Tire Tool Thingie
#2
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I haven't used that one, but I have the similar Kool Stop tire jack, and I like it a lot. If you've got strong hands you might think it's not necessary but it saves me a lot of sore thumbs.
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Like Andy_K, I have and use the Kool stop version. One stays at home in my tool box, one goes on rides in a jersey pocket. Works great. I have no reason to doubt that the Cycle Mate product works just as lwell.
Continental 4000s or 5000s on Mavic Open Pro rims? Don't need it but nice to have. Conti tires on old Weinmann "Gentleman" rims? Don't leave home without it. Lord knows about other tire-rim combos, but why not just bring one or the other of these along and not worry about it?
Continental 4000s or 5000s on Mavic Open Pro rims? Don't need it but nice to have. Conti tires on old Weinmann "Gentleman" rims? Don't leave home without it. Lord knows about other tire-rim combos, but why not just bring one or the other of these along and not worry about it?
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Last edited by bikingshearer; 07-11-22 at 01:20 PM.
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A friend had bought two and he was trying to figure out how to use it. Well, he got it on correctly but monkey gripped the handles and snapped the tool in half, lol. I got the other one and put his tire on for him. He shook his head. I now have a new tool..
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yes, successfully.
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I thought about buying this tool when installing GP5000 on my Zipp and Enve wheels but was told not to use on carbon. (I know this section isn't for carbon)
Instead leave the tires outside in the sun for a few hours to loosen them. It was much easier to mount them after baking them.
Instead leave the tires outside in the sun for a few hours to loosen them. It was much easier to mount them after baking them.
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for home use, the KoolStop tire jack is great (as already noted).
For use while riding, I've had good luck with the EZ Clincher tire jack. It's not designed for big clinchers, I suppose, but I'm using it for 23 or 25mm tires (especially Continentals and such). It fits nicely in my saddle bag.
Steve in Peoria
For use while riding, I've had good luck with the EZ Clincher tire jack. It's not designed for big clinchers, I suppose, but I'm using it for 23 or 25mm tires (especially Continentals and such). It fits nicely in my saddle bag.
Steve in Peoria
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I am a fan for using hand strength and technique for installing/removing tires. Sure, a cool tool in the shop is just great but what do you do when you are twenty miles from home where the cool tool is stored? To that add what others have said - the cool tool does nothing when tire removal is the issue. Put another way...
If I cannot install a tire, at home, with my bare hands, my solution is simple - get a bigger air volume tire. A 700c x 20 is a nightmare for me to install. A 700c x 28 is not much of an issue. And a 700c x 32 almost installs itself.
If I cannot install a tire, at home, with my bare hands, my solution is simple - get a bigger air volume tire. A 700c x 20 is a nightmare for me to install. A 700c x 28 is not much of an issue. And a 700c x 32 almost installs itself.
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I am a fan for using hand strength and technique for installing/removing tires. Sure, a cool tool in the shop is just great but what do you do when you are twenty miles from home where the cool tool is stored? To that add what others have said - the cool tool does nothing when tire removal is the issue. Put another way...
......
......
The EZ Clincher tire jack fits in a small saddle bag and works great for getting very tight tires onto a rim. i.e. Veloflex Master (23mm) onto an Ambrosio Elite rim, or 23mm Conti Gatorskins onto a MA-40.
I have also carried the Koolstop tire jack in the Carradice on another bike.
As for getting tight tires off... some fit so tight that I can't get a plastic tire lever under the bead, so I use my trusty Eldi steel levers with a very thin hook/lip to get under the bead. Works great.
Steve in Peoria
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A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Guesses
Here's the type of tool being discussed...
I bought this Bike Hand Tire Seating Tool online a few years back. I have a box full of different tire tools including KoolStop, VAR, etc. - these are by far the best! They're made of very tough ABS plastic which is unlikely to break like others that some have mentioned.
verktyg
I bought this Bike Hand Tire Seating Tool online a few years back. I have a box full of different tire tools including KoolStop, VAR, etc. - these are by far the best! They're made of very tough ABS plastic which is unlikely to break like others that some have mentioned.
verktyg
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The KoolStop tire jack, though mainly intended as an installation tool, can help with getting tire removal started.
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I played around with the Koolstop version, but never really thought it helped. But then I was the guy in the shop that could do most any tire/rim barehanded. The other wrenches would give what they were having trouble with and I'd do it ~90% of the time without tools albeit slowly. Matrix rims though, oomph, those were the worst.
#16
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If you are using your thumbs, you are doing it wrong.
The video on the site shows you, primes you, how to do it incorrectly.
The video on the site shows you, primes you, how to do it incorrectly.
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#18
elcraft
I am a fan for using hand strength and technique for installing/removing tires. Sure, a cool tool in the shop is just great but what do you do when you are twenty miles from home where the cool tool is stored? To that add what others have said - the cool tool does nothing when tire removal is the issue. Put another way...
If I cannot install a tire, at home, with my bare hands, my solution is simple - get a bigger air volume tire. A 700c x 20 is a nightmare for me to install. A 700c x 28 is not much of an issue. And a 700c x 32 almost installs itself.
If I cannot install a tire, at home, with my bare hands, my solution is simple - get a bigger air volume tire. A 700c x 20 is a nightmare for me to install. A 700c x 28 is not much of an issue. And a 700c x 32 almost installs itself.
https://www.amazon.com/Var-Nylon-Tyr.../dp/B091D278G5
While essentially the same design, but a tad wider, I DON’T actually look forward to using it….
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Just used the Kool Stop tire jack for the first time a few days ago. It took all the fun out of installing an Ultra Sport on an Ambrosio Elite rim. The tire went on quite easily without the usual cursing and sore fingers.
Otto
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I use the subject tire jack and find it handy mainly for difficult to seat brand new folding tires. I’m a fan of using only my hands or tire levers when possible but some stubborn tires need more persuasion. After a tire has been on the rim for awhile it becomes more pliable and easier to work with, I don’t seem to have trouble in the field without the jack when I fix flats.
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#21
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Glad to see I'm not the only one who has trouble with Conti Ultra Sports. I've had wire-beaded tires that weren't as difficult to install as the Kevlar-bead version of the Ultra Sport.
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On Central California days like today, 15 minutes in the sun on the black garbage can lid and a tire is pliable and almost too hot to handle. On cool weather, 10-15 minutes in the clothes dryer on high heat will do. Just be sure SWMBO isn't around.
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I have the Kool-Stop version in the shop, and carry the more portable VAR version on rides. The VAR also has tire levers for removing tires:
The Kool-Stop has better leverage, but is too bulky to carry on rides.
Crank Bros. also makes a portable bead jack/tire lever tool, but I haven't tried it and can't comment on how well it works.
The Kool-Stop has better leverage, but is too bulky to carry on rides.
Crank Bros. also makes a portable bead jack/tire lever tool, but I haven't tried it and can't comment on how well it works.