noglider 

That's an interesting video. He endorses the idea of using a lever to install a tire. I guess he's lucky with that or he has an exceptional technique. I've installed thousands of tires, so I can't say I always avoid using a lever, because some tires are just impossible to install without a tool. My trouble is that when I use a lever, I pinch and puncture the tube 50% of the time. Not a good risk. I find the Tire Jack reduces that to about 0%. RJ the Bike Guy says it's not a must-have tool. I had tires that was so reliably difficult that I carried the Tire Jack whenever I rode that bike, so I considered it a must-have at the time.

Papa Tom

I wish I could figure out why it kept slipping off the tire (several tires and several rims, actually) as soon as I lightly squeezed the lever. I gave it to a neighbor who does some wrenching of his own and I am waiting to see if he has any success with it. So far, I don't think he has tried it.

noglider 

Ah, you squeezed the lever? Don't do that.

Papa Tom

You know what I mean. You have to apply a small amount of pressure to lift the side of the tire that's off the rim into position. That's when the tool always slides off the tire altogether.

I've read enough positive comments and recommendations to know that this thing MUST work. I just wonder if I got a defective one?

Gresp15C

We've got a couple of Kool Stop bead jacks, and they are indeed not foolproof. They can slip off the bead before it goes over the edge. I think part of the problem is that there are tight tires, and then there are ridiculously tight tires. We bought a pair that we couldn't mount at all, with any kind of tools. The shop was gracious enough to take them back.

This is a design and quality issue, and I think it's ridiculous, another bad idea pushed on us by the bike industry, that may serve a purpose for competitive cyclists with professional support, but detracts from the enjoyment and utility of cycling for the rest of us. We tell people that they should equip themselves to perform basic maintenance on their own bikes. That's got to be a gold standard for the design and quality of any bike that is not sold specifically for professional use.

I've got strong hands as a double bassist, and decades of experience dealing with tires. But two of my family members have small hands and literally can't fix a flat by themselves when the tires are really tight.

noglider 

Agreed, @Gresp15C. I also have strong, large hands, and I notice not everyone can fix a flat, sometimes even when the tire isn't tight.

@Papa Tom, sorry about the way that came off. Maybe I can make a video showing how I use the tool.

Papa Tom

There are several videos showing how it is used and I am doing exactly what is shown. Still, mine keeps slipping off the tire. Kool Stop has asked me to send them photos of the tool so they can see if there are any defects. Unfortunately, I have already given the jack away and I don't want to ask for it back!

noglider 

Yes maybe the edge of the hook is wrong, letting the tire slip out of it.

sacr

Can these tools be used to get the tyre off the rim?My most recent tyre purchase was some 700C 32 schawble marathons to put on some mavic 3 rims(1980s). The old tyres just came off with thumb pressure, but the new schawbles took me 15 minutes with 3 metal tyre levers and lot Of brute force, thought I was either going to break the bead or bend the rim.

Even decided to watch a few youtube videos to see if was missing anything, okay centre the bead, but really isn’t that going to happen when you start pulling on it anyway. None of the videos I watched showed a tight tyre like the one I have.

Since initially fitting it, I ve had to remove and refit the tyre twice(fortunately could do in the garage) and it was still just as hard.

i can see that kool tyre tool should make getting the tyre on easier, but on my setup getting it off(I can get 4 inches of the bead over the rim to start) remains just as hard(please don’t tell me that once you have a bit of the bead over it will just slide off, not on this baby)

I may not be fortunate enough to have the comfortable surrounds of my garage my my next removal/fit and need something I can do blindfolded in the rain!

2_i 

I shot for illustrative, but not really didactic purposes. This was in the context of a bikeforum discussion that mentioned particularly tough rims and tires. I happened to have the respective rims and tires and used them in the illustration. Also the discussion referred to working in the snow. After I shot the video, the complaint was that I used tire levers there, rather than bare hands only. Yes, you can do that with bare hands too - it just takes longer. The overall issue is of progressing strategically rather than forcing the head against the wall, what people to do when getting desperate with the tires.

tclune

I carry a lot more gear than most cyclists, but FWIW, I carry the Kool Stop bead jack for mounting tires and the Crank Brothers Speedier Tire Lever for dismounting them. It's a very nice tool and takes up very little space.