Inner tubes. Our friend AND enemy.

[spokewrench]

I'm tempted. For 55 years or so I've been using steel tire irons that came with BMW motorcycles. I don't remember what I used for bicycle tires before that. My first problem came two years ago when I replaced the OE Abound tires with Schwalbe Pickups. The rear came off fine, but I had to pry the front so hard that I was afraid of damaging the rim. The Schwalbe Pickup went on so nicely that IIRC, I didn't need a tool. The rear one had gone on as easily. So the problem was the OE tires. The bead on the front was too small.

 

[Tommy Lyn]

There is a product or rather a device called a Tyre Glider. I can tell you that it really makes getting the wire bead back on the rim a breeze. Even using it to take the tire off us easier than using levers. I confess that I do use a lever to help get the glider under the bead. A few months ago it took just under a half hour to remove and replace the tires, tubes, and liners on both rims of the trailer I haul behind my E-trike. I did not even unhitch the trailer from the trike or even take the wheel off the trailer. There is no longer a need to mess around with zip ties when mounting tires. Which is what I had to do when mounting 55-406 Schwalbe Pickup tires with heavy duty thorn resistant tubes in them. Check out the videos on YouTube. There is one that is less than 5 minutes long to get the bead off and back on the rim. They cost around $15.00 on Amazon.

Thanks for the tip! I've seen the Tyre Glider mentioned for road bikes, but I wasn't sure if it could handle the wider rims and thicker beads of e-bike tires (especially 3''+ fat tires).

If it can handle a Schwalbe Pickup with a heavy-duty tube without needing zip ties, that’s impressive. I’m definitely going to grab one from Amazon to test out. Anything that saves knuckles and time is worth $15.

 

[charlieboom-boom]

Thanks for the tip! I've seen the Tyre Glider mentioned for road bikes, but I wasn't sure if it could handle the wider rims and thicker beads of e-bike tires (especially 3''+ fat tires).

If it can handle a Schwalbe Pickup with a heavy-duty tube without needing zip ties, that’s impressive. I’m definitely going to grab one from Amazon to test out. Anything that saves knuckles and time is worth $15.

Try it, You'll like it! The first wheel I tried mounting the 55-406 Schwalbe Pickup tire onto had a 19mm inner diameter width which is about the narrowest rim that will take a 55-406 tire and using a Heavy duty tube made it especially difficult to mount. It took me over a half hour and 10 zip ties to force the beads and tube on the rim. Using the tyre glider made it a lot easier. When I went to mount a 60-406 and H.D. tube on the 25mm wide rim of my E-Velomobile with the glider it was even easier than the 19mm rim. Let me know how you like using it.

 

[Watana Bob]

Using the tyre glider made it a lot easier

Bought one about three years ago to try mounting 650x 235 Johnny Watts, threw it in the trash, didn't help at all even after watching all the You Tube videos. I went back to sore fingers and tire levers. It worked fine on another bike that I have but I can change that one with fingers alone so I couldn't see the point in keeping it.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I bought a couple on one tire they worked fine till it broke. a tire jack worked pretty well and saves your fingers.

https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tire-Bead-Jack/dp/B001AYML7K/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2ABQNHYIYAY40&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0zieYO1ow5ybnPYnraT7EMTbdRR4epfox3ej3mAdigo3qpe9VrluxRxtKXU-D3jzpoEU9iiAQQ7BZBRTWPs5AsPCzL7-D8LE8GIU_xm9oF89Ga8yZh7X6n2NvTC_OxZxLrzMe3YFSow27YnL9hsvbW0E_zGdF6tA4G2vmQu-6mM1jt8qH9NkuRW0awsFs7ZU3hxZTWqxRIwDtuQByD4qcWE58RReme2uX4NIjwCibyc.Bw3pRPuolw5HIu9kTDdFw9sfrsrQZkDE2d_mQ9WVJDA&dib_tag=se&keywords=bicycle%2Btire%2Bjack&qid=1763861900&sprefix=bicycle%2Btire%2Bjack%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-3&th=1

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I bought a couple on one tire they worked fine till it broke. a tire jack worked pretty well and saves your fingers.

https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Tire-Bead-Jack/dp/B001AYML7K/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2ABQNHYIYAY40&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0zieYO1ow5ybnPYnraT7EMTbdRR4epfox3ej3mAdigo3qpe9VrluxRxtKXU-D3jzpoEU9iiAQQ7BZBRTWPs5AsPCzL7-D8LE8GIU_xm9oF89Ga8yZh7X6n2NvTC_OxZxLrzMe3YFSow27YnL9hsvbW0E_zGdF6tA4G2vmQu-6mM1jt8qH9NkuRW0awsFs7ZU3hxZTWqxRIwDtuQByD4qcWE58RReme2uX4NIjwCibyc.Bw3pRPuolw5HIu9kTDdFw9sfrsrQZkDE2d_mQ9WVJDA&dib_tag=se&keywords=bicycle%2Btire%2Bjack&qid=1763861900&sprefix=bicycle%2Btire%2Bjack%2Caps%2C249&sr=8-3&th=1

I had one and it cracked when working on a stiff winter tyre.

 

[BlackHand]

I've had good luck with the CB speedier tire lever- at least saving knuckles and being sturdy enough not to break. Also super quick to get the tire up off the rim when removing the tire.

Speedier Tire Lever | Crankbrothers

Single lever removes/installs tires and protects knuckles from injury. Shop now at Crankbrothers!

www.crankbrothers.com

 

[fooferdoggie]

I had one and it cracked when working on a stiff winter tyre.

I have never cracked one. I dont know if I am using normal force or not to me it seems pretty hard but my arms are wimpy anymore so hard to tell. but I usually put a clamp on the rim to keep the tire from popping off, then work on small sections going around. I don't try to do it all in one go. it usually takes me several times to get a tire on.