Tire levers that actually work?
05-24-23, 03:39 PM
#51
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Mavic had many years ago a brilliant design for a tire lever. It was very thin on one end and about 1-1/2 times the width of a typical tire lever and on the other end a spanner that fit the dust cap on their hubs.
This tool was easily broken if used incorrectly, but when used properly it was a life saver. When I worked in the shop I had my own Mavic levers that stayed with me at all times and I was able to get any tire/rim combination on and off. One of these companies needs to reproduce this lever design as it is near perfect for tight fitting tires.
On a different note, I never had much luck with tire jacks. The Mavic lever always worked well when the tire jacks failed to assist. I suppose my tire jack technique needs much refinement, but won't be necessary because I still have my set of ancient Mavic tire levers!
This tool was easily broken if used incorrectly, but when used properly it was a life saver. When I worked in the shop I had my own Mavic levers that stayed with me at all times and I was able to get any tire/rim combination on and off. One of these companies needs to reproduce this lever design as it is near perfect for tight fitting tires.
On a different note, I never had much luck with tire jacks. The Mavic lever always worked well when the tire jacks failed to assist. I suppose my tire jack technique needs much refinement, but won't be necessary because I still have my set of ancient Mavic tire levers!
05-24-23, 03:44 PM
#52
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There are certain modern tire-rim combination that make hand mounting of a tire all but impossible. YouTube "how to" videos are no match for a really tight tire.
I'm looking at you, Continental.
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05-25-23, 09:54 PM
#53
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Tire jack arrived today. the job was so easy with it. but, just before i used it i attempted to do it again bare handed. what a PITA. was never going to happen. tried with gloves, without gloves. tire jack was painless. three spots and it was on. took off the tire with my new Pedro's levers and tried again bare handed. got it a bit further but still not bare handed. i was able to only use the lever this time. obviously the tire is stretching. i suppose if i do it enough times i'll be able to do it my hand.
when i mount the next tire that is like this i'll mount and unmount a few times to stretch it a bit.
when i mount the next tire that is like this i'll mount and unmount a few times to stretch it a bit.
05-26-23, 07:55 PM
#54
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When it comes to mounting tough tire beads without pinching inner tubes I use the Pedros levers. They are thick and I have yet to break one. Never had to use more than one to mount tires. I have the old school metal ones and they sometimes nick the inner tube and leave scratch marks on the rim when they slip.
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05-26-23, 08:22 PM
#55
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I write this with roughly 58 years experience with all sorts of tires and rims:
There are certain modern tire-rim combination that make hand mounting of a tire all but impossible. YouTube "how to" videos are no match for a really tight tire.
I'm looking at you, Continental.
There are certain modern tire-rim combination that make hand mounting of a tire all but impossible. YouTube "how to" videos are no match for a really tight tire.
I'm looking at you, Continental.
On a related note, my wife’s Specialized e-bike had a rear flat where there was no way to break the bead on the tires. No room for levers or even the dreaded flat screwdriver. Watched a YouTube on removing impossible tires and the guy recommended placing the tire (not the wheel) in a vice and gently moving the wheel toward you until the bead separates. It worked great, but there is no way a flat can be repaired on the road with that tire/rim combination. Doubt she would agree to towing a trailer behind her with a vice, “just in case”. Now I will need to always keep a phone with me when she is cycling in case I receive the call of shame.
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05-26-23, 09:51 PM
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+1 on Pedros. I have tried many a different tyre lever and Pedros, for my money, are hands down the best.
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05-27-23, 08:24 AM
#58
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I've never broken a steel lever. I still use the Eldi levers I bought back in the 70s.
N.B. not recommended for carbon rims.
N.B. not recommended for carbon rims.
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05-27-23, 08:40 AM
#59
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Something else that I've found, but you have to have more than one bike, or at least more than one wheelset - I had a hell of a time getting new Contis onto the Fulcrum rims on my Bianchi, so I'd always install them on the Velocity rims on a different bike first, and ride them for a few weeks. After that, they'd go onto the Fulcrum rims without too much fuss.
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05-27-23, 09:13 AM
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05-27-23, 09:36 PM
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Put me in the Pedro's group also
05-28-23, 05:52 AM
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Never use a metal lever ---unless all you have is the screwdriver from your tool kit because all your real lever broke. Rim damage is likely, and if you damage the rim, it could damage the tire or puncture the new tube ......
As for all the macho men who claim they never need tools to mount a tire ... okay. Even when I was extremely fit and more than moderately strong I ran across tire/rim combos which i couldn't muscle into place. Now that I am old and out of shape, with dodgy thumbs .... it's funny, as man got smarter he invented tools, and now, the people who think they are really smart tell you you are weak if you need tools. Go, Australopithecus! Down with **** Habilis!
Glad you decided to try a bead jacker. Of course, now you have to carry one in your seat bag ..... Tubeless looks better and better as I get older.
