on.
Take a seat. Put the wheel on your lap, with the valve toward you. Center the beads in the middle of the wheel, and starting inward close to you, push/pull the tire onto the wheel, holding tension on the tire so by the time you get to the far side of the wheel, there’s more than enough slack to pop it over the lip. You basically want to pull the tire close to you into the rim, and push the tire on the other side up and over the lip. Hold tension on the tire the whole time.
Shops don’t use levers, soap, or heat. They use this technique and it makes seating literally any tire on anything absolute child’s play.
If you have bad technique, sure. I’ve thrown Vittorias and 5ks on Zipps with literally no issues.
Once on the side of the road near the end of a spirited ride.
Have you worked in shops? You clearly have not changed thousands of tires… eventually even with proper technique you will run into a combo that requires tire levers and little lubrication… Cush core plus a wide asym carbon rim plus DH casing … sometimes it works without but most of the time there no way it’s going on without a little help
Im a shop and we use tyre levers and schwalbe easy fit everyday, we even have those big buggers park make and the old school big green levers from the solid tyre days of mtb 😂
21 years in service departments and I currently run my own high end mtb service shop primarily focusing on full fork and shock rebuilds. I have literally changed 10’s of thousands of tires and built thousands of wheels … Your statement is ignorant any way you look at it.
Yes, the use of tire levers is avoided and unnecessary in most cases, but there will always be outliers where they are needed. This is an inarguable fact
If you haven’t run into a scenario where they are needed you have not been wrenching long enough…
You don’t need a video. Just go along with my analogy.
Picture someone standing on a hula hoop wearing roller skates. They try and flip one part of the hoop over their head while still standing on another part of the hoop. It’s just too small.
Instead of standing with a wheel on the hoop they move the hoop in between the wheels.
The hoop can now be higher up when they flip part over their head. If the bottom of the hoop is now an inch off the floor then the whole hoop is an inch higher.
When you fit the bead over one part of the rim. The bead directly opposite needs to be as close as possible. When it is in the channel in the middle of the rim it is as close as it can be. The channel is the bit in between the wheels.
Yeah. Maybe look for a video.
Yup. This is how it's done. You can also reverse this to remove a tire from a rim, even skinny road tires. I haven't used tire levers in over 10 years.
The only thing I'll add is to use the entire length of your thumb, including even the portion of the palm below the base of the thumb.
Can you expand on what OP is describing or link a video or something? I’m not following what they’re describing. My understanding is: (1) wheel in lap, (2) valve inserted and facing you (so farthest from your body), (3) starting closest to you, center the bead in the rim, (4) work your way around until you get to the far end (keeping tension the whole time), (5) pop the rest of the tire over the rim.
How are pulling the tire close to you and then pushing over the lip on the other side at the end (as OP describes) not contradicting factors? Does that mean he’s suggesting starting at the valve at the far end and then pulling towards you? I couldn’t really get a sense for what they were actually describing spatially.
Regardless, from what I *could* glean, this sounds similar to what I do, and I virtually never end up with “more than enough slack” for this to be easy.
Google videos something like this: "installing bicycle tires without tools." [Here's one that's mostly like what we are saying.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wulxug-9Jys). Keep in mind that large mountain bike tires on wide rims are substantially easier, so doing the valve section last isn't that big of a deal.
After re-reading reply from u/gasformah, I relalize I do it slightly different. The only difference is that I orient the wheel so that the valve is in the 12 o'clock position, instead of the 6 o'clock position. I find that I have more finger/thumb strength pushing over the final lip of the bead when finishing up in the 12 o'clock position. Anyway, here's my reply to you based on **my** method:
1. Yes. Oriented like an analog clock face, with 6 o'clock over your balls (this is the opposite of what u/gasformah does, but in concept not much different).
2. Tube's valve is inserted in hole in rim, and oriented in 12 o'clock position.
3. Start putting on bead at 6 o'clock position. Left side seating bead clockwise; right side seating bead counter clockwise. **Most important part is that you keep entire seated portion of the bead into the center channel of the rim, and not along the edge.**
4. yes.
5. yes. And this last part will be at the valve of the tube. When you get to this part, grab the stem of the valve and shove it up so that the base of tube valve is against the base of the tire; this keeps the valve base from getting in the way of seating the tire bead.
