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I worked in the workshop of a LBS for years and years, and never used a lever to get a tyre back on. I really felt it a sign of weakness. But as time has gone on and rims have got tighter and tubeless tyres snugger, I'd found myself avoiding riding if the bike had the wrong set of rubber on it to avoid the inevitable swearing, reaching for a steel lever, or forcing blood through my nail beds and out through my cuticles.
This thing is a total game changer. Not pinched tubes, no swearing, no wasted time. Buy one right now, you wont regret it. I was skeptical at first, but believe me it is a thing of beauty.
You can thank me later.
.
I carry one on big days out or when I'm acting as a ride leader, after seeing a club mate use one. So much easier than trying to be A Man and wrestling a tyre with your bare hands.
I nearly bought one when I had similar issues with Road Tubeless and ended up with these:
Schwalbe Easy Fit Tire Mounting Fluid
Bonty Flash Charger
So what's the tool - image link not working
And a lot cheaper than the £50 Park Tools version that I've been putting off buying.
I have one of those (or a variant of it) - excellent bit of kit.
For the back pack/saddle pack, checkout a VAR425 lever:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tools/var-tyre-levers/
Ordered... I shall report back next time I have to change a tyre on the Tripster!
Nice recommendation. I'll buy one when I'm too old and weak to fit tyres by hand. Probably about the time I need an Ebike too. Maybe another 10 years or so seeing as I'm only 62 this year.
Massive swoon at Scotroutes awesumness
I'll give one a try. Was doing some of the afforementioned swearing a couple of weekends ago when my lads tyre just didn't want to play. I'm just not as hard as some of the real men on here.
Ordered. Cheers for the heads up.
me likey, thought it would be a bit pointless till I watch a vid on how it works. Cheers
Road tubeless is particularly where the issue is imho.
I dunno, you tried an Eddie Current?
ha no... i'll put it on my list of things not to do!
If I've a tight tyre, my first port of call is to make some slip.
good squeeze of washing up liquid, just enough water to create a dense foam, and smear liberally around the tyre bead and rim. Normally enough to get even the most recalcitrant tyre seated.
I got one of the VAR ones, for a particular bothersome road combo. Worked a treat, small enough to carry as well.
mounting fluid
*snek* *hif*
Also known as a 'bead jack' or 'tyre mate'. I have an older version, similar to the Koolstop.
It is a very useful tool. There are some combinations of tyres and rims that are very difficult to fit without it (Marathon Plus can be rather stiff). And better than damaging tubes by pinching them.
Is this tool good for MTB tyres, 29 inch wheels and 2.6 tyres ?
In a similar vein, the bead clip on these tyre levers is also a massive help:
https://www.rotae-tech.com/tyre-lever-set
There are some combinations of tyres and rims that are very difficult to fit without it
.. if you're a big girlie weed with no skillz like what we all are. Make sure to add that before one of the hunks turns up and kicks virtual sand in our face.
Are these any use with stiff carcass enduro tyres (e.g. Supergravity, DoubleDown) and rim inserts?
I wonder if this will work for the truly evil Brompton wheel / Schwalbe marathon combo. They're fair enough to get on, but b**ger me if I don't always end up snakebiting the tube in the process one way or another.
Awesome. Might get both so as not to repeat the experience of snapping two Pedros levers and bending a Portland Design Works Wrencho lever getting the kids trials tyres on. Tyres even tighter than I am!
Pedros DH Tyre Lever. All you'll ever need
They're really clever, it's kind of non-obvious but the real trick it's doing is just meaning that you don't have to get a lever hook between the tyre and rim- so instead of using some of the slack for the lever hook, you're using it all fo rthe tyre.
It's kind of the same way a really good tyre lever with a small hook like the lezyne power lever works, except more so. (always baffles me why people like big chonky levers like the Pedros and Park, yes they're strong but the thick hook makes the job harder. The Lezyne ones don't need to be strong, because they're slim)
BoardinBob
SubscriberPedros DH Tyre Lever. All you’ll ever need
For bullying tyres on, sure. But there's better ways. And I think if you spend any time around people who like the DH lever, sooner or later you see someone do some damage with it because the entire idea with them is that the solution to everything is more force.
