Tire Levers
 

On mounting road clincher tires, the kind that are difficult to install, do tire levers make a difference? Or is there a technique to make it easier?

You should never need tire levers to mount a tire. Using a lever to install has a decently high chance of pinching the inner tube, which sort of defeats the purpose.

Every mechanic has his own favorite way of mounting but all share one principal. The rim is deeper in the middle, so by pushing the tire to the center you can get the slack to bring the last bit over the rim with hand strength alone. (though some of the folding tires are still outrageously tight).

Here's how I do it, as I said others do it differently.

Mount the tire half way, inflate the tube enough to give it shape and after putting in the valve, stuff it well up into the tire. Check that the valve is straight, and let air out of the tube so it's smaller (but not empty) than starting opposite the valve lift the tire over and into the center of the rim working around towards the valve from both directions until the last bit where I use the thick pad at the base of my thumbs to horse it over. (Full time bike mechanics have a callous there)

If it's too tight, I let all the air out of the tube, and go back to the opposite end, pushing the tire to the middle and towards the valve, then finish as before.

The last and most critical step is to push the valve into the tire to make sure the tube isn't trapped under the bead of the tire, then pull it back down. Inflate to give shape, check that the tire is evenly seated (you may need to work the slack you created back around and spread it evenly) then inflate to full pressure.

The reason I end at the valve is that on narrow rims the width of the valve keeps the tire from going to the deepest part of the rim, so I have less slack to work with if I start there.

I use tire levers on tight tires all the time, some tires just require using a lever. I use some Soma tire levers 1) because they are made of metal and metal levers make all the difference 2) the metal is covered by a hard plastic that doesn't break and doesn't mark the rim.

The trick to using a lever to install the tire, for me anyway, is to make sure the tire and tube are "lubed" with tire talc. The talc allows the tube to slide around a little on the tire and not stick to it. Also make sure to always make sure the tube has enough air in it to hold a round shape but not enough so that it expands wen outside of the tire. Having air in the tube will help you to keep from pinching it in between the lever and the rim. Mount the tube inside the tire, starting at the valve stem place the valve and one side tire on the rim and work your way around that one side, then starting at the valve stem again and moving away from evenly on either side push the other side of the tire on to the rim. the closer they get together the harder pushing with just your hand becomes. as they come closer together be sure to continue to push the inflated tube over the rim with just your fingers, never use a lever to push the tube. the final 3 to 6 inches, make sre the tube is already over the rim and soedsn't get picnhed between the tire and rim then gently easy the lever between the tire and lever and the rim just enought to flip the lever over seating the tire on the rim. continue this, making sure to not pinch the tube between the lever and rim until the tire pops into place. Inflate a little, spin, and make sure the bead is seated all the way around, then pump up to pressure.

Using a lever is fine to install, you just have to be careful with them.

You can use levers, just be careful not to get the tube. I also have good luck using both hands and sort of rolling the tire onto the rim. This is much more difficult than using a lever, but it gets the job done without the worry the tube getting caught up in the lever.

I agree totally with fellow new yorker FBinNY. What he describes is exactly my procedure. I used to start at the valve stem but early in my wrenching career learned the opposite works better. Out of thousands of tires and tubes I have used levers perhaps 10 times. In fact, by following the step of pushing the tire bead into the center area of the rim and "scrubbing" around to the valve area on a flat tire I can often remove it without levers.

The other thing I would add is that I do not use the knurled nut on presta valve stems on my own bikes, as it forces the valve to stay straight even when the tube migrates, which can cause tube failure at the valve. If the valve starts getting crooked I know I'm not keeping the tire inflated properly.