dwmckee

Hello. I got a new set of Shimano 6800 wheels this week but they both have a yellow tag taped over the rim with a picture of a tire lever next to the rim and a big crossed out sign over the tire lever which indicates to me that I am not supposed to use tire levers. Am I interpreting this label correctly and if so how else would I put a tire on then without a lever? Am I missing something simple?

WrightVanCleve

It is possible to remove and put a tire on without a lever but it is really difficult getting that first bit off and putting that last bit on. Kind of have to roll it off and pull a bit on the tire to get it over the lip. I think it is a real PITA so I'm not going to do it. My friend likes to change without tools but that is his preference. His reason is so that the tube doesn't pinch in the tire tool. I've not had that problem with the Quickstick I use.

I've never heard of not being allowed to do that. The rims I use don't have that restriction so I've never ran into that problem.

Does it also include Quicksticks? Amazon.com : Quik Stik Tire Changer Tire Levers - 1 per Card : Bike Hand Tools : Sports & Outdoors I love this particular tool. It doesn't attach to spokes like other tire levers I've seen. Just wondering why there is a restriction on that kind of rim.

dwmckee

Thanks. I am wondering if I am misunderstanding what the label is supposed to mean. I cannot imagine there is a reason you cannot use them, but why the label then.

Plimogz

Is there some way to tell if the lever in the picture is in fact made of metal?

Edit: I looked up the Dealer's manual and the only mention of tire levers I found was under the tubeless tire section.

Installing and removing tubeless tires
TO ENSURE SAFETY
WARNING
••Read these Technical Service Instructions carefully, and keep
them in a safe place for later reference.
CAUTION
••Do not use rim tape if using an inner tube either. Rim tape
may make it difficult to remove and install the tire, and the
tire or tube may become damaged or the tires may suddenly
puncture and come off, and severe injury may result.
Note
••The tires should always be installed and removed by hand.
Never use tools such as tire levers, as they can damage the
seal between the tires and the rims and cause air to leak out
from the tires.
••Do not tighten the valve nut too much, otherwise the valve
seal may become warped and air leaks may occur.
••If the tires are difficult to fit, use plan water or soapy water
to help them slide more easily.
••Products are not guaranteed against natural wear and
deterioration from normal use and aging.

WrightVanCleve

Quicksticks are some kind of plastic.

fietsbob

you sure the purchase was the right thing for you ? tube tires are adequate ..

tubeless wheels may be overspending .. .. but it's your money ..

gsa103

Good luck mounting tubeless tires by hand on those rims. The center channel is to shallow so levers are mandatory. Just be careful and work slowly. Only lever small sections, the main risk is bending the rim wall.

FBinNY 

I wouldn't worry as much about the rim wall as making a nick in the tire or rim's inner edge. Be sure to use levers with no sharp edges, and try to keep lever use to a minimum.

BTW- you see boilerplate warnings like this on stuff because there's no universal symbol for "ham fisted mechanic" It takes too much to explain to use tire levers with no edges, and to use care, so they just say no tire levers. Even though you probably have to use levers, they feel this lets them off the hook if you damage anything.

well biked

As has already been suggested, I imagine the warning pertains to tubeless tires being mounted on the rims. The thing about tubeless tires is that you are completely dependent on the bead of the tire to keep an air-tight seal. The bead of a road tubeless tire is designed specifically to remain air-tight, even at high pressure. Any damage to the bead, even minor, can compromise this. That's why they don't want you using tire levers.

I've mounted dozens of road tubeless tires, and I will give you my .02 on the subject: my favorite road tubeless tires are those from Hutchinson. The Maxxis Padrone can be a good tire, but the bead is indeed very delicate, so be especially careful when mounting them. The Maxxis tires even come with a tire lever that's intended to be easy on the tire's bead. Hutchinsons are less delicate in my experience, but care should be taken when mounting. Mount them without levers if you possibly can.

dwmckee

I figured it out - No tire levers AT THE VALVE STEM! That is what the card meant!

hueyhoolihan

shimano must use the same liability lawyers as the life saver candy company with their "NOT TO BE USED AS A FLOTATION DEVICE" warning on the side of the pack.

noglider 

Hah, anyone with graphical talent want to try making a symbol for ham fisted mechanic? That would be so fun!

They could say not to use pneumatic tires. Would that let them off the hook, too? How about saying not to use the wheels at all? At what point do these warnings lose credibility and weight?

HillRider

Bought a ladder recently? They are so festooned with warning labels that the real useful ones get lost in the excess.

FBinNY 

We've long since passed that point. Maybe back when frozen lasagna packages started adding "warning may be hot" after the instructions to bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

May be hot? I should hope so. Possibly the instructions should say, "Warning -- if not hot, your gas oven isn't working and your house may be filled with flammable gas! Leave immediately, do not turn anything electrical on or off!