In Reply to: Mounting Tires on Wheels posted by Gus Stangeland on July 28, 2007 at 03:02:16:
You can mount 21 inch tires on rims by hand without using a tire iron. I recommend doing the mounting on grass to avoid scratches.
First, install the rim protector or flap to keep the tube from rubbing against spoke ends. It also recommended, but not absolutely necessary, to coat the inside of the tire with talc or cornstarch to minimize rubbing friction, and potential galling, between the tube and tire casing.
Then liberally coat the tire beads and rim with a soap and water solution and vigorously push (you cab almost throw it on) one bead all the way onto the rim (this actually works easily). Now the tire is halfway on and halfway off the rim.
Insert the tube stem into the hole in the rim and add more soap solution if needed.
Now, make sure the bead that has already been installed is in the drop center (smallest diameter) portion of the rim and push as much of the remaining bead as possible over the rim into the drop center area. Part of the remaining bead will be ouside the rim and part inside
Move the tire to one side in the rim so that the portion of both beads that are inside the rim contact the lowest part of the drop center portion, and with your fingers start working the remaining outside portion of the bead (in the two spots where it crosses the rim from the inside to the outside) over the rim to the inside. You will finally get to the point where just a bit remains outside and you will be able, again with the help of the soap solution, to urge it with your fingers over the rim until it's installed.
Now partially inflate the tire, making sure the tire is centered on the rim and that the beads are seated. Then deflate the tire (this helps remove wrinkles in the tube that can cause leaks) and reinflate to 35 psi. As you inflate the tire, it should pop onto the rim as pressure increases.
Finally, inspect the tire for seating, and you're done!
Carl in California