I have easy mounting with the tire of my choice using a lever and I cannot imagine not using one. I would not limit my tire choices just to prove my fingers are macho. Well your crystal ball is broken as I have been on a team for 15 yrs, I put in 200 - 250 miles a week on a weight weenie 19' Sworks tarmac, rim braked, 60mm wheels with 23c at 140lbs. Good luck.

Omg do me right here.

I agree that you shouldn’t choose tires based on ease of mounting. At the same time, I don’t see what your bio or your bike has to do with the willingness to learn a new skill.

For those who need levers to remove a tire, but not to reinstall one: At what point between taking the tire off and putting it back on did the dimensions of the rim and/or tire change that you no longer need the levers?

Being able to mount and unmounts tyres without levers is always a great skill to have, but regardless of whether you can or cannot do it, I always advocate carrying a tyre lever out in the field as a precaution/insurance. You never know when you've punctured in the middle of nowhere during a long ride, and your hands are all tired and hurting for some reason or other -- changing a tyre in the comforts of your home/garage/bike shop can sometimes be a lot different from doing it out on the road while tired/hurting/wet/rushing to meet a cutoff/whatever.

If you can still do it out in the field under adverse conditions, that's awesome. But if for some reason or other you're unable to... well, at least falling back to using a tyre lever is better than being stuck in the middle of nowhere.

It depends on the tire and on the rim. Some rims are difficult to install tires and some rims are easy enough by hand without tire levers.

The same goes for tires. Some tires are difficult to install. It could be the way they were designed.

Shop mechanics will tell you their stories.

Then there's the rider. Some riders are just like 5'-3" weighing in at 110 lbs. I don't expect their strength or hands to be like a much bigger rider.

So then the original question: which tire lever? Depends.

Absolutely, I have one in my saddle bag, have just never needed to use it. I figure the day I go out without it will be the day I need it. :lol:

So your perfect technique you think people should learn works great, as long as everyone uses your tires and wheels.

Face reality: people don't.

Cool. Destroy your carbon wheels I don't care :roflmao:

I think we can all agree, though, that using a tire lever is more honorable than making the call of shame. Do what you need to. ;)

That's ignorant, you cannot destroy your CF wheel with any tire lever I have seen. Have you ever
owned a CF wheel?

I was never aware you could remove a tire without a lever(s). So today I gave it try in the garage and what do you know, I was able to get the tire off with just my hands. It was somewhat tight, about like putting them on, but I was able to do in few minutes.

This great news since I didn't want to mark up my 2 week old November carbon wheels. I'm leaving the levers in my kit just in case but it is good to know I most probably won't need them.


Here is quick video that shows it being done.

Good for you :thumb:. Today you’re a little better at your craft than you were yesterday. That’s all any of us can hope to be.