Pedros tire levers
 

Just a heads up if anyone wants thicker, wider tire levers. I know Schwalbe seems to have changed their tolerances because I know the Schwalbe Land Cruiser is medium-fitting in my opinion but yesterday I took off (with a considerable amount of force) some tight Schwalbe 26" Ranger Cruiser tires on some Rhyno Lite rims. It was EXTREMELY tight and the only time in my life I had tires installed at a bike shop. Anyway, let's see if I can add a picture. (By the way, the Maxxis Overdrive Excel tires were loose-fitting so I was able to install them myself on the Rhyno Lites even though it took some effort.) (This is not a paid ad, just grateful I got them.)
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Pedros tire levers

Pedros makes some good stuff.

I have a pair of steel Park Tool irons for emergencies.

If levers don't work, could always try a tire bead jack: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....AC_SL1500_.jpg

This tire lever can work with 1/4" tool bits

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Personally, I like the Park plastic levers.

At one of the shops I managed I had mechanics start dating each Pedros lever because it felt like they were going through a pair a week. I prefer to use the Crank Brothers Speedier Lever. Way easier to use no harm to the knuckles and has an install side for those tougher beads. I rarely need two levers from them and my personal main use lever is now 7 years old or so.

I'm with you on the Crank Brothers Speedier. I no longer fear a tight fitting tire unless I am on a ride and don't have it with me. Plus no sore thumbs from trying to get the tire on.
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at home i just use a lonf wide flat head screw driver wrapped in electrical tape , best tire lever i have , on the road i carry a metal lever and a plastic one both from wal mart extra cheap !!

Anyone have any luck with one of these? Got one cause it looked like a great tool, but the couple of times I tried to use it didn't work out so well. IIRC could never get the hook end to stay on the edge of the bead. Ended up going back to just thumbs.

No matter the lever, keeping the tire in the rim bed where you aren't currently working on it is key. Sometimes you think it is, but it isn't. Then I'll see that and fix it by putting it back in the bed, and it gives me that bit extra.

I use the pedros. Usually just to get em off quicker. Working the tire into the bed usually makes it so I can get it with fingers. Well, if the fingers as dripping in sweat on a hot day.......back to pedros!

Back when I started, tire levers were chromed steel. Plastic wouldn't have been considered by anyone.

Fast forward 45 years, and you find that Pedro's levers are indeed the best lever made. No question.

I also have two of the Crank Brothers Speedier, a useful tool for quick re-seating of the second bead. And I have a KoolStop tire bead jack that I carry on my commuter because Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires are difficult to change/mount. Fortunately, flats are rare with those tires.

I'm also a fan of the Pedros levers for stiff, nasty, wire bead tires. I've broken my share of tire levers, but my first pair of Pedros is still going strong. (And they're pink, so everyone knows that they're tough.)

First time I tried it on a new foldable Conti Gatorskin it bent my rim and didn't get the tire on. Granted it was an old rim with worn brake surfaces, but still disappointing. The incident did teach me the virtues of soapy water, which is how I finally got the bugger on, with my thumbs!

I have an old mtb, much easier tire repair than roadies, but when seeing a brand new pair of Pedros in a thrift store for $1.99....

I bought one a few years ago but have rarely used it, mostly because when I end up with tight tires I don't buy them again. It does work well for me.

So you started road biking 43 years ago? so that was in 1975, correct? I started myself in 1976, in 1976 I bought my first road bike, a Trek TX900, and with that Trek I bought my first flat repair kit with tire irons...mine was made of aluminum. Aluminum tire levers came out because of aluminum rims, and the steel would damage the rims. Aluminum rims go back to 1937, but I can't find when aluminum tire levers first come came out, but they've had to be out for a long time due to aluminum rims. There were chrome steel levers as you mentioned but those were used on chrome steel rims, so were you riding on steel chrome wheels back in the mid 70's?

Tire lever wise I have a 1/2 set of Pedros, one broke due to being used in cold weather, a problem with plastic. I use Soma steel core levers, they're not quite as bulky as the Pedros but far stronger, they can't crack in the cold because they can't flex. Another tire lever I use is the VAR, extremely good at putting on very tough tires, and it can fit in a standard seat bag.

I did ride on chrome rims on two bikes the early 70s. On my Mercier, I had a set of alloy rims strung using the Normandy hubs. I didn't realize that I could have done it myself. Yes, I started in 1972/3 or so.

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Schwalbe tires can only be removed with Schwalbe tire levers dummkopf

If you want to read about how Schwalbe feels about some rims and tires being harder to mount and how you can deal with it then read here:https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tech

It’s an amazingly detailed document covering the company and it’s products Did you know they make a fluid called “Easy Fit” that can help ? Also they talk about tried and true techniques like holding down a section of the tire with a toe strap or zip tie while working on it Highly recommended.

BTW, that little brochure that we all throw away when unwrapping a tire was where I got that link. Enjoy.

Ive been using home made Easy Fit for years. A little something I call soapy water. :lol:

I have pink ones in my road bike bag. Yellow ones I my touring bike bag.