Any trick to getting kevlar-beaded tires on the wheel?

Work them on without inner tubes a couple times. This is normal.

After three/four times of on and off, you should be able to put them on without the tire levers if you work it a bit.

put enough air in the tube so that it is just round. Fold it up and throw it in a large ziplock and add a liberal dose of baby powder. Seal the bag and shake it around a bit.

Before taking the tube out, get one side of the tire on the rim. Insert the powdery tube into the tire. Don't worry about making a mess, you want baby powder all over the rim. Now get the other side on. The powder makes it so the tube isn't sticking to the tire and the bead will be easy to slide over the edge of the rim. Wipe off the excess baby powder and you're good to go.

There used to be a whole host of reasons why you should powder your tubes. Most have been debunked but even if the only thing it does do is make it easier to get the tires on, it's worth it.

I've got Gatorskins and they're tough to get on my rims as well.  Of course, every tire I've ever bought has been tough to get on my wheels.  I've found a Pedro's tire lever to be very helpful.  Man-handle away.

Maybe a visit to the Strength Training forum would be of some benefit?

Darn it. You stole my answer.

I had a really tough time getting my new tires on my wheels.  I ended up holding the tire down wit my foot and pulling up hard on the opposite side of the tire to try to stretch the bead. Then rotate the tire a little and repeat. I wasn't sure it would work as they were wire bead but I got them on and it seemed easier.

This user's post has been ignored.

+1   Although I don't pull up real hard on tires with folding (non-wire) bead, and be careful not to damage the tire with your shoe. 

he is probably just focusing on s/b/r no time to add strenght.....

ummm... actually folding tires are far easier to get on than wire-beaded tires.

If you are having a tough time putting on your tires, the Armadillos will be impossible.  I have never had a problem with non-foldables or foldables but I tried Armidillos because I lived in an area with a ton of Goat heads and was getting a flat on EVERY ride.  I had to return them because I tried everything to get those suckers on and could not do it (baby powder, soap, stretching them, my husband tried too).  The LBS that sold them didn't even like having to put them on.  You wont ever have to change the tires though because the seemed impenetrable.  my $0.02.  Foldables are the easiest for me, but I have noticed they are tighter on different brands of rims.  Just takes practice.

I bought a mini crow bar once.  I was lucky I didn't injure the rim.  I got them on.

Be careful, around where I live public obscenities can be a ticketing offense.

When the tire bead starts getting real tight let ALL the air out of the inner tube (even a little bit can pose porblems), then, using your thumb and forefinger pinch the tire's sidewalls together -go all the way around the tire.  Often this will give you the slack you need.  Also, take little bites.  i.e. try getting  just a little bit on at a time.  When you get stuck, leave the tire on and walk away.   You could put it out in the sun or inside your car where it's hot.  The tire WILL eventually stretch.  Been there-no fun!

I had a tire that there was no possible way to get on.  I have probably many tires but this was harder than anything I had experienced.  I ended up putting it in the cloth dryer and that did the trick.  There is also a pretty good video on YouTube on how to put on a very difficult tire.  Took me a while to find the video. Unfortuntely I don't have the link

Edited by bartturner 2009-08-06 8:35 AM