SharpStone30888

I have been trying to practice repairing the tyre, so that if it happens on the road i'll be fine.
I've got my pump and a repair kit (with tyre levers).

I can't get the tyre off. I've watched all of the videos. My tyre levers do not have spoke hooks and I can't get them to push along the bead to pull it off. Should I get hooked tyre levers? Or am I missing something?

Chris

10 Wheels

Sometimes you need metal tire levers.

SharpStone30888

I've got metal ones. I get one in. There is no spoke hooks I can't get the second one in, only one lever has a curved end, the other lever is completely flat. They were pretty cheap. I've read about folding tyres and rigid tyres, mine is bloddy rock solid, grrr.

Chris

10 Wheels

Guess you could try a few drops of anykind of oil to help it slide off the bead?

SharpStone30888

Good hint, Its late though, im off to bed, I'll try it tmrw afternoon.

Cheers,
Chris

AngryScientist 

first off - good move practicing at home, this is a tough lesson on the side of a busy road in the rain.

second, get some good tire levers for yourself. with some of my tires i am shocked at just how much force i need to put into the levers to get the initial bead off the rim, once you get it started you'll be good to go.

look for tire levers with a solid profile that will not bend. spoke hooks are nice, but not necessary.

insert one lever, hold it against a spoke, insert the next lever about 3" away from the first, lever it down and push away from the first lever.

practice makes perfect.

finally, (while this wont help on the side of the road) a little soapy water will help tremendously.

Nachoman

True. I alway try not to use my metal tire lever but sometimes it's necessary.

10 Wheels

I went to 700 X 28's and no longer need any levers.

Comtour

Lift the rim with the curved tire iron. Place the straight tire iron in the gap next to the curved iron to hold the gap open. Move the curved iron a few inches and lift the rim of the tire again. Pull outward on the rim of the tire until it comes loose. I usually prefer three irons to two but my multitool only has two.

tagaproject6

It helps to wet the tire lever with water to ease the movement along the bead and pop it out.

a1penguin

Hmmm. It took me 20 minutes to replace the tube in my front tire. I didn't have too much trouble getting the tire off the rim, but had a hell of a time getting it back on. I could have used a third leverl. But then again I'm not a strong he-man, just a wimpy grrl. Gotta search for a youtube video instead of instructions which don't tell you how to get the tired off/on the rims.

sstorkel

I've yet to find a tire I couldn't install or remove with a pair of Pedro's tire levers.

SharpStone30888

I did it. I put the curved tyre lever in, then put the flat one right next to it. a few centimeters to the right put the curved one in again. With the flat one still in I went a further few centimeters with the curved one and then presto it was like a hot knife to butter... the tyre lever slid around with ease and the tyre was done in no time.

I pulled out the tyre and took the valve out. Pretended to examine the tyre (like I was on the road with a flat, hehe). Pumped the tyre up marginally and fed it back into the rim/tyre starting with the valve. Then I used the tyre levers to push the bead of the tyre back on and it was done. Pseudoflat fixed.

A tiny maintenance milestone for me led me to try and remove the rear tyre, small sproket in the back and it all dropped out well. I got it back in but the chain was getting caught between the front derailleur cage and the chainring and was stuck. I did some fiddling with changing gears and it was alright.

This problem with the front derailleur may have been avoided if I chose the right chainring when removing the wheel... I can't remember which I was in but what should it be? (small-rear I know that...)

So yea, two mini maintenance milestones, yay. And no need to buy other tyre levers

Chris

Psyclismo

I've been using the Crank Bros Speed Lever for the past few years. It makes taking off (and installing) a tire, even a nearly impossible to mount tire, a simple and FAST process. No more futzing around with 2-3 levers, gradually working my way around the bead. Simply insert under bead of tire, mount other end to hub axle, and rotate. Boom!

To install, clip lever over the edge of the rim, rotate wheel making sure tire bead is behind the lever. BOOM!

Well worth the $6

Snoots

I've only had to change two tubes so far, but in both cases I've never needed more than one tire lever. Are my tires just extra pliable or something? I also don't use any tire irons to put the tire back on once the tube is in there. Don't want to slice the tube! I usually pinch it back on with my fingers. Works for me! :shrug: