Tyre levers that don't snap

Parktool TL-4.2

Broke my old ones recently which i picked up from a bike shop, replaced with Pedros ones which seem decent.

I will say i dont usually break tyre levers and it was only while trying to fit rimpact inserts onto some new carbon rims that my old ones finally bit the dust.

Both Pedros and Parktool here, years old and have survived some pretty tight situations.

Parktool TL-4.2

Thanks, just had a look.  They look a bit like many I've used before, are they stronger than others?  Whilst googling those, I noticed Parktool also do a plastic coated steel set, TL-6.2.  Any good?

Pedros. Just work and last for ages.

Will look at the Pedros ones too, ta 👍

Topeak shuttle 1.2. had some for years, now have 3 sets.

Are all of the above plastic?

I've never snapped a metal one.

Thanks, just had a look. They look a bit like many I’ve used before, are they stronger than others? Whilst googling those, I noticed Parktool also do a plastic coated steel set, TL-6.2. Any good?

I’ve had mine for years and they havent snapped whilst other cheap one’s have bent or snapped. They’re really hard plastic. I’m personally not a fan of steel, even coated.

I’ve never snapped a metal one.

I've never snapped a plastic one, but see the "hamfisted" comment from the OP...

Park Tool TL-1.2 imo (different to above suggested - these ones are very thicc)

Had others snap. Never these. God tier.

Pedros are generally the go to tyre levers, they're not expensive and plenty stiff enough. I can't see you easily breaking one.

Pedros. Even I've snapped Park ones, and I'm feeble

Use a Park TL1.2 tyre lever with spoke hook to start off, then use these Zefals to do the rest. Work on tight road tyres, tubeless MTB and everything in between. They are unbreakable in my experience. The thin profile and nice flat hook makes it much easier to get under the bead for the second lever

https://www.zefal.com/en/repair/176-z-levers.html

I've broken 2 Pedros levers! Settled on a Topeak set that have a metal core that are a mismatched sizes, yet to snap them in about 3yrs of use.

Or this one

Sometimes only this brute is enough for the job

These ones Levers!

Yep, you can snap Pedros (I didn't expect so, but saw it with my own eyes).

I'll still stick with them though, it was an extreme case.

i snapped a pedro's recently. but it was about 15yrs old.

apparently they have a lifetime guarantee but for the £7 for a new set it didnt seem worth bothering.

Decathlon do one for a fiver that seems better designed than most.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/bike-tyre-lever/_/R-p-300646
I did still manage to snap one though. Bought another of the same as it does make installing and removing tubeless tyres with inserts easier. I just found it’s limits and won’t do that again.

Thanks all, I've ordered a set each of Parktool TL-4.2 and Topeak Shuttle 1.2,  I'll see how I get on with them 👍

Never snapped a tyre lever, but then again I have always used Park tools ones so maybe that's why?

My faves are the Tacx ones

Never snapped one, but always a first time for everything...

I also have the TL-5, but can't recall when I last used them - should really sell them...

Topeak Shuttle and BBB BTL-78 EasyTire. I haven't used the BBB yet because predictably the tyres that made my thumbs bleed have eased off in use

you could try the Tyre Glider?
https://tyreglider.co.uk/

I've snapped a Topeak Shuttle one but I was shocked when I did it. It was quite old, I'd buy another.

Just one of these https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/bike-tyre-lever/_/R-p-300646?mc=8404829

edit: You did well to break it @docrobster, it's pretty sturdy. I'm going to buy some more for my bum bag.

Park TL-5. You’ll snap rims before you snap those.

Possibly not an ideal situation mind…

I always used Schwalbe plastic in the workshop and on my own bikes. If you’re snapping them it may be your technique? Make sure the bead is broken away from the rim all round the tyre and on both sides. Push the beads/sidewalls into the well of the rim (centre), keep checking this, it gives you slack. If it’s too difficult with two levers then move them closer together, if this is still difficult then use a third.
You shouldn’t need levers to replace the tyre - although there’ll probably be a torrent of posts with other ideas - I’ve never used levers to replace since being about 13!
Hope this helps.

I like the Pedro's ones because of the wide and we'll shaped hook, and they're plenty strong enough.

I find the little park ones too thin.

The Topeak metal cored ones are also too flat and too thin.