As for all the macho men who claim they never need tools to mount a tire ... okay. Even when I was extremely fit and more than moderately strong I ran across tire/rim combos which i couldn't muscle into place. Now that I am old and out of shape, with dodgy thumbs .... it's funny, as man got smarter he invented tools, and now, the people who think they are really smart tell you you are weak if you need tools. Go, Australopithecus! Down with **** Habilis!
Glad you decided to try a bead jacker. Of course, now you have to carry one in your seat bag ..... Tubeless looks better and better as I get older.
05-28-23, 09:22 AM
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I think the hope would be that after riding for some time the tire would have stretched enough to be easier to deal with. At least that's a theory.
05-28-23, 11:27 AM
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As for all the macho men who claim they never need tools to mount a tire ... okay. Even when I was extremely fit and more than moderately strong I ran across tire/rim combos which i couldn't muscle into place. Now that I am old and out of shape, with dodgy thumbs .... it's funny, as man got smarter he invented tools, and now, the people who think they are really smart tell you you are weak if you need tools. Go, Australopithecus! Down with **** Habilis!
05-28-23, 12:17 PM
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As I said, "Even when I was extremely fit and more than moderately strong I ran across tire/rim combos which i couldn't muscle into place." Not because of low strenght or because of poor technique. Some tires were just too tight on some rims. Ad I was fit for about three-and-a-half decades of riding, mostly urban commuting, so flats were frequent and wear was high and thus tire changes were, too.
If you have never yet met a tire you couldn't get on a rim ... I guess you haven't ridden much. That's okay ... experienced cyclists know where I am coming from.
05-28-23, 12:36 PM
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Somebody mentioned the VAR tool above. they are the best in my experience. Hard to find now.
the other thing that is essential is - make sure the tire beads are in the "well" of the rim as you mount the tire, NOT in the seating area
just like the tire machine used for your car, there is a "well" in the center of the rim, and you can get enough slack by ensuring that the tire beads are sitting in that "well".
if the beads are up on the seating area, forget it ! you'll struggle and break "tyre levers".
/markp
the other thing that is essential is - make sure the tire beads are in the "well" of the rim as you mount the tire, NOT in the seating area
just like the tire machine used for your car, there is a "well" in the center of the rim, and you can get enough slack by ensuring that the tire beads are sitting in that "well".
if the beads are up on the seating area, forget it ! you'll struggle and break "tyre levers".
/markp
Last edited by mpetry912; 05-28-23 at 12:42 PM.
05-28-23, 02:22 PM
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Way to cherry-pick to completely avoid the meaning. Bravo.
As I said, "Even when I was extremely fit and more than moderately strong I ran across tire/rim combos which i couldn't muscle into place." Not because of low strenght or because of poor technique. Some tires were just too tight on some rims. Ad I was fit for about three-and-a-half decades of riding, mostly urban commuting, so flats were frequent and wear was high and thus tire changes were, too.
If you have never yet met a tire you couldn't get on a rim ... I guess you haven't ridden much. That's okay ... experienced cyclists know where I am coming from.
As I said, "Even when I was extremely fit and more than moderately strong I ran across tire/rim combos which i couldn't muscle into place." Not because of low strenght or because of poor technique. Some tires were just too tight on some rims. Ad I was fit for about three-and-a-half decades of riding, mostly urban commuting, so flats were frequent and wear was high and thus tire changes were, too.
If you have never yet met a tire you couldn't get on a rim ... I guess you haven't ridden much. That's okay ... experienced cyclists know where I am coming from.
Again, I have no experience with tubeless, where using levers doesn’t result in the same problems where tubes are involved.
Last edited by smd4; 05-28-23 at 03:01 PM.
05-28-23, 02:32 PM
#69
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As for all the macho men who claim they never need tools to mount a tire ... okay. Even when I was extremely fit and more than moderately strong I ran across tire/rim combos which i couldn't muscle into place. Now that I am old and out of shape, with dodgy thumbs .... it's funny, as man got smarter he invented tools, and now, the people who think they are really smart tell you you are weak if you need tools. Go, Australopithecus! Down with **** Habilis!
If your thumbs are sore, you're not doing it right.
Should be using the heels of your palms mostly. I'll try to describe it, but a good mechanic can show you in a moment's time.
As I wrote earlier, start opposite the valve hole, and make sure you are pushing the tire beads into the center channel as you go -- this is crucial, as it gives you more slack. As you get to the last few inches, right around the valve hole, put THAT section of the wheel AWAY from your body, holding the wheel almost perpendicular to your gut. IOW, you're holding the wheel like you're delivering a very large pizza, with the valve hole jammed into your belly button and your arms stretched out in front of you, palms resting on the opposite sides of the unmounted section of tire. THEN use your PALMS to push the last section of tire up and over the rim's edge...You will almost be 'rolling' your palms (really, the heels of your palms, the meaty part, mostly) on the tire bead to massage and push it up and over the rim's sidewall. As each section gets pushed more up and over the rim's edge, your hands are getting closer together until the last bit pops on. Again, you're mostly using the heels of your palms, which means that you get extra traction and protection from your cycling gloves (assuming you are wearing them).
