Angleiron

I have some tight fitting tires on my aluminum rims, any recommendations for a set of tire levers that will not mark up the rims?

blacksquid

blacksquid

Sorry! That's a Quik Stik. I use a slightly different version, no fancy cover on the handle, and have no problems at all, even mountig Conti GP4000s on Campy Eurus wheels!

yrrej

The VAR tire jack is supposed to be pretty good...

I just got one, hope I don't have to use it for a loooong time.

Jerry

noahjwhite

I like the pedro's cheapo plastic ones. I have some steal levers but I don't use them anymore because I've damaged rims with them. The Pedro's do exactly what they are supposed to do.

Panthers007

I'll second the VAR Super Tyre Tool. Quite hard to come by in the USA though. They make a super-tight fitting clincher a breeze to mount.

Jerry - where did you manage to find one? My source has left town and taken his eBay store with him.

Retro Grouch 

Didn't we just have this conversation?

A week or so ago somebody asked the same question. Several posters recommended Specialized Pry Babies. I have a brand new set still in the packaging. If you PM me an address, I'll send them to you.

ilike3bikes

I also think you need the VAR tire jack, not a different tire leaver. I bought one about 2 weeks ago on ebay. You can Goggle it and find a couple of people who have it for sale. Jenson also sells a tire tool that is just a little bigger. I use the Jenson model when I am working at home and take the VAR on the road with me. I like the Park traditional tire levers best. I bought SOMA steel with a plastic coating, but didn't have good luck with them.

Panthers007

I have a pair of Park TL5 levers - big & heavy. But I'd be hesitant to have these fall in the hands of a neophyte. They can easily reduce a rim into modern-art.

And then we come to the Park Tool PTS-1, speaking of modern-art... I think they've been discontinued. Someone probably tore their car apart and sued.

Doohickie

I have a set of $.99 cent levers from the LBS. They have never failed me.

dwr1961

Yeah, it's like deja vu all over again... At least now the 'search' function has a half-decent chance of working for the next poor soul who's curious about tire levers...

dwr1961

And for me the heavy artillery is a Park TL-10. It's never met a tire it couldn't pry into submission.

For what it's worth, careful technique will get almost any tire mounted without drama - or damaged thumbs / rims... I'm too tired to explain now. Please see our last thread on this topic.

yrrej

I got mine from the North Road Bicycle Imports in Yancyville NC.

They just got a shipment of the Var tire jacks in. I don't believe that they
advertise them on their website www.northroadbicycle.com.

I used their toll free phone number 800 321 5511

Jerry

Panthers007

Thank you, Jerry. I'd also carry ONE regular tire-lever for helping to remove especially tight clinchers - if you got such. I carry 'em anyways as I'm one of those weirdo's who stops and offers assistance to other folks who break-down.

yrrej

Actually the 'middle' piece of the VAR is a 'standard' tire lever and slides out
of the jack.

Jerry

Panthers007

Yes - but some ultra-tight tires need two. Or at least two makes it easier.

bellweatherman

I like the big bright levers made by Pedros.

Angleiron

Thanks for the suggestions. I talked to a few bike wrenches, and their tool of choice is the quickstick...so that is what I am going to snag. I was told something interesting though, and that was to never use a tool to put the tire back on the rim. I was shown how to do it by hand, using your palms instead of the fingers...and that worked pretty good.

z415

It is still on the website.

z415

I have heard good reviews of that. I think that'll be the next one I try.

z415

Some badly designed tools, especially in unsteady hands, can pinch the tube. I personally use my lever to makes sure the tube is set and the bead is seated after the tire is mounted by running it around the rim. I also use it to pry tough tires on there, but I never pop it in and slide it around to seat the bead and set the tube as I have seen some people do.

z415

Any experience with the Crank Bros. portable one? Kinds of works like the TL-10

dwr1961

Yes... And it does. As you can see, it's made of plastic and is lightweight. You have to go a bit carefully if the bead is resistant - and make sure that you push the very top of the tool as you work. With a cooperative rim/tire combo it's pretty fast and slick.

What I don't like about it is the shape of the lever end. It's too square and broad to work it easily under a difficult bead. I can work just as fast dismounting a tire with a single "regular" lever, so part of the Speedlever's charm is lost on me. Mounting is a different story; the Speedlever wins there.

I don't carry one any more. But it's not a bad tool. Try it and see what you think.

Panthers007

I have amassed a large collection of various different brands of tire-levers. I'll bet other mechanics here also have such collections. The one's that break on me are escorted to the trash - the one's that worked I give away to people who need such. But still my collection continues to grow. I think they breed in my dark cabinet.

I keep a set of the Quick-Sticks (or however it's spelled) for use with mountain-bike tires. They do an excellent job on those. The ones that see the most use are the VAR, and the Park Tool TL5 - for removing super-tight clinchers. Maybe I'll open up a museum - right next door to the "World's Largest Ball of String."

z415

I used to have a 20-30 foot long of rubber bands tied to one another.

And why is the Quick-Stick relegated to mtb use only? Is the head too large to fit into a road rim/tire combo?