What’s your number one tire lever?
06-16-18, 09:22 AM
#76
Senior Member
Seriously though....I haven't encountered a tire that needed serious leverage to get on. I just use the lever to get them off.
06-19-18, 10:22 AM
#77
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@bikingbill and @Abe_Froman, you either have hands of steel or have really loose tires. With the Continental Gatorskin folding (kevlar bead), I'm just able to mount my hand if the tire has been on the rim already (and stretched a little). New tire, no way. Also doubt that hand mounting would be possible with many wire bead tires. But if you can mount by hand, then by all means go for it. Just be careful while stuffing in the tube. I'v both pinched the tube with the tire bead and also caused a fold or twist in the tube. Both if which forced me to take one tire bead off and redo the process...
Last edited by ptempel; 06-19-18 at 10:52 AM.
06-19-18, 10:38 AM
#78
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To mount without lever one needs to use your palms and rub the tire bead over the rim edge. Keep the beads that are already in rim centered in lowest part. I stopped using levers years ago when I figured this out. It is easier with used tires, but I've never had a new one that wouldn't rub on.
06-19-18, 11:05 AM
#79
Senior Member
@bikingbill and @Abe_Froman, you either have hands of steel or have really loose tires. With the Continental Gatorskin folding (kevlar bead), I'm just able to mount my hand if the tire has been on the rim already (and stretched a little). New tire, no way. Also doubt that hand mounting would be possible with many wire bead tires. But if you can mount by hand, then by all means go for it. Just be careful while stuffing in the tube. I'v both pinched the tube with the tire bead and also caused a fold or twist in the tube. Both if which forced me to take one tire bead off and redo the process...
I mean this is the ultimate cliche, but 90% of getting a tire on is technique. Once one bead is on, I put the wheel on the ground, valve opposite me, bend over the top of the wheel, and massage the 2nd bead in towards the center of the tim, and downwards toward the valve with both my thumbs, one on the left side, one on the right arc of the rim. Once I get as far as I can using my thumbs, THEN i use the palms of my hands and some strength. Push hard with your palms now on the bead. You’ll probably get another inch or two of bead on. On a looser tire, it might just snap in here. Usually not. So just reprat the process. The bead esge closest to the valve ahould be pretty taught now, and won’t go anywhere. Start at the top, and do the same thing with your thumbs. You’re just trying to creat slack in the bead at the valve end. Repeat as many times as necessary. Each time you go around the rim, you’ll get the bead to seat a bit closer the the valve, where finally it pops in.
It’s not a matter of strength...more like patience. But it shouldnt take more than 5 minutes this way, even for a stubborn, stiff bead.
06-20-18, 03:25 PM
#80
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@bikingbill and @Abe_Froman, you either have hands of steel or have really loose tires. With the Continental Gatorskin folding (kevlar bead), I'm just able to mount my hand if the tire has been on the rim already (and stretched a little). New tire, no way. Also doubt that hand mounting would be possible with many wire bead tires. But if you can mount by hand, then by all means go for it. Just be careful while stuffing in the tube. I'v both pinched the tube with the tire bead and also caused a fold or twist in the tube. Both if which forced me to take one tire bead off and redo the process...
Abe is right though, technique matters more.
08-20-18, 12:51 PM
#81
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@bikingbill and @Abe_Froman, you either have hands of steel or have really loose tires. With the Continental Gatorskin folding (kevlar bead), I'm just able to mount my hand if the tire has been on the rim already (and stretched a little). New tire, no way. Also doubt that hand mounting would be possible with many wire bead tires. But if you can mount by hand, then by all means go for it. Just be careful while stuffing in the tube. I'v both pinched the tube with the tire bead and also caused a fold or twist in the tube. Both if which forced me to take one tire bead off and redo the process...
It's technique and hand strength.
08-20-18, 01:05 PM
#82
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Added to calendar for October 20: "check bikeforums thread about tire levers, see whether bikingbill can still do Marathon Pluses by hand. Also, is technique important?"
08-20-18, 09:01 PM
#83
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To dismount, Swiss Army Knife screwdriver blade, always mount by hand.
08-21-18, 10:10 PM
#84
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I say it is teeth and jaw strength with a bit of technique.
08-22-18, 09:18 AM
#85
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08-22-18, 09:29 AM
#86
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Me too-been using them for years and they've very rarely let me down. I can often use my hands but for tight beads (tubeless tires for example) the QuickStik does the job 99/100.
08-22-18, 09:50 AM
#87
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Yeah I got one of those as a freebie from a Bike To Work Day kiosk a few years ago. I use it sometimes, it seems to work pretty good.