Had the Schwalbe ones recommended to me and never looked back. Especially for tight tubeless tyres - sometimes they're the only levers that will slide in the gap. They also have a nice bead holding notch for when fitting tyres. Not busted one yet.
https://www.merlincycles.com/schwalbe-tyre-levers-x-3-148924.html

Once had a new pair of Schwalbe Big Bens I was trying to get onto rims which took me (with intervention/help from my father) a good two hours to get on and off again. I realised once they finally snapped into place that I never ever wanted to be in a position that would require I attempt remove them alone.

Long story short - these tyres bent, destroyed and snapped everything we had until I nipped to the LBS and bought some Pedros.

Recommend the yellow ones (easy to locate)

because of the wide and we’ll shaped hook

I never hook the tyre levers on the spokes and pretty sure I never have. Just use one in each hand and hold them in place.

I always recommend Lezyne's power lever. They're not massively strong, but they don't need to be as they have the best shaped hook out there- they basically make every tyre less tight by being less bulky. Indestructibly built levers are more or less the wrong answer to the question imo, a lever that works really well is less stressed.

You definitely can still break them- I've done a couple over the years. But they're inexpensive and it's rare. They come in 3 sizes, a double-hooked one, the standard one with the hook on one and and a spoke thinger on the other is the best, and there's a bigger one which is also pretty decent.

Pedros after starting a similar thread here many years ago.  The only problem I've had with one was when I threw it against the floor in a fit of rage after one particularly bad tyre :).  I also have a lezyne set but the Pedros are my go-to levers as they just feel better

Pedros. I still have a set of Milk Levers that are old enough to have mounted Onza Porcupines 😂

I hardly ever need tyre levers as the method in this vid works 95% of the time even on tubeless.

I always work towards the valve rather than away from it as he does though. But I do still take some levers but haven't broken that I remember.

because of the wide and we’ll shaped hook

I never hook the tyre levers on the spokes and pretty sure I never have. Just use one in each hand and hold them in place.

Think they mean the bead hook edge that goes under the tyre rather than spoke hook (which is not a hook on the pedros levers anyway).

I did indeed. I glad someone understood, but I'll try and proof read next time.

Yellow Pedros. Epic!

Decathalon yellow ones - 3 for £2.99.
They’re made out of some kind of i indestructible but every so slightly soft so they done gouge your rims plastic.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/pack-of-3-tyre-levers-yellow/_/R-p-120

Schwalbe flat blues > pedros.

Just as tough much better hook.

They are really flat aswell so the pack nicely.

I buy like 9 at a time and slowly let people have them

Pedros for me too, when out on the bike, but for the workshop, Topeak Supersteel.

I’m tempted to get a cushcore bead dropper tbh - I sometimes find Rimpact installation / removal a bit of an arse and figure the cushcore tool looks great

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/cushcore-bead-dropper?gclid=CjwKCAjw7vuUBhBUEiwAEdu2pBxVUZczP3Q8Rn0GaOHbM0JN44WJyHHuKRt-Qus1d-ZnIsiIlPJ_9xoCVq0QAvD_BwE

I’ve snapped Topeak and Park tyre levers.

The park levers with a steel core are ok but the plastic coating cracks after a while.

I’m not trying some silca tyre levers (with alloy core) after a particularly frustrating session trying to get some Schwabs tyres off some notubes rims and mounting a pair of Vitoria tyres to replace them. The whole process took the best part of 90 minutes for 2 wheels and left my fingers bruised. The park tool narrowly avoided my eye when it snapped and fired off 🤦‍♂️

Park TL-5. Some of us lived through the days of Sun Ditch Witches and Tioga Factory DH, life is too short and knuckles too soft to piss about with anything else.

Ever since I learned my technique was wrong and I wasn't properly sitting the tyre into the center of the rim I've not had a struggle changing any tyres. When I first got a bike I was more forceful though and snapped a few.

Ever since I learned my technique was wrong and I wasn’t properly sitting the tyre into the center of the rim I’ve not had a struggle changing any tyres.

Good for you.

On the other hand, nobody has ever given me a prize for struggling with tyres for up to half an hour at a time, with levers. Like I said, life is too short, some tyre and rim combo's are just utter bastards and I'd rather be doing anything else than struggling with them.