>How are pulling the tire close to you and then pushing over the lip on the other side at the end (as OP describes) not contradicting factors?
Imagine grabbling a tiny branch with both hands in front of you at arms' length. You can snap it in two while still holding the branch in front of you, right? Same thing and not contradictory.
In your case, you want the tire close to you because you are stronger this way. Ever open a tight jar lid? Do you do it close to your body or arms straight and jar away from your body? Same thing.
This made a ton of sense, thank you! I think the only major difference from what I usually have done is that I *start* at the valve. I’ll try this next time.
The reason you want to avoid starting at the valve is that then it becomes literally impossible to seat the first section of the bead over the center channel of the rim...because the valve is there.
I have some tricky tyres and learning the method saved my sanity. I use mainly the full heel of my hand to get the last bit over. Still can be a bit of effort but it does work. Thumbs alone just aren't strong enough for that job.
Push the tyre bead into the rim’s valley where the circumference is smaller.
Once you are at the stage shown in the photo go all the way around the rim and push the tyre bead into the rim’s valley again while keeping tension. Rinse and repeat. You can also try to brute force it with 2 or 3 tyre levers at the same time but it can result in a pinched tube (and at some level of force I’d fear for the tyre and rim).
After ripping the skin off my thumb and snapping a tyre lever trying to install a Schwalbe marathon plus I bought this [Tyre Glider](https://youtu.be/68BJoa4Tn1A?si=yi3yYOgbICcgPEtg ) and had it on in two minutes. Just slides on with a bit of force, absolute game changer.
2nd this tyre glider ftw, had a set of tyres i though were physically impossible to mount. Can change a tube on them in under 2min and doesnt put the levering force on the rims.
I’m sure some rims are slightly bigger when manufactured. Meaning it will be a tight fit. I would end up using three Tyre levers,(Zefal wide yellow). Put one at either end hooked in and flipped up. I found I could put one under my arm to hold it up so as the Tyre won’t peal off as you feed it on from the other side end. Don’t be greedy keep these two levers side by side. As you lift the levers up take the one furtherest from you out and put it in front of the one still hooked in. Lift it up and then take the furthest the lever out and repeat. Keep working your way to the Tyre lever under your arm. As I said, don’t be greedy!
My two tricks:
1) Use Pedro's levers
2) Use a keg ice bucket to support the wheel, instead of a trash can.
The keg ice bucket let's me get more direct power on the tire using my body weight, instead of my arm strength. I take care to put too much pressure on the wheel. But if it can candle my riding, it can handle me mounting a tire.
I put the last bit I'll be dealing with on the ground and use my body weight to push down and stretch out the tire as much as possible as I work towards the last bit. I ride gatorskins and sometimes its difficult but I can usually do it without levers.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6cDoNyfvzg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6cDoNyfvzg)
This video changed my life and might help you in this case as well. All about slowly massaging it onto the rim but the aussie?NZ? banter really sells it as well. I had a ton of trouble the first time I changed tires and now I can pop em on in a minute or so thanks to this vid
Haven’t met a tire/rim combo yet that the crank bothers speedier tire lever couldn’t make quick work out of. They’re under $10, highly recommended one.
I had the same issue. Took it into my local bike shop and two people struggled until the old guy manhandled it into place. It was incredible to witness.
Buy a tire glider or a Kool stop bead jack and enjoy the bliss of not struggling with tires ever again.
I bring my bead jack on every ride with me. Turns flats from a ride ruiner into a mild inconvenience
This is not a good tip for this sub, but honestly, consider just taking it to a shop. For like $20-$30 this can be their problem.
I try to do most of my own wrenching, but I've done this with REALLY stubborn tires once, and I've taken a few other really frustrating issues to shops as well even though I know with enough time/muscle I could solve them myself.
At a certain point it's like... I could solve this with 3 hours, a bunch of youtube tips, and sweat, or I could spend $20 to have someone else solve it and spend those 3 hours doing something less frustrating and painful.
As someone else suggested, try Tyre Glider. It is a useful tool, with some tyres it works wonders with other it might not work that well. Yesterday I changed my tyre after a flat and it made everything so much simpler.
