Blood, sweat and tires

[antimony]

I have Continental Grand Prix 700/23 tires, and Fulcrum Racing 7 rims. Rim tape was new at the end of last season, after a series of flats, but the tires probably have several thousand miles on them. I'm thinking of switching to Gatorskins to reduce the propensity of the tires to flat.

So my questions:

Is there a tire that won't break my wrists or bend my tire irons when I try to force it back on a relatively deep rim?

Does anyone have any favorite tire irons that actually work?

Will Gatorskins help, or will it just be even harder to get the tires back on?

And why is it always the rear tire that flats?

Welcome any and all insight.

Conti tires are all tight -- the Gatorskins and the GP4000s are about the same pain in the hands, in my experience (I have A23 rims, but have run both on them). I have one of those VAR levers as well, but for roadside fixes it's usually getting the tire off that I can't do. (The bead jack is great for the first time putting a new tire on, though. And if you're carrying a spare tire, even if you want to carry a new-ish one, make sure it's spent a little time on your rim so that it's not as hard to get on again.)

[azfiddle]

I have used Gatorskins for about 4 years and have ridden at least one set- front and rear - for 4000 miles without a flat. Usually, not quite so lucky but they are very puncture resistant. I now use the foldable version, $5 more, but I am not strong enough to get new regular Gatorskins onto my rims (Fulcrum 6) by myself. The foldable is definitely easier.

Sharon

[Boudicca]

LBS just recommended this gizmo, so I bought it, and will have to see whether it actually works. It's supposed to make it easier to get the tire back on the rim.

I also hope I don't have to try it out for a while. Still feeling traumatized at the memory of Sunday's adventure.

[Boudicca]

Got another flat -- second in four rides -- and the gizmo helped a little. I did manage to fix the flat the first time, and a group of fellow riders showed up just as I was finishing and offered moral support.

Getting back I went for a good inspection of what might have happened, and it seems the rim tape was a tiny bit too narrow for the rims, so I suspect that -- over time and distance -- wore a little hole on the inside of the tube. So (with help from the spouse), I changed out the rim tape, and then put the new Gatorskin tire on for good measure. Now I just have to hope for no more flats, because there is no way I will ever get that sucker off and on again.