Groasters

I've been riding and fixing punctures for over 5 decades.

I've seen "wonder tools" come and go.

Riding alone at night with no rescue back up still causes me tyre change anxiety. I laugh at the promotional video demos done in warm laboratories and clean, dry hands - failing to make a quick tube change if needed (yes, including on a tubeless setup) on a freezing cold night can be life or death.

My solution has always been to match tyres and rims. If the tyre doesn't fit, it goes back for a refund. I've rejected rims that are known to be oversize too.

You figure out what goes with what and it doesn't require having to settle for an inferior tyre or rim.

For years I've used the blue plastic Park Tool levers with no problems or nocturnal night ride panics.

rekmeyata

Kool Stop is a great tool, but it's over 8 inches long which means you can't put it in a seat bag and take it on the road, unlike the VAR which is the exact same thing just smaller and fits neatly into most seat bags, and it works the exact same way. So the Kool Stop is only useful at home, and it does provide more leverage which could be useful for a weaker individual, but I haven't had an issue with the VAR not having enough leverage.

kahn

It just occurred to me as I read your hope for the magical tool - CREDIT CARD. Although it might be limited in the field!

fooferdoggie 

I tested it on the two tires I use before its needed. thats miracle on my part its-self.

Sorcerer

I saw the Tyre Glider on YouTube last week with an interview with the Welsh inventor and boy did that make me curious.

Being in the States, I won't be getting one anytime soon.

I used to carry a Kool Stop bead wrench on road tandem tours, but never really needed it. But it does come in handy in the garage.

So, I'm a mountain biker primarily, and tubeless tires are considerable challenges at times. It is not usual for beads to be almost glued to the rim, making the difficult to remove.
I have yet to see a tool to help unseat a stuck bead.

​​​​​​Mountain bikers need a larger version of the Kool Stop bead jack. I have to wonder if there is a motorcycle tire tool that would be good to have in the garage.

Over the years I have learned techniques to deal with mountain bike tires. However there is some strength required a many situations.

I do use steel core tire levers all the time.

Thanks to the posters sharing their real experience and reviews of the Tire Glider.

rekmeyata

There is a tool for stuck on beads, it's called a C clamp! cheap and readily available anywhere tools are sold. You just put the C clamp over the tire and start tightening it down, making sure not to damage the rim of course, and as that clamp starts to close up that tire bead will pop off.

Sorcerer

Good point. I've used channel locks and blocks of wood, but my favorite is stepping on the tire.

Barry2 

So I really want to try one of these, but shipping to the USA at $21 was high.

Here https://tyreglider.co.uk not only were they $14ea but shipping is fixed at $15.

So I popped for Ten of them, making them $15.50ea shipped.
Let's see if the USPS charges me any duty, but I suspect not.

Barry

Edit: Got asked “why ten?”… kept two and sold the rest to my local ride buddies at cost.

fooferdoggie 

there you go. I wished I bought two more but I wanted to know how well they worked first.

Gresp15C

This will mark me as maybe a bit too fussy, but I cut the handle off a Kool Stop tool, for my seat bag. That was before I got a VAR, but the VAR is with a different bike.

morecommas

Thread with lots of good suggestions.

For removing tough tires, one thing I do is try to sneak some detergent under the bead of the tire (which I've lifted off with a standard tire lever). This helps slide the tool down the rim.

70sSanO

Not too fussy for me. I have a VAR in the bag on my road bike and cut down the handle of a Tire Jack for my mtb bag.

I think the Tire Jack works better for wider tires than the VAR.

John

tcs

Fits in my Custom Cycle Fitments seat bag just fine.

Soured a bit on the VAR when the interior tire lever snapped lifting off a bead, where Pedros did the job just fine. Suggest VAR mold the inner tire lever out of a different polymer than the tire jack.

big chainring 

I'm going back to tubulars this year. So much easier to deal with and I like the ride. And I get to carry a spare under my my saddle, always a good look.

cyccommute 

I got mine recently and tried it on a Continental at the co-op last night. I’m less then impressed. The tire was one that was just sitting around the shop. First, the tool was difficult to get under the bead. It was too wide and would catch the bead on one corner but not on the whole ledge of the tool. When it did eventually catch the whole edge, there is too much of the bead to effectively push the bead over the edge of the rim. The tool is also too short to provide enough leverage. I did manage to get the bead up and over the rim with a lot of struggling but that was only the beginning of problem.

Once the bead is over the rim, the tool has too small an area to push on to actually move it. It also tended to slip off the tool and resulted in several somewhat painful knuckle blows to the rim. I did eventually get the tool to move but it dug into my hand somewhat painfully so now my knuckles and palm hurt. And the “movement” was maybe an inch before the tool slipped, again, and smashed my knuckles into the rim again.

I never did get the tire off. Ten to 15 minutes of work, smashed knuckles, bruised palm, and the tire is still on the rim. I’m not terribly impressed.