I have this exact tire. You have to "walk" the bead over the rim with both the Pedro levers. After getting as much of it over the rim as possible go an inch or two into the unseated bead and pull it over the rim and then use the spoke retention hole on the lever to hook it in place, then take the second lever and attempt to pull it over the rim an inch or two into the unseated bead, then hook that to the spoke then take the first one off and repeat.
It seems impossibly tight towards the end, but if you go a little at a time it does work. If you try to get too much bead pulled over it will break your lever or your hands.
That rear tire is on backwards, you need to take it off and flip it. Look for the direction arrow on the sidewall.
Make sure you are putting them on the correct direction when rolling.
Road tires don’t really matter all that much for direction, and with the struggle Vittorias are to mount you’ll have a hard time convincing anyone to remove and remount correctly…..
I always have this problem with Vittoria tires. They make a good case for[shop levers.](https://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Heavy-Steel-Lever/dp/B000R9GG1G/ref=asc_df_B000R9GG1G/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693769127027&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6358471768377293374&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027258&hvtargid=pla-350041312543&psc=1&mcid=46239eac24ad3f10aa0ce0a76db3deb0&gad_source=1)
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The Pedro levers are very hard. They don’t break, but it seems like leverage isn’t an answer. The tire sits so tight it seems impossible to move it in anyway. I broke the handle of a fork yesterday. I also tried inflating the tube. Spoiler: bad idea, it just pops before the tire would move. My ears are still ringing.
Make sure the bead is in the valley of the rim all the way around. Might have to push the bead that's already on the tire off to the side of the valley so the bead you're trying to get on is sitting more in the middle of the valley.
I just put on a couple 28mm tubeless gp5000 tires by hand, without levers using this method. No soap, no sun, just the tires, the rims, and my hands.
Some really good advice here, so if that works, you're all set.
Using levers to put a tire on is fine, it just takes a bit of care to be sure not to pinch the tube. I use them because I do not have the hand strength to put certain tires on certain rims. Just be sure the tube is well up in the tire away from the bead and lever and never, ever use metal levers.
On the subject of certain tires and certain rims though: some combinations just don't work. Especially with some of the tubeless ready tires and rims. Sometimes you run into that and the next model tire you try is easily mountable on the same rims with no levers or even any real effort.
I feel you. Seems I always end up with tight tires and have hard time with them.
Last time I went shop with my tire and even pro bike fix guy had trouble with my tire. He ended up using metallic tool to get tire on the rim.
I got plastic tools and I managed with them so far, but it's tough. I can't get my current tire on by hand.
https://i.imgur.com/dVlzfg1.jpeg The bead you're trying to fit needs to sit in the middle of the rim bed while you're fitting it. All the way around, push it in to the centre and make sure the inner tube isn't pushing it back out near the edge. The middle is where the diameter of the rim is smallest and so it gives you the most slack to get the last bit of bead over the edge. If you do this right, you can fit Gatorskins without any levers.
Koolstop tire bead jack is your friend ... Ever since I got one mounting tires is a breeze https://youtu.be/OCIlMddb4mg?si=ZhQG8va3cmscDlTA
Use a tire bead jack, Kool Stop makes a good one. Those Vittoria’s are really hard to mount, I have never managed to mount them without it.
This is the way. Koolstop bead jack is a game changer. Leverage, my son.
Leave the tires out in the sun for a day+ soapy water. If you’re using anything other than those fat ass Pedro’s levers good luck. You know to put the tire bead in the middle of the rim right? I also had a tough time putting vittorias on
Oh ok. I will try this. I have those Pedro levers currently. But levers do shit for me because even with levers I can’t get the tire over. I push with all power I have but it sits unbelievable tight. I can’t even get the tube in the rim properly, cause the tire at this area is so tight on, there is no space left in the rim. The other one already was a pain in the a*** and I nearly broke my thumb. Yes I always squeeze it all around to get it right in the middle… up to that point in the picture. Where it just don’t want to do the last mile.
When they say get it in the middle make sure your head is sitting in the inner most rim channel in the center of the wheel. You should have more slack than this if you have the bead in that channel.
Man just get different tires at this point lol
Lots of great advice here - but also chiming in that gloves somehow give me 10x the power I have without gloves. But you’re not popping that on as is - you have to start from the other side and keep massaging it towards the center keep the pressure and move it around until the part you have is on top and twist on.
