I'm not sure why I have to always screw up before I learn something. You'd think I could blunder through something at least once without learning a hard lesson but It doesn't seem to be. Anyway My new tires came in for my project and it would be the first time I put tires on aluminum rims. I've changed my own tires for years so how tough could it be, right? First thing I did was wrap some tape around a tire iron so as not to scratch the rim. Nope, first time I pried the tire over it left marks, strike one...OK after smacking myself in the head a few time for being stupid, I chalked the marks up to "patina" and looked for an alternate means to protect the rim. I thought about using a piece of rubber hose sliced down one side and laid across the rim but the rubber just grabbed and rolled with the iron, strike two. I needed something hard, semi-slick and durable so while wandering the aisles at the local big-box I came across exactly what I needed. I bought a short piece of 3/4" PEX tubing. I cut it down one side and used a heat gun to get it to the right shape to stay on the rim. Tada! Home run.
However this story started out well but after trying to install the rear tire it gave me fit's of another kind. It was soooo difficult getting the last quarter section of the tire to fold over the rim and although I was very, very careful I still managed to pinch the tube. After seeing it was going to be just as difficult to get it back off I consigned myself to just take it to a shop with a machine and let them do it.