If you're going to be changing a lot of tyres at home, fasten three equal lengths of wood together to form a triangle on which to support the wheel, keeps discs & sprockets off the ground. I nailed this together about 13 years ago, still going strong as is the home made bead breaker.
I prefer the Michelin / Buzzetti type levers personally and carry a Bead Buddy with me when trailriding bikes with tubes fitted. Practice at home, don't leave it until you have your first roadside puncture. As others have said, warm tyres are more pliable than cold ones. Also worth buying a decent sized pot of tyre lube, I take an old film canister of tyre lube with me in addition to a stripped down 12v compressor.
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