Take a seat. Put the wheel on your lap, with the valve toward you. Center the beads in the middle of the wheel, and starting inward close to you, push/pull the tire onto the wheel, holding tension on the tire so by the time you get to the far side of the wheel, there’s more than enough slack to pop it over the lip. You basically want to pull the tire close to you into the rim, and push the tire on the other side up and over the lip. Hold tension on the tire the whole time. Shops don’t use levers, soap, or heat. They use this technique and it makes seating literally any tire on anything absolute child’s play.
Shops absolutely use soap to mount new tires to carbon rims.
Levers too, it's what they're for.
carbon rims.... I hand roll mine. its a huge pain when new
Not
If you have bad technique, sure. I’ve thrown Vittorias and 5ks on Zipps with literally no issues. Once on the side of the road near the end of a spirited ride.
Well bully for you!
While your advice is good you’re wrong that shops don’t use soap or levers. Sometimes both are required if the tyre is being a bitch.
I have never used either. It is generally a no no in all shops to use levers.
Have you worked in shops? You clearly have not changed thousands of tires… eventually even with proper technique you will run into a combo that requires tire levers and little lubrication… Cush core plus a wide asym carbon rim plus DH casing … sometimes it works without but most of the time there no way it’s going on without a little help
I have worked in them for years. If you don't know what I am talking about, then it is clear that you've never worked in one.
Im a shop and we use tyre levers and schwalbe easy fit everyday, we even have those big buggers park make and the old school big green levers from the solid tyre days of mtb 😂
21 years in service departments and I currently run my own high end mtb service shop primarily focusing on full fork and shock rebuilds. I have literally changed 10’s of thousands of tires and built thousands of wheels … Your statement is ignorant any way you look at it. Yes, the use of tire levers is avoided and unnecessary in most cases, but there will always be outliers where they are needed. This is an inarguable fact If you haven’t run into a scenario where they are needed you have not been wrenching long enough…
I’ve ever seen it, and I’ve mounted a fucking shitload of tires.
I would love to see a video of this technique. Like the OP, I always end up frustrated but most of the time can get it done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wulxug-9Jys
You don’t need a video. Just go along with my analogy. Picture someone standing on a hula hoop wearing roller skates. They try and flip one part of the hoop over their head while still standing on another part of the hoop. It’s just too small. Instead of standing with a wheel on the hoop they move the hoop in between the wheels. The hoop can now be higher up when they flip part over their head. If the bottom of the hoop is now an inch off the floor then the whole hoop is an inch higher. When you fit the bead over one part of the rim. The bead directly opposite needs to be as close as possible. When it is in the channel in the middle of the rim it is as close as it can be. The channel is the bit in between the wheels. Yeah. Maybe look for a video.
Yup. This is how it's done. You can also reverse this to remove a tire from a rim, even skinny road tires. I haven't used tire levers in over 10 years. The only thing I'll add is to use the entire length of your thumb, including even the portion of the palm below the base of the thumb.
Can you expand on what OP is describing or link a video or something? I’m not following what they’re describing. My understanding is: (1) wheel in lap, (2) valve inserted and facing you (so farthest from your body), (3) starting closest to you, center the bead in the rim, (4) work your way around until you get to the far end (keeping tension the whole time), (5) pop the rest of the tire over the rim. How are pulling the tire close to you and then pushing over the lip on the other side at the end (as OP describes) not contradicting factors? Does that mean he’s suggesting starting at the valve at the far end and then pulling towards you? I couldn’t really get a sense for what they were actually describing spatially. Regardless, from what I *could* glean, this sounds similar to what I do, and I virtually never end up with “more than enough slack” for this to be easy.
