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Tyre key. has anyone tried it?

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Tyre key. has anyone tried it?

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Old 12-12-18, 11:06 PM
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dougphoto
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Tyre key. has anyone tried it?

Back in the olden days getting tires on and off was easy peasy, but modern tires are a freaking pain in the ass. this thing looks pretty cool, has anyone tried it?

https://www.tyrekey.com/product/tyre-key/
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Old 12-13-18, 04:39 AM
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Kool Stop tire bead jack. Costs only ten bucks or so. Got one for convenience early in 2018 because my Schwalbe One and Conti Ultra Sport 2 tires were so difficult to install, especially on the road with cold hands. I pinched a tube the first time I tried to install the Ultra Sport 2 using a plastic tire lever. Got the Kool Stop bead jack, never looked back.

After my shoulder was broken and dislocated in May it was an absolute necessity. Now I carry it on almost every ride, including casual group rides in case someone else has a flat. Some folks chop off a bit of the handle. I haven't. I just shove it in a jersey pocket or my jeans pocket.

Unfortunately there isn't a tutorial video that does justice to how simple, quick and easy it is to use. It only needs a 30 second demo. But RJ the Bike Guy's video is okay.

BTW, there is a wrong way to use it and I've done that a few times when I wasn't paying attention. Doesn't hurt anything, it just doesn't work well when flipped the wrong way. Flipped the right way it's fast and easy.

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Old 12-13-18, 05:09 AM
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Great post! I'm getting one of these.
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Old 12-13-18, 08:29 AM
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Originally Posted by canklecat
Kool Stop tire bead jack. Costs only ten bucks or so. Got one for convenience early in 2018 because my Schwalbe One and Conti Ultra Sport 2 tires were so difficult to install, especially on the road with cold hands. I pinched a tube the first time I tried to install the Ultra Sport 2 using a plastic tire lever. Got the Kool Stop bead jack, never looked back.

After my shoulder was broken and dislocated in May it was an absolute necessity. Now I carry it on almost every ride, including casual group rides in case someone else has a flat. Some folks chop off a bit of the handle. I haven't. I just shove it in a jersey pocket or my jeans pocket.

Unfortunately there isn't a tutorial video that does justice to how simple, quick and easy it is to use. It only needs a 30 second demo. But RJ the Bike Guy's video is okay.

BTW, there is a wrong way to use it and I've done that a few times when I wasn't paying attention. Doesn't hurt anything, it just doesn't work well when flipped the wrong way. Flipped the right way it's fast and easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EZRSz1DlHg

That's super cool
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Old 12-13-18, 08:33 AM
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I too second the Cool-Stop. To the OPs point, they are essentially the same thing but the direction of leverage is different, the Tyre Key should work just about as well.

I've got tubeless ready rims and tires and still have tubes in them, The first flat I had I about wrecked my fingers getting the tire back on, the beads are very tight on tubeless. The Cool Stop works like a champ.
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Old 12-13-18, 08:43 AM
  #6  
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Not expensive so certain worth trying out. I've used a VAR tire jack for decades when I encounter a difficult mount. Works great as well.
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Old 12-13-18, 08:48 AM
  #7  
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Looks like a more compact alternative to the Kool Stop tire bead jack. I might try this.
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Old 12-13-18, 08:55 AM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by canklecat
Some folks chop off a bit of the handle.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EZRSz1DlHg
Yeah I carry one too. I removed most of the handle up to the line below so it fits a jersey pocket case. I've used it 3-4 times on the road already this year alone (my unlucky flat year).

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Old 12-13-18, 09:27 AM
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I've never needed anything more than a quik stik tool.
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Old 12-13-18, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by ARPRINCE
Yeah I carry one too. I removed most of the handle up to the line below so it fits a jersey pocket case. I've used it 3-4 times on the road already this year alone (my unlucky flat year).

Good work around. Otherwise too big to carry around. The tyre key looks like it would be a reasonable size.
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Old 12-13-18, 12:58 PM
  #11  
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Now we need a tool that makes dismounting tubeless tires as easy as that makes it to mount them.

Edit: I carry the VAR tire jack when I am not carrying a lot of extra storage---does the same job.
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Old 12-13-18, 01:50 PM
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My current tires are just too damn tight to mount without the Kool Stop Tire Jack - which works amazingly well. But, it's big - better suited for work in the shop (garage). The Tyre Key looks like the jersey pocket version. I'm going to grab one.

