williaty

One of my friends has a recumbent trike that that takes 20" tires (406) front and a 26" tire (559) rear. Ideally, she'd like to run a 55 (2.125") wide tire. This is a commuter/car replacement trike for her 4 seasons a year and a loaded touring trike when the weather is good. It's all on pavement or crushed gravel MUPs, so no need for any tread, really. The big sticking point is that she has some medical issues with her hands and has trouble mounting tires, which means trouble repairing flats on her own. I've worked with her and she's doing everything right. The other mechanics I work with also think she's doing everything right. She just physically can't mount the tires she currently has because of her medical issues. She currently has a mix of Schwalbe Marathon Supreme and Racer tires on the trike, which are about as horrible to mount as it's possible to get. The cheap no-brand tires on her utility trailer she can mount on her own no problem, so it really does come down to a tire fitment/stiffness/stretch issue and the Marathons are notoriously bad for that.

So what's available in the sizes she needs (406 and 559, preferably 55 wide but anything >45 would work if she had to), with minimal to no tread, and typically is very easy to install?

FBinNY 

I have no specific advice, but what you already know may point you in the right direction.

Forget about so-called premium tires and check among generic tires of the right size.

Then test mount to make sure they're suitable to her needs.

If you have a relationship with a bike shop, they might work with you to test before buying.

FWIW I have no hand strength issues, but do ride far from home. IMO field serviceability is the number one consideration for all things bike.

aggiegrads

One thing that instantly comes to my mind is to make sure that the rims are not tubeless ready. Tubeless rims have a shallow center channel so that the tire bead has the smallest gap possible.

If you can find non-tubeless rims and use tubeless rim tape (instead of something thick like Velox), it will likely make mounting tires easier.

i have an older set of wheels with Velocity A23s and a new version of the same rim that is tubeless ready, and the difference mounting tires is night and day.

Arrowana

The folding bead versions of the Maxxis DTH are relatively easy to mount, and are available in 20" and 26". They are fairly lightweight and supple, and do have a bit of puncture protection. The average no-name tire is still easier to mount than the DTH, but not by that much.

For getting the last bit of the tire installed, the Kool Stop Bead Jack is an incredible tool. I also have some issues with my hands, and with a bead jack I can install pretty much any tire that isn't over 2.5" wide.

KerryIrons

I think the use of tools like this is more practical than trying to sort through tires that mount more easily.

CrimsonEclipse

two ways of looking at this

1. Finding a tire that is easy to mount
2. Finding a tire that is least likely to go flat so you don't have to mount it.

Trav1s

That is exactly what I was thinking. I'm inclined to the later and pick up a tool to aid with the work.

FBinNY 

2 points.

There's no reliable correlation between tire quality and risk of flats. To be clear, I'm not arguing against tires specifically made for puncture resistance.

Flats happen, so one is smart to be ready to deal with them. Mounting tight tires with a tool, doesn't change that these same tires can be difficult to remove.

One approach that may work, especially if most flats are small punctures like from thorns, is liquid sealant. Either installed as a preventative, or the aerosol type pumped in as a remedy.

Otherwise, count me among those advising focusing on ease of mounting as the primary consideration.

BTW one thing that does matter is tread rubber hardness. Harder or b denser tread rubber is much more puncture resistant. Tread hardness varies among brands, and can be roughly gauged with a thumbnail test. Also, rubber hardens with age. BITD tubular riders aged tires for up to a year before mounting. (yes many consider this a myth, but it has and does serve me well).

choddo

I found that Bead Jack tool (or a generic copy) less easy to mount tyres than the tyreglider which imho is a piece of genius design.

grumpus

I replaced the Marathon (can't remember which one) on the front of my 2 wheeler with a Maxxis Torch, which IIRC was easy to fit and feels more supple and grippier, but I've not put many miles on it, still not confident with the tiller steering. The trike still has its original Kenda K-Rad covers and I've not had to change them so no idea what they're like for fit. I should probably check, so I know whether to carry tyre levers with the spare tubes.

speedy25

Sorry, I have not had problems mounting the Schwalbe Marathons. Some continentals can be annoying though.

Mount those tires with Tannus liners. That should give you an almost impervious tire.

Another trick is Gup. Its a tire sealer for after a puncture. It will fill and seal a tire so she can get back and have you handle the puncture.

-SP