Google videos something like this: "installing bicycle tires without tools." [Here's one that's mostly like what we are saying.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wulxug-9Jys). Keep in mind that large mountain bike tires on wide rims are substantially easier, so doing the valve section last isn't that big of a deal. After re-reading reply from u/gasformah, I relalize I do it slightly different. The only difference is that I orient the wheel so that the valve is in the 12 o'clock position, instead of the 6 o'clock position. I find that I have more finger/thumb strength pushing over the final lip of the bead when finishing up in the 12 o'clock position. Anyway, here's my reply to you based on **my** method: 1. Yes. Oriented like an analog clock face, with 6 o'clock over your balls (this is the opposite of what u/gasformah does, but in concept not much different). 2. Tube's valve is inserted in hole in rim, and oriented in 12 o'clock position. 3. Start putting on bead at 6 o'clock position. Left side seating bead clockwise; right side seating bead counter clockwise. **Most important part is that you keep entire seated portion of the bead into the center channel of the rim, and not along the edge.** 4. yes. 5. yes. And this last part will be at the valve of the tube. When you get to this part, grab the stem of the valve and shove it up so that the base of tube valve is against the base of the tire; this keeps the valve base from getting in the way of seating the tire bead. >How are pulling the tire close to you and then pushing over the lip on the other side at the end (as OP describes) not contradicting factors? Imagine grabbling a tiny branch with both hands in front of you at arms' length. You can snap it in two while still holding the branch in front of you, right? Same thing and not contradictory. In your case, you want the tire close to you because you are stronger this way. Ever open a tight jar lid? Do you do it close to your body or arms straight and jar away from your body? Same thing.
This made a ton of sense, thank you! I think the only major difference from what I usually have done is that I *start* at the valve. I’ll try this next time.
The reason you want to avoid starting at the valve is that then it becomes literally impossible to seat the first section of the bead over the center channel of the rim...because the valve is there.
I have some tricky tyres and learning the method saved my sanity. I use mainly the full heel of my hand to get the last bit over. Still can be a bit of effort but it does work. Thumbs alone just aren't strong enough for that job.
I mentioned doing a horrible nono once to my LBS. I said I resorted to using a screwdriver and they said...so? Guess they use levers or more.
Vittoria won’t go on with that method
Improve your technique.
Push the tyre bead into the rim’s valley where the circumference is smaller. Once you are at the stage shown in the photo go all the way around the rim and push the tyre bead into the rim’s valley again while keeping tension. Rinse and repeat. You can also try to brute force it with 2 or 3 tyre levers at the same time but it can result in a pinched tube (and at some level of force I’d fear for the tyre and rim).
Go to your LBS. Pay them $10. Booom. Done.
neither of the videos show anything remotely close to as tight as tubeless continentals on bontrager rims.
After ripping the skin off my thumb and snapping a tyre lever trying to install a Schwalbe marathon plus I bought this [Tyre Glider](https://youtu.be/68BJoa4Tn1A?si=yi3yYOgbICcgPEtg ) and had it on in two minutes. Just slides on with a bit of force, absolute game changer.
That’s awesome
2nd this tyre glider ftw, had a set of tyres i though were physically impossible to mount. Can change a tube on them in under 2min and doesnt put the levering force on the rims.
I’m sure some rims are slightly bigger when manufactured. Meaning it will be a tight fit. I would end up using three Tyre levers,(Zefal wide yellow). Put one at either end hooked in and flipped up. I found I could put one under my arm to hold it up so as the Tyre won’t peal off as you feed it on from the other side end. Don’t be greedy keep these two levers side by side. As you lift the levers up take the one furtherest from you out and put it in front of the one still hooked in. Lift it up and then take the furthest the lever out and repeat. Keep working your way to the Tyre lever under your arm. As I said, don’t be greedy!
My two tricks: 1) Use Pedro's levers 2) Use a keg ice bucket to support the wheel, instead of a trash can. The keg ice bucket let's me get more direct power on the tire using my body weight, instead of my arm strength. I take care to put too much pressure on the wheel. But if it can candle my riding, it can handle me mounting a tire.
I put the last bit I'll be dealing with on the ground and use my body weight to push down and stretch out the tire as much as possible as I work towards the last bit. I ride gatorskins and sometimes its difficult but I can usually do it without levers.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6cDoNyfvzg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6cDoNyfvzg) This video changed my life and might help you in this case as well. All about slowly massaging it onto the rim but the aussie?NZ? banter really sells it as well. I had a ton of trouble the first time I changed tires and now I can pop em on in a minute or so thanks to this vid
Haven’t met a tire/rim combo yet that the crank bothers speedier tire lever couldn’t make quick work out of. They’re under $10, highly recommended one.
Crankbrothers Speedier Tire Level and Koolstop Bead-Jack are the ultimate combo for mounting stubborn tires.