Thanks dougphoto!
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Old 12-13-18, 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by dougphoto
Back in the olden days getting tires on and off was easy peasy, but modern tires are a freaking pain in the ass. this thing looks pretty cool, has anyone tried it?

https://www.tyrekey.com/product/tyre-key/
Interesting device.

I may have to try one. I'm generally OK with mounting and removing tires, but had some hassles a few weeks ago with trying to mount a tubeless tire with a tube (punctured both my spare tubes). I need more practice!!!
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Old 12-13-18, 03:07 PM
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Modern fat tires are still easy to put on by hand, it's the 100psi narrow ones that fit tight, and I feel more secure they do, at those pressures..
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Old 12-14-18, 08:51 AM
  #15  
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Looks good. Thanks for the tip.
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Old 12-14-18, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by canklecat
Kool Stop tire bead jack. Costs only ten bucks or so. Got one for convenience early in 2018 because my Schwalbe One and Conti Ultra Sport 2 tires were so difficult to install, especially on the road with cold hands. I pinched a tube the first time I tried to install the Ultra Sport 2 using a plastic tire lever. Got the Kool Stop bead jack, never looked back.

After my shoulder was broken and dislocated in May it was an absolute necessity. Now I carry it on almost every ride, including casual group rides in case someone else has a flat. Some folks chop off a bit of the handle. I haven't. I just shove it in a jersey pocket or my jeans pocket.

Unfortunately there isn't a tutorial video that does justice to how simple, quick and easy it is to use. It only needs a 30 second demo. But RJ the Bike Guy's video is okay.

BTW, there is a wrong way to use it and I've done that a few times when I wasn't paying attention. Doesn't hurt anything, it just doesn't work well when flipped the wrong way. Flipped the right way it's fast and easy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EZRSz1DlHg
I have been using one of these since 2010. In fact, I brought it to the shop one day to help mount tight tires. And ended up selling 2 of my own to customers! Handy at home. Usually after a few rides, the new tire will loosen up a bit so it won't be so tight to mount road side. "Usually"
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Old 12-14-18, 10:02 AM
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I've seen the TyreKey before...I just wonder, if like a Bead Jack, some rims don't approve of its use.
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Old 12-14-18, 10:07 AM
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If the center of your rim bed is lower than the edges, stop and give yourself a high-five because you don't need a tire lever.
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Old 12-14-18, 03:47 PM
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Super Champion 58 were a winner for that reason..
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Old 12-14-18, 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Succhia Ruota
If the center of your rim bed is lower than the edges, stop and give yourself a high-five because you don't need a tire lever.
I can attest that putting tubes into tubeless tires on a narrow road rim can be tough.

Perhaps I need more practice and experimenting such as changing from valve first to valve last. But, the tire doesn't drop down into the grove as easily as one might hope.
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Old 12-14-18, 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Succhia Ruota
If the center of your rim bed is lower than the edges, stop and give yourself a high-five because you don't need a tire lever.
Some tires and wheels are just impossible to mount no hands, even with immaculate technique. A classic example are Fulcrum/Campagnolo 2-way-fit wheels (have a bead channel and don't even need tape), and Hutchinson tubeless tires.
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Old 12-14-18, 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
Perhaps I need more practice and experimenting such as changing from valve first to valve last.
Yes, this is essential.

Originally Posted by CliffordK
But, the tire doesn't drop down into the grove as easily as one might hope.
No, you need to use gravity and force to push the bead into the groove and create slack.
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Old 12-14-18, 07:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
Some tires and wheels are just impossible to mount no hands, even with immaculate technique.
Barring damage to the tire or wheel, or something being horribly out of spec, I disagree.

Originally Posted by Marcus_Ti
A classic example are Fulcrum/Campagnolo 2-way-fit wheels (have a bead channel and don't even need tape), and Hutchinson tubeless tires.
I don't know about that specific tire, but I have mounted a few TL tires on TL rims tool-free and have yet to face a problem.

I happen have a set of 2-way Fulcrum R3s and have easily mounted by hand a variety of Continental, Vittoria, and Schwalbe tires on them over the years.
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Old 12-15-18, 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Succhia Ruota
Barring damage to the tire or wheel, or something being horribly out of spec, I disagree.



I don't know about that specific tire, but I have mounted a few TL tires on TL rims tool-free and have yet to face a problem.

I happen have a set of 2-way Fulcrum R3s and have easily mounted by hand a variety of Continental, Vittoria, and Schwalbe tires on them over the years.
You are the superior being, congratulations.
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Old 12-15-18, 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by arizonamed
You are the superior being, congratulations.
Thanks!
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