Using your thumbs severely limits your leverage, and makes your success a function of hand strength -- hence GhostRider62 's comment about not having enough hand strength. But if that is your limiting factor, you're doing it wrong. With the right technique, you're using your arms and upper body to mount the tire.
Should be using the heels of your palms mostly. I'll try to describe it, but a good mechanic can show you in a moment's time.
As I wrote earlier, start opposite the valve hole, and make sure you are pushing the tire beads into the center channel as you go -- this is crucial, as it gives you more slack. As you get to the last few inches, right around the valve hole, put THAT section of the wheel AWAY from your body, holding the wheel almost perpendicular to your gut. IOW, you're holding the wheel like you're delivering a very large pizza, with the valve hole jammed into your belly button and your arms stretched out in front of you, palms resting on the opposite sides of the unmounted section of tire. THEN use your PALMS to push the last section of tire up and over the rim's edge...You will almost be 'rolling' your palms (really, the heels of your palms, the meaty part, mostly) on the tire bead to massage and push it up and over the rim's sidewall. As each section gets pushed more up and over the rim's edge, your hands are getting closer together until the last bit pops on. Again, you're mostly using the heels of your palms, which means that you get extra traction and protection from your cycling gloves (assuming you are wearing them).
Using your thumbs severely limits your leverage, and makes your success a function of hand strength -- hence GhostRider62 's comment about not having enough hand strength. But if that is your limiting factor, you're doing it wrong. With the right technique, you're using your arms and upper body to mount the tire.
05-28-23, 03:02 PM
#70
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If you're breaking tire levers, you're doing something wrong. Plastic tire levers such as the ones made by Parktool or Pedros are pretty strong if used correctly. I carry metal levers just in case one of my plastic ones ever broke. I only broke a plastic tire lever once long time ago when my technique wasn't quite right, so it was my fault. I agree that there are some really stubborn tire and rim combinations but you just need to work at it a little longer and the tire will eventually go on.
05-28-23, 04:25 PM
#71
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Koyote .... thanks for playing. Sorry to send you home with a consolation prize.
"If your thumbs are sore, you're not doing it right.
"Should be using the heels of your palms mostly. I'll try to describe it, but a good mechanic can show you in a moment's time."
yeah, I damaged my thumbs doing finger-tip pushups. They hurt sometimes even when eating ... holding a fork or spoon can hurt.
As I mentioned (and as you ignored) I have successfully mounted and dismounted more tires more times than either of us can count.
There are others herr who also have found that some tire/rim combos don't work .... go play with them.
You lose here because ... you don't really matter enough for me to try to win. Think what you like .... or don't, or whatever.
"If your thumbs are sore, you're not doing it right.
"Should be using the heels of your palms mostly. I'll try to describe it, but a good mechanic can show you in a moment's time."
yeah, I damaged my thumbs doing finger-tip pushups. They hurt sometimes even when eating ... holding a fork or spoon can hurt.
As I mentioned (and as you ignored) I have successfully mounted and dismounted more tires more times than either of us can count.
There are others herr who also have found that some tire/rim combos don't work .... go play with them.
You lose here because ... you don't really matter enough for me to try to win. Think what you like .... or don't, or whatever.
05-28-23, 08:00 PM
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07-30-23, 11:28 AM
#74
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Came to this thread as I am currently attempting to install some new Conti GP4 Seasons 700-28 onto one of my son's friends wheels, which have Ambrosio Elite Durex 19 rims, which I have heard can be tough. On my Raleigh, I have this same wheel combo, and put GP 4 Seasons on several years ago with no problems. It seems the Conti tires have gotten tighter over the years, as I noticed this when I put some new GP4 Seasons on my Trek commuter (Mavic MA2 rims), which while tight weren't really a problem.
It took me quite awhile last night to even get the first bead on. I have Pedro's levers (have broken one in the past), a Quik Stik, a KS Bead Jack, etc. Looking at the Tyre Glider and went ahead and ordered a couple of those, one to give to my son's friend just in case he ever needs it. None of the Park videos I looked at show mounting by hand, but all use Park levers. And it has been quite awhile since I have done this, and not getting any younger
It took me quite awhile last night to even get the first bead on. I have Pedro's levers (have broken one in the past), a Quik Stik, a KS Bead Jack, etc. Looking at the Tyre Glider and went ahead and ordered a couple of those, one to give to my son's friend just in case he ever needs it. None of the Park videos I looked at show mounting by hand, but all use Park levers. And it has been quite awhile since I have done this, and not getting any younger
Last edited by Pars; 07-30-23 at 11:56 AM.
07-30-23, 01:52 PM
#75
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