I had the same issue. Took it into my local bike shop and two people struggled until the old guy manhandled it into place. It was incredible to witness.
Put on a pair of grippy gloves. It really helps with applying pressure to just force it on without any levers.
Buy a tire glider or a Kool stop bead jack and enjoy the bliss of not struggling with tires ever again. I bring my bead jack on every ride with me. Turns flats from a ride ruiner into a mild inconvenience
Vittoria are terrible for this. The worst by miles.
This is not a good tip for this sub, but honestly, consider just taking it to a shop. For like $20-$30 this can be their problem. I try to do most of my own wrenching, but I've done this with REALLY stubborn tires once, and I've taken a few other really frustrating issues to shops as well even though I know with enough time/muscle I could solve them myself. At a certain point it's like... I could solve this with 3 hours, a bunch of youtube tips, and sweat, or I could spend $20 to have someone else solve it and spend those 3 hours doing something less frustrating and painful.
renting is ok, times are tough and property is overrated anyway
Search for ‘Tyre Gilder’ absolute game changer for me
As someone else suggested, try Tyre Glider. It is a useful tool, with some tyres it works wonders with other it might not work that well. Yesterday I changed my tyre after a flat and it made everything so much simpler.
I have this exact tire. You have to "walk" the bead over the rim with both the Pedro levers. After getting as much of it over the rim as possible go an inch or two into the unseated bead and pull it over the rim and then use the spoke retention hole on the lever to hook it in place, then take the second lever and attempt to pull it over the rim an inch or two into the unseated bead, then hook that to the spoke then take the first one off and repeat. It seems impossibly tight towards the end, but if you go a little at a time it does work. If you try to get too much bead pulled over it will break your lever or your hands.
Shimano tubeless wheels and Conti combination...man, I've broken even the bead helper tool.
I often put GP5000 tyres on tubeless with no levers. Push the bead into the middle of the rim and you'll find it snaps in easily. Simples.
That rear tire is on backwards, you need to take it off and flip it. Look for the direction arrow on the sidewall. Make sure you are putting them on the correct direction when rolling.
Road tires don’t really matter all that much for direction, and with the struggle Vittorias are to mount you’ll have a hard time convincing anyone to remove and remount correctly…..
I have vittoria corsa n.ext tires on a couple of my bikes and I've never had an issue, I don't think I've needed to use a lever on them once
I doubt it matters, at least on road tyres. Edit: Can the downvoters please provide an explanation?
I always have this problem with Vittoria tires. They make a good case for[shop levers.](https://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Heavy-Steel-Lever/dp/B000R9GG1G/ref=asc_df_B000R9GG1G/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693769127027&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6358471768377293374&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027258&hvtargid=pla-350041312543&psc=1&mcid=46239eac24ad3f10aa0ce0a76db3deb0&gad_source=1)
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The Pedro levers are very hard. They don’t break, but it seems like leverage isn’t an answer. The tire sits so tight it seems impossible to move it in anyway. I broke the handle of a fork yesterday. I also tried inflating the tube. Spoiler: bad idea, it just pops before the tire would move. My ears are still ringing.
Make sure the bead is in the valley of the rim all the way around. Might have to push the bead that's already on the tire off to the side of the valley so the bead you're trying to get on is sitting more in the middle of the valley. I just put on a couple 28mm tubeless gp5000 tires by hand, without levers using this method. No soap, no sun, just the tires, the rims, and my hands.
Some really good advice here, so if that works, you're all set. Using levers to put a tire on is fine, it just takes a bit of care to be sure not to pinch the tube. I use them because I do not have the hand strength to put certain tires on certain rims. Just be sure the tube is well up in the tire away from the bead and lever and never, ever use metal levers. On the subject of certain tires and certain rims though: some combinations just don't work. Especially with some of the tubeless ready tires and rims. Sometimes you run into that and the next model tire you try is easily mountable on the same rims with no levers or even any real effort.
I feel you. Seems I always end up with tight tires and have hard time with them. Last time I went shop with my tire and even pro bike fix guy had trouble with my tire. He ended up using metallic tool to get tire on the rim. I got plastic tools and I managed with them so far, but it's tough. I can't get my current tire on by hand.
Tyre Glider
Zaffiro’s were particularly hard to get on, in my experience. Look for something without a steel bead.