Having just spent 45 minutes trying to fit a Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyre to my spare rear wheel, I got exasperated and started experimenting with tools to help me get the last 6 inches into the rim. My tyre levers that I carry with me on rides were all either too stiff (the metal ones) or too bendy (the plastic ones). I ended up being able to finish the job quickly and easily with the handle end of a teaspoon eased along the gap between the rubber and the rim. I have now added the said
teaspoon to my repair kit! Wouldn't want to go through that again without it
.