Raleigh71

I have 27" X 1 " high pressure tires on my vintage bike, and dread having to change flats or replace tires because of the godawful time I have getting the tires off. I've actually totaled tire levers and tubes in the process.

Park sells the TL-11 tool:

https://www.parktool.com/products/det...=17&item=TL-10

The tool is supposed to help removing and installing tires. Their video shows somebody removing an easy-to-remove anyway 26" fat tire that wouldn't pose any problem anyway.

Anybody got any experience with this on obstinate high-pressure tires like mine? Any opinions?

My sense is: it ain't gonna make my life any easier and would be a waste of my money.

tadawdy

It probably won't make your life much easier. Are you actually going to carry that thing around all the time? It's big, and it weighs about 3/4 lb.

I_bRAD

I found one of those in the back of the shop and thought "hey neat" Then I broke it after a couple of days. You'd be better off to just practice practice practice.

top506

https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...&item_id=KS-TJ

For use at home.

https://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cg...item_id=VR-425

Foe use on the road.
I have two 27x1" bikes, and the tires go on quite hard. Either of these will make your life much easier.
Top

hairnet

If you learn to use 3 levers on a tire, the toughest tires are real easy to mount and dismount. Also, steel core vs. just plastic levers made a big difference for me.

skip to 3:40 and the guy shows how to use 2 levers to take off a tire (yeah it is motorcycle, but works the same) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pfp2...eature=related


then you can do the reverse to put a tire on, but lots of people say not to use levers to put to a tire.

Chombi

Park selling thumbs now???
Seriously, there's really nothing to getting used to mounting and dismounting HP clinchers.
Just do it often enough and you might not even need levers to do it. I used to just use my fingers and thumbs back in the 80's to mount and dismount my specialized turbos from my rims. I usually just need to get it started with one lever and once I get to some point, it's just a matter of using my fingers and thimbs to get them on and off. Only thing you need to keep in mind is to keep from pinching the inner tube by getting it mostly our of the way of where you might end up pinching or trapping it.
Been away from biking for a while and the first time getting a tire on and off was a bit of a challenge, but after a couple of times doing it, I am now mostly back to using just one lever and my fingers and thumbs.
Try it, you just have to be patient and careful when you do it. that park tool is just another mostly uneeded tool to take the money from your pocket and clutter up your workspace IMO.

Chombi

Panthers007

Top has hit the nail on the head. The park tool is good for a shop - but the VAR and the Kool Stop are are excellent choices if you don't change 100 tires a day.

DieselDan

Use your palms, not your thumbs

Raleigh71

Thanks for all the input!

Raleigh71

PlatyPius

The best ones that I've found for 27" tires (which are almost invariably cheap tires these days, and tight as hell) are the Avenir steel core levers. They're cheap, and they don't break. You can bend one if you try changing a truck tire with it, though...

https://taylorsbikeshop.com/product/0...rs-57690-1.htm

BCRider

Remember that the best "tool" for making tires slip on and off easily is keeping the part of the tire on the rim centered in the deepest part of the rim channel for as much of the tire as possible. Recenter it often as you work the opposite area over the rim whether you're removing it or putting it on. This one simple technique trumps any fancy tools.

probe1957

Pick up a 6 pack of beer. Take it to your LBS 20 minutes before closing. Present beer to mechanic and ask him to show you how to change a tire. Then practice. It ain't rocket science.

cnnrmccloskey

+1
Or use the skinniest rim tape possible

kenshinvt

kool stop bead jack

can mount anything with this bad boy. Cheap too. Not meant for carrying around, however. I have gotten on crazy too-small-diameter tubeless tires on a rim with these that would otherwise turn the manliest of fingers into a swollen red mess.

for on the road, use 3 levers, and find some with fat hook areas.

edit: oops didn't see another recommendation on this. Kool stop fans unite!

Maxxxie

I recently bought VAR tyre levers, and I have to say it was one of the best biking investments ever (aside from my trusty steed, of course!). Changing my stubborn Gatorskins with regular levers usually takes anywhere between 1 to 2 hours. With the VAR lever, I was able to get it done in under 15 minutes!

Max

strop

What's the bet this guy don't need no stinking tire levers to remove his tires ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_a7ev2Z9BU

Panthers007

The heck with his tires. I'd be concerned with his wheels.

Metaluna

The Kool Stop tool is great for putting tires *on*, but unless I'm missing something, it doesn't help you for taking them off.

Also, avoid any all-metal tire levers (e.g. the Park shop levers, which are not the same as the TL-11 tool the OP mentioned). They can gouge your rims.

Crank Brothers makes a portable folding version of the Park that works fairly well. I find myself reaching for a Quik Stik for most of my tire changes though, even at home.

onbike 1939

These are the answer and I can't recommend them enough, particularly for women and for those whose hands that are not particularly strong. I tend to advise all who enrol in maintenance courses that these are the ones to buy.

onbike 1939

These are the answer and I can't recommend them enough, particularly for women and for those whose hands that are not particularly strong. I tend to advise all who enrol in maintenance courses that these are the ones to buy.