Tire irons or other tire changing equipment

[5555624]

I use a Crank Brothers Speed Lever. I was looking for a pic and found a
video demonstration that shows how it works. It runs about $7-$8.

[PrintError]

@5555624 11131 wrote:

I use a Crank Brothers Speed Lever. I was looking for a pic and found a
video demonstration that shows how it works. It runs about $7-$8.

I used one for years until it finally broke, now I just use Pedro’s levers.

For my snow tires, I use large flathead screwdrivers. The plastic levers don’t have enough beans.

[Dirt]

Pedro’s milk levers have been my faves for years. They work well, last a long time and are made from recycled milk bottles. They also are available in PINK! I bought a set a few weeks ago for $5.

I occasionally have a set of very stubborn tires… Vittoria’s touring tires are notoriously tight on some rims. For those I use Lyzene’s plastic tire levers. They’re more expensive, ($ but are a little stronger. No love for the color pink though. You gotta choose between black or white.

Hope that helps a little.

Pete

[vvill]

Thanks guys! I’ll probably buy a couple sets since I keep one in each bike’s saddle bag. I’ll try Pedro’s, I have their pedal wrench and like it.

@PrintError 11133 wrote:

For my snow tires, I use large flathead screwdrivers. The plastic levers don’t have enough beans.

Sounds good but how do you make sure you’re not shredding the bead/scratching up the rims/digging into the tube? I think after yesterday’s fun I’ll stick with plastic levers.

[Dirt]

@vvill 11139 wrote:

I’ll try Pedro’s, I have their pedal wrench and like it.

I should add a disclaimer… I’m good friends with some of the top mgmt at Pedro’s. I loved the company and their tire levers for 25 years before I met them.

[PrintError]

@vvill 11139 wrote:

Thanks guys! I’ll probably buy a couple sets since I keep one in each bike’s saddle bag. I’ll try Pedro’s, I have their pedal wrench and like it.

Sounds good but how do you make sure you’re not shredding the bead/scratching up the rims/digging into the tube? I think after yesterday’s fun I’ll stick with plastic levers.

I don’t. I’m not very careful. The studded tires are a PITA, and I just muscle the suckers on there.

[vvill]

@Dirt 11146 wrote:

I should add a disclaimer… I’m good friends with some of the top mgmt at Pedro’s. I loved the company and their tire levers for 25 years before I met them.

That’s cool! They seem like they have a good reputation for being green.

Btw, where’d you get the milk levers? I can’t find them online anywhere.

@PrintError 11160 wrote:

I don’t. I’m not very careful. The studded tires are a PITA, and I just muscle the suckers on there.

I did that too with my steel levers, and ended up scratching up the rims and putting multiple punctures in a nice new inner tube.

[Dirt]

They appear to have changed the name of them. They just call them tire levers. They may have changed the recycled content. I know REI stocks them. I’ll do some research and see if they still have recycled content.

[hencio]

I’ve been using the same “quick stick” tire lever for about 10 years now. (the first one lasted around 10 years too)
http://www.rei.com/product/546083/quik-stik-tire-changer

I misplaced the quick stick at some point and bought some top peak tire levers. I broke2 or 3 of them in a matter of 3 tire changes. Eventually I found the quickstick and all was good in the world.

[vvill]

@Dirt 11172 wrote:

They appear to have changed the name of them. They just call them tire levers. They may have changed the recycled content. I know REI stocks them. I’ll do some research and see if they still have recycled content.

Thanks. It’s okay, I went ahead anyway and bought a couple of the pink ones online – they were cheaper than the yellow ones.

@hencio 11178 wrote:

I’ve been using the same “quick stick” tire lever for about 10 years now. (the first one lasted around 10 years too)
http://www.rei.com/product/546083/quik-stik-tire-changer

I misplaced the quick stick at some point and bought some top peak tire levers. I broke2 or 3 of them in a matter of 3 tire changes. Eventually I found the quickstick and all was good in the world.

Looks interesting, I might check it out. I bought a Groupon for REI that I need to use one day.

[elcee]

I’ve been looking for the legendary Michelin tire levers but have not found them locally nor at my usual on-line retailers:

http://tenerife-training.net/Tenerife-News-Cycling-Blog/2007/12/bike-review/michelin-the-worlds-best-tyre-lever/

Everything else seems to break eventually.

I also discovered that I’ve been mounting tires incorrectly. See Michelin’s advice, step 5:

http://www.michelinbicycletire.com/michelinbicycle/index.cfm?event=mounting.view

I’ve always started at the valve, but Michelin says to start at the opposite side. I’ll try their technique the next time.

[Mark Blacknell]

The Quik Stik is too bendy for my tastes. Like Pete, I recommend the Pedro’s levers above all else. They’re the neon-colored ones next to the cash register in nearly every bike shop around here. They’ll get the job done. I don’t understand why metal levers are even made anymore.

[Dirt]

@elcee 11197 wrote:

I’ve been looking for the legendary Michelin tire levers but have not found them locally nor at my usual on-line retailers

I think I have a few sets laying around. Send me an IM. I’ll check and see. I buy them whenever I’m in Europe because I have friends that love them. They’re not my favorites. They work pretty well though.

[5555624]

@elcee 11197 wrote:

I’ve been looking for the legendary Michelin tire levers but have not found them locally nor at my usual on-line retailers

Not the “standard” 3-pack, but: http://www.bicyclebuys.com/tires/TireTools/0100065

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