Tyre Levers

Mog Uk

Anyone recommed some decent tyre levers...

I'm sick of bending, snapping, struggling with the crappy plastic ones that I always seem to end up with......
:roll:

pauljohnhart

Kona make plastic ones with a steel core - they're heavy and a bit pricey but they do the job and one with plastic one should be fine. you can get them at www.dotbike.com

homercles

Click

I've had the same set of these for something like 10 years now and they've never failed me. Nor have they ever damaged a wheel/ tyre/ tube.

Grifcp

THESE]

are good 8)

andrewgturnbull

Mog Uk wrote:

Anyone recommed some decent tyre levers...

I'm sick of bending, snapping, struggling with the crappy plastic ones that I always seem to end up with......
:roll:

Hi there.

Buy the blue park tool ones, you will not break these.

Nobody ever got fired for buying park tools.

Cheers, Andy

www.andyturnbull.co.uk

redddraggon

95p from Wilkinsons on the high street.

Surprisingly good, not snapped one, and cheap enough to replace often anyway.

Lagavulin

I use these.

Steel core but plastic outers nad have found them to be brilliant. Have relied on them quite heavily a couple of times, most notably when fitting my second set of Vredestein Tricomps (which were the complete opposite to the "easy-on" firsts) and when fitting Krylions onto my Aksiums.

They probably deserved a mention in my post in the "Best value purchase" thread that was on here a few weeks back.

Mog Uk

Crikes, never realised I would get this many suggestions...

Cheers for all the links.....

Swaying towards the Park Tools as I need a couple of other bits from Wiggle.......

il_principe

+1 for Park Tools.

Gussio

+ 1 for Park Tools. Tacyx are also good.

andrew_s

I use plain steel tyre levers. cheap, don't break, aren't thick enough to give problems with tight tyres.

People used steel levers for years before someone saw a marketing opportunity and started a load of scare stories about them damaging the rims.

Raph

I too have brokena dn bent quite a few plastic tyre levers. When the tyre's a tight fit, metal ones do occasionally put a ding in the rim, and if they catch the tube, the tube's history.

"Buy the blue park tool ones, you will not break these"

Trouble is, niether will you get them between tyre and rim unless the tyre bead's a particularly flabby fit.

My fave is the VAR - http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-0-VA ... er-903.htm. Gets between tyre and rim without a fight and doesn't bend and stretch like some.

Those steel core ones look rather good though...

top_bhoy

Raph wrote:

My fave is the VAR - http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-0-VA ... er-903.htm. Gets between tyre and rim without a fight and doesn't bend and stretch like some.

That link didn't work but if you can find them, I'd second the VAR lever. I found a little practice was necessary away from the roadside but once mastered, it was easy to replace problematic tight fitting tyres.

andrewgturnbull

andrew_s wrote:

I use plain steel tyre levers. cheap, don't break, aren't thick enough to give problems with tight tyres.

People used steel levers for years before someone saw a marketing opportunity and started a load of scare stories about them damaging the rims.

Hi there.

I also successfully used spoons from my Mum's dining set for years. Doesn't mean it was right....

Cheers, Andy

ps Sorry Mum.

daowned

Hi there.

I also successfully used spoons from my Mum's dining set for years. Doesn't mean it was right....

Cheers, Andy

ps Sorry Mum.

A long time ago with the BMX I remember using screwdrivers, welding rods or anything else I could get out of my dads tool shop to get a tyre off, thankfully now we have better tools supplied to us

Raph

"spoons from my Mum's dining set "

at least they probably had smooth rounded corners - classic old steel tyre levers had sharp square corners guaranteed to trash tubes. I've also used screwdrivers and spoons, but taken small chunks out of tyres with them in the process - if the tyre's a loose fit then it doesn't matter what you use, the tighter it is, the more you need the lever to be rigid and soft. hmmmm....


Apology for crap link - here's another go:

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-0-VA ... er-903.htm

woody-som

soma are the best I've tried. Steel cored, not too big and easy to carry, only ever need two.

simmo3801

I have bought a pair of the Soma ones recommended by Grifcp from SJS cycles.

They're the same ones that Lagavulin recommended from Edinburghbicyclecoop but they were selling them for 4.95 each whereas sjs were 2.50. It really annoys me as Ed coop is my lbs but I can't justify supporting them at their prices so use online all the time!! :x

venster

I use these and can't fault them

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001005.php

Crank Brothers Speed levers

Keanocp

simmo3801 wrote:

I have bought a pair of the Soma ones recommended by Grifcp from SJS cycles.

They're the same ones that Lagavulin recommended from Edinburghbicyclecoop but they were selling them for 4.95 each whereas sjs were 2.50. It really annoys me as Ed coop is my lbs but I can't justify supporting them at their prices so use online all the time!! :x

Good idea simmo I nearly did the same thing myself, but if you look more closely at your order with SJS you'll find you've only ordered one tyre lever :oops:

Looks like the Edinburghbicyclecoop deal wasn't too bad after all

geoff_ss

I've tried a few plastic levers in the past and find they a) bend and b) are often too thick to get under the tyre bead to lever it over the rim.

I've used for 30 plus years (and still use) the old-fashioned metal levers sold under various brand names from Dunlop to Raleigh. OK, they aren't as light as the plastic ones but they always work in my experience. I've also never worked out why you need 3 levers - never needed more than 2 and, except on a handful of occasions, never needed any at all for fitting a tyre.

Geoff

Raph

"Crank Brothers Speed Lever" - oh yes! I've got one I've forgotten all about, thanks for reminding me. I've never particularly got on with the bit you wedge onto the axle but just the lever part of it's really good.

I still find the VAR one easier to use on a tight tyre. And it's easier to slide along under the tyre once you've got the first bit over the side of the rim - do that with a metal lever and it usually takes rubber off exposing the bead.

giant_man

The Crank Brothers speed lever are ok and I have been using them for the past couple of years but they will scratch your rim if you let them, I will be changing to something like the VAR tool soon and give them a go.

Mettan

Just noticed these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... e%20Levers

Are they long enough to generate enough leverage though??? - they're wide, yeah, but they don't seem very long - anybody had any experience with them?

Just fitted a Shimano R550 front wheel today - bit of a bugger getting the last bit of the tyre back on the rim - plastic ones started bending ridculously etc - ended up using a spoon with a bit of tape wrapped around it.

Mog Uk

I have a Michelin set of those, nice and compact and work fine on my Pro Race 2's. However they are useless on my winter Vittorias, just can't get a good enough leverage with them...

Raph

I've just used those metal-cored plastic ones for the first time. Brilliant - though the ends are a bit blunt so not as good as the Var one for getting between tyre and rim if it's a tight fit.

yakk

Tacx have been good.
Yak

mrushton

There is a firm out there, Layzene I think who do some nice aluminium levers. there saddle packs are nicely designed and as for the carbon multi-tools that fit into the special pocket on the saddle pack.....

You need to google poss 'alloy tyre levers'

synchronicity

Michelin Tyre Lever Reivew