Steve530

The tire jack is used to install the last few inches of the second bead on the rim. It is very useful when istalling new tires, but, to my knowlege, it cannot be used to remove a tire.,

Miele Man

Thanks. that's what I thought. I also thought that with arthritic hands the OP would have trouble getting a tight tire off the rim too. Looking at the OP's original post again, that seems not to be a concern for him.

Cheers

Babbitt

That is correct, removing the tire has not been a problem.

The tire Jack has arrived and is amazingly effective but is to large to fit in a saddle bag. My first thought was OMG where has this thing been all my life. I may carry it anyway it works so well.

I have been racing and riding seriously since the 70's. My daughter is passionate about road, cross and velodrome racing. I have changed more tires than I can begin to count and can't believe I never saw this before. It would not help with sewups but nothing can really make that easy.

Ald1 

Tire Jack is great. What is REALLY needed now for us arthritic folks is a way to break the bead and remove tubeless tires. Any thing available? Tips? Tricks?

JohnDThompson 

VAR makes a portable bead jack/tire lever. It doesn't have as good leverage as the Kool Stop tool, but fits in a saddle bag or jersey pocket.


https://www.amazon.com/VAR-Nylon-Tir.../dp/B004YJ30M8

I have one of each. The Kool Stop lives in the shop; the VAR rides with me.

Pre-stretching tubulars is the best way to make mounting easier.

Miele Man

I didn't know that VAR still made those. I have one but the tire lever end on the jack portion of the tool broke off over a decade ago. I'll have to look and see where I can get one those.

Cheers

63rickert

Lubricate the tire/tube/rim. Soapy water is better than nothing but is not the easiest to work with. Or the best. Use talcum powder. Pour it right into the tire, all the way around. Remember there is already talc inside the tube and this is only good for the rubber. Talc makes it seem like the tire just got half an inch bigger. Some have forgotten it, there was a period when many pro teams only gave tubulars to the captain. All team mechanics kept the talc nearby.

Start with tires and rims that are easy. In general wider tires are easier. In general wider rims are easier. Some combinations are just too much trouble. Don't use it if it's just crazy hard. In this house right now every clincher installs easy with no tools and my wife can do it too. She does have arthritis and is not a gorilla. For removal she can do most of them no tools. I can remove any of them no tools. There are emphatically combinations that would take me time and cursing to mount and those combinations are not present.

Babbitt

So I bought all three. Of the three recommended the Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack by far the easiest to use but the TyreKey Tire Lever Tool also works well and fits in my saddle bag.

I will post pictures of them together after I get past 10 posts.

Babbitt

Post 7

Babbitt

Post 8

Babbitt

Post 9

Babbitt

Post 10

stardognine

Woohoo, time for donuts!!! 😁😉

02Giant 

What a let down...

Babbitt

These are the three tools side by side. The koolstop on the left is the easiest to use. The Var on the right I found to be the most difficult.

The Tyrekey in the middle now

lives in my saddle bag.

Babbitt

This is a video of each tool being used.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wdxoBLUkQ7TapRbn7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PCg6keEAK4wLqs7z7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hG48q1yYtxkanWRw9

easyupbug 

Babbitt, outside hand arthritis flare ups I have little trouble once a tire has miles on it, now that I focus on thin rim tape (kapton tape) and deep rim channels. I am only using the Koolstops in bike bags of bikes with newish tires and have cut the handle down to fit my bags (still work fine) except the one in my tool chest at home.

Chuckles1

The first time i tried a foldable tire, it was dann near impossible to get on the rim. It was a Continental Gatorskin, 700x28. My hands were worn out from the extended exertion, so I resorted to a tire Jack, also for the first time, as I've never needed one for wire bead tires. I didn't get the tire on with the Jack, but did bend the lip of the rim trying.

I don't intend to use a foldable tire again once this one wears out, and if I resort to a tire jack, will be wary of using too much force. Your results may vary...

Jicafold

It's only a tool designed for mounting tires, not taking them off.

ThermionicScott 

Having to use force means you're probably doing it wrong.

Miele Man

So the tire jack gets a hard to mount tire onto the rim but is no good for getting the ire off again. No thanks as I don't want to be stuck miles out in the country with a flat tire I can't get off the rim. For me, if a tire is that hard to mount I'll use a different tire. Being able to repair a flat at the side of the road is a need I want in a tire/wheel combination.

YMMV

Cheers

dweenk

I am approaching 71 years now, and tire installation is not as easy as it used to be (arthritis). IMO kevlar bead tires are the most difficult to mount unless you use a jack. I only use wire bead tires now.
My riding does not require high performance tires, but I still enjoy the rides that are left in my legs.

enock111

I made a video of this tool if anyone is curious to see how it works!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvA81TqO-CE

enock111

Babbitt

That is an impressive tool and also a very nicely organized workbench!