Originally Posted by
Snikerdoodlz
People are saying to guide the bead into the central depression. Does it not do that automatically when you pull on it when flipping tire levers?
Not really. You have to manually press the bead into the center channel on the opposite of the tire lever and also massage the slack from the pressed area towards the lever. If you apply an incredible amount of force to the lever then it may pull the bead into the center, but there is a risk of damaging the rim or tire, and it depends on the shape of the channel and whether it not the rim tape gets in the way. That's why people are recommending thin rim tape for you.
Have you ever seen a YouTube video about how radial deep groove cartridge bearings are assembled? Have you ever wondered how they get the balls in between the 2 rings? It's the same principle as removing a tire from a wheel. By moving 2 concentric rings so that one side is closer together, it increases the gap on the other side.