I always used to think that some tyres would not go on by hand and that I had a set until I got a puncture out on the trails and a pal took them off by hand. Now I know the technique I have not found it impossible even tight small roadbike tyres
While you are on a list of top tools add the knipex parallel jaw pliers. I bought a set after recommendation on here then immediately bought another set in a different size as they are so good
Yeh...look nobody says you can't fit the tire by hand...it's just this thing makes it a total pleasure.. And if you think the DH tyre lever is the answer, i feel that it scratches rims and pinches tubes!
Yup, my technique is utterly terrible, Park metal levers are the only ones that work for me. That VAR one looks like it could be handy though!
Nice recommendation. I’ll buy one when I’m too old and weak to fit tyres by hand. Probably about the time I need an Ebike too. Maybe another 10 years or so seeing as I’m only 62 this year.
*swoons*
I've had the VAR one for a few years and it really helped with some nasty combos in the past. The BBB tool looks even better.
Joe
MemberYeh…look nobody says you can’t fit the tire by hand…it’s just this thing makes it a total pleasure..
"Why have you got that sledgehammer? I bet I could chew through that wall, given enough time"
Right, if nobody's gonna tell me if they work with heavy duty MTB tyres, I'll have to buy one and report back.
Leffeboy - ordered knipex!
Picked one up based on your feedback OP!
Are these any use on MTB tyres......
I thank you.
I've googled all these supposed tyre fitting techniques. Most tyres are a doddle. Some are mildly frustrating. And very occasionally you come across a combination which is near impossible. I've spent up to an hour fighting with some tyres, I've nearly put them in the bin, because the last thing I want to do is have that experience somewhere in a blizzard in the middle of winter.
I welcome anything that makes that job easier.
My favourite tool is my Shimano cable cutters, surprisingly brilliant at cutting cables!
if they work with heavy duty MTB tyres
Ok, I'd say better suited to skinny tyres - I thought this tool might help my kid, who hasn't had the years, as yet, to develop the thumbs to mount and remove tight mtb tyres. Well, probably more the technique... so his 2.6 Spesh Grid on a nice wide Bonty rim, hook the tool into place and there's too much tyre between the handles of the tool to squeeze it enough to get the tyre on. Dad had a go, threw the tool on the ground and did it with Schwalbe levers and a thumb pretty easily.
The last Spesh tyre on Bonty Line combo went on without any tools, so I thought this one'd be a good test.
I'll try it on my Mavic/Schwalbe G-One combo another time.
My favourite tool is my Shimano cable cutters, surprisingly brilliant at cutting cables!
you need a tool? to cut cable?! Lol.
you need a tool? to cut cable?! Lol.
I know right, I thought we all used our razor sharp wit.
My favorite recent bike tool is a Park Tool spoke wrench for my Mavic wheels (fancy Mavic wheels have daft nipples). Its at least 47 times better than the shitty plastic tools that came with the wheels.
Ok, I’d say better suited to skinny tyres
Disappointing, but cheers, saved me a tenner (2.6 tyre user)
scotroutes
Nice recommendation. I’ll buy one when I’m too old and weak to fit tyres by hand. Probably about the time I need an Ebike too. Maybe another 10 years or so seeing as I’m only 62 this year.
Don't worry, it may be longer than that...
@DezB OK what I'm about to suggest may be total nosense as I don't have one of those tools to try but, after looking at the pictures I did wonder if there may be an alternative way to use it with too fat tyres. As in, put the hooked end through the spokes and hook it onto the opposite side rim while using the slotted end to push the bead up and over the rim rather than pull it from the top. Is that worth a try?
@richmtb
"My favorite recent bike tool is a Park Tool spoke wrench for my Mavic wheels (fancy Mavic wheels have daft nipples). Its at least 47 times better than the shitty plastic tools that came with the wheels."
That's bloody good to know as one of these just arrived today!
I've got one of those tyre jack levers, modern road tyres / rims seem to be so much tighter now they're all tubeless compatible, a lot easier than using tyre levers and no chance of pinching the inner tube.