The Cushcore “butt plug” one is very strong.

Ever since I learned my technique was wrong and I wasn’t properly sitting the tyre into the center of the rim I’ve not had a struggle changing any tyres. When I first got a bike I was more forceful though and snapped a few.

I know that and do it (I think).  Some tyres I have no issue with, some do just seem to be real bastards though as squirrelking says.  Yesterday it was some cheapish wired Schwalbes. The only non-nobbly, road biased tyre my son could find to fit 27.5 plus wheels - a very niche requirement! They were hellishly tight! His shagged Norco HT with some non-terminal frame damage is being converted to a pub/Deliveroo bike.

Also, I think some of the plastic ones I use, I have had for years and years.  I know plastic does degrade and become brittle due to UV - cheapo plastic clothes pegs which shatter when used being an extreme example.

Hopefully problem solved when my parktool and topeak versions arrive.  Thanks for all the advice.

nbt

you could try the Tyre Glider?

Looks interesting. Have you tried it?

Just to add crank brothers tyre lever into the mix - never managed to snap it, soft on rims and great for quick changes on looser tyres, as well as normal changing on tight tyres.

Looks interesting. Have you tried it?

I have not, I rarely struggle with tyres myself and do have some tacx levers for the very odd occasion when I need some help

I've never managed to snap a Park Tools blue one, and god knows I've snapped plenty of others.

I got one of these and works a treat with one issue. So much force can be put on the offside rim edge that after I had installed a VERY tight Challenge tubeless CX tyre I discovered that I had bent and dented my rim!

works a treat with one issue

‘Bazooka works a treat in butter-knife fight, albeit with one issue (risk of permanent self-deletion)’ 😄

Have used the same three Pedro'
s levers for the last ten years after a mechanic friend gave them to me. I snapped one of them the other month trying to get a Schwalbe G-one off a rim.

Replaced with two more Pedros levers.

I had a problem with some superstar Road rims years ago, and it was due to the thick rim tape and me not knowing about getting the tyre right in the centre groove. Thinner tape, better technique and doable by hand. All of this thanks to STW advice.

I got one of these and works a treat with one issue. So much force can be put on the offside rim edge that after I had installed a VERY tight Challenge tubeless CX tyre I discovered that I had bent and dented my rim!

I actually had to use this again last night for another pair of very tight tyres. Normal tyres levers would not do it but these did it easily. Now I know to not go ape with the amount of force my rims were fine.

I’ve always used the blue plastic Park Tools ones or the plastic Pedros ones. Only broken one or 2 of either in 20 years.

Cheap as chips as well

Without wanting to deviate to far from the OP question - this whole 'technique' thing of getting the tyre right into the centre of the rim all the way round - how does it work, then?

I've tried it, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I start to push it in the centre of the rim, but by the time I've got all the way round the tyre it has inevitably moved, is no longer seated in the centre of the rim & seems to make very little difference. How do you get it to stay in the centre of the rim as you work your way round?

FWIW - I generally use the blue Park tool levers, but have some red Bontrager ones that are OK too.
Park tool ones are pretty good - I think I've only ever broken one, although I have bent/deformed the end of another one so much it was pretty much unusable.

Without wanting to deviate to far from the OP question – this whole ‘technique’ thing of getting the tyre right into the centre of the rim all the way round – how does it work, then?

I put the wheel on the floor with the valve at the bottom and leaning against my knees. I push the bead into the centre of the wheel well at the top and with both thumbs push the tyre bead down both sides on the wheel along the wheel well (pushing quite hard) so by the time you get to the bottom there is just enough excess bead at the bottom the pull it off the rim. It doesn't work with all rim/tyre combinations but it will with most.

How do you get it to stay in the centre of the rim as you work your way round?

BITD a couple of toestraps around the tyre and rim; in today's workshop a wrap of tape or re-usable cable ties should do it.
I've never had this method fail but I did draw blood from both thumbnail beds (thumb nail beds?) once on a pair of tubeless-ready wheels using non-TR tyres and tubes

this whole ‘technique’ thing of getting the tyre right into the centre of the rim all the way round – how does it work, then?

It doesn't. Or at least it doesn't with any of the 5 different tubeless tyres I have put onto my Cosmic Elite UST rims.