There is a great thread somewhere in the garage section where a guy installes a tire without using irons. Its kind of hard to explain without pics so go check it out. Ive installed my last three tires that way but I substitute zip ties for the nylon straps. I like it so much I now have enough zip ties in my emergency tool kit to install a tire this way. If you start the tire at the stem it is actually easier to get the stem through the rim than when you use irons.
found the thread:
http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...=tire+changing