Best tire spoons?

[Scarlet/Fire]

Any recommendations for the better brand or style of tire changing tools? Thanks! Swapping out my maxxis high roller 2s for Shwalbe moto x 27.5X2.8 - plastic road bike spoons are definitely not up to this task-Thanks!

 

[PedalUma]

Super Moto X is amazing. You can get the ones for motorcycles on eBay that have long handles. The real issue is technique. Press the side you want out, in all the way around before you start. The make sure the side opposite of where you are levering is pushed in toward the center, deeper, side of the rim. Works like magic.

 

[J.R.]

Any recommendations for the better brand or style of tire changing tools? Thanks! Swapping out my maxxis high roller 2s for Shwalbe moto x 27.5X2.8 - plastic road bike spoons are definitely not up to this task-Thanks!

These are excellent

TL-6.2 Steel Core Tire Levers

A versatile tire lever featuring the best of both worlds — the strength and durability of steel, and the smooth scratch-free operation of composite.

www.parktool.com

These are good and bargain priced

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GFPVT7C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_7AKNNCA74X1JEAYJHBR2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[stanmiller]

I like Pedro's.

Tire Levers

Award winning and universally loved. Molded box construction and proprietary plastic blend makes these the strongest levers available. Chisel tip shape is easy to insert beneath the bead and the slightly thicker shape keeps the tire lever from slipping. Bold shape makes it easy to remove the...

pedros.com

More important, follow PedalUma's advice and pinch the tire to the center of the rim.

 

[Scarlet/Fire]

These are excellent

TL-6.2 Steel Core Tire Levers

A versatile tire lever featuring the best of both worlds — the strength and durability of steel, and the smooth scratch-free operation of composite.

www.parktool.com

These are good and bargain priced

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GFPVT7C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_7AKNNCA74X1JEAYJHBR2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for the input!

 

[6zfshdb]

These are excellent

TL-6.2 Steel Core Tire Levers

A versatile tire lever featuring the best of both worlds — the strength and durability of steel, and the smooth scratch-free operation of composite.

www.parktool.com

These are good and bargain priced

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GFPVT7C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_7AKNNCA74X1JEAYJHBR2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

+1 for the Park TL 6.2's

 

[indianajo]

I use 5/16 to 3/8" flat screwdrivers from the hardware store. Same as my Dad.

 

[Dallant]

I use 5/16 to 3/8" flat screwdrivers from the hardware store. Same as my Dad.

Yeah but you also have a cardboard box on your bike.

 

[indianajo]

Yeah but you also have a cardboard box on your bike.

When I'm hauling a television or an air conditioner.

 

[FrankR]

This place is great. Those Parktool levers look like the ticket for me. Thanks.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I use 5/16 to 3/8" flat screwdrivers from the hardware store. Same as my Dad.

Great way to shred a tube

 

[m@Robertson]

Great way to shred a tube

oh my God yes! Its almost like trying to rip the tube.

As for the tire levers, after a whole lot of trial and error, I use as a first choice the Pedros (yellow) levers linked above. They are cheap; but effective, and when they break under an extreme tire job, I'm not so sad about them.

For the tough jobs, the Park TL-6.2 levers are the best of the metal levers where you can carry them and they have enough plastic covering to prevent too much rim damage, and possibly avoid all rim damage. Amazon tells me I own five sets of them which sounds about right as I have a set in most of my bike toolbags except the ones running tubeless.

But when the chips are REALLY down, and its time to take no prisoners, I keep one of these in each toolkit where the rims are especially difficult (usually a tubeless rim with a tubed tire on it).

https://amzn.to/3F3p3eE

These are motorcycle tire spoons and they are freaking serious. To get them on without scoring your rim, you put them in sideways and rotate them perpendicular, then be vewwwwy vewwwwy caweful. So far I have found nothing that can deny them.

A Basic (e?)Bike Tool Kit

Rather than looking at the ideal kit, whats the basic everyman version?

talesontwowheels.com

 

[tomjasz]

I use similar from my Vespa years. But my Serra’s ties went on with arthritic hands. Continental tires I find need MC spoons. Kenda and the short plastic are sufficient.

 

[smorgasbord]

Park has two different levers - the TL-6.2 Steel-Core mentioned above and the TL-1.2, which are cheaper so probably not steel cored. Thoughts?

 

[PedalUma]

@smogasbord, Levers are rarely needed when you do it right. Rims are narrowest to the center. Suspend the wheel by the deflated tire. Pinch the bottom to the center. Move that pinch up the right and left, twice. This will give you a gap at the top to extract. Some tubeless tires will require a lever at the final step. But, remembering to keep it centered will be most helpful. That is the slack you want. It is not by force. Finesse is all it takes. Like a ballet dancer, make it look easy.

 

[smorgasbord]

@smogasbord, Levers are rarely needed when you do it right. Rims are narrowest to the center. Suspend the wheel by the deflated tire. Pinch the bottom to the center. Move that pinch up the right and left, twice. This will give you a gap at the top to extract. Some tubeless tires will require a lever at the final step. But, remembering to keep it centered will be most helpful. That is the slack you want. It is not by force. Finesse is all it takes. Like a ballet dancer, make it look easy.
View attachment 145549

Thanks, but couldn't pinch to center since the tire beads on both side stuck to the rims.

 

[PedalUma]

stuck to the rims.

I had that last week with fat 3 inch tires. I used this. It is about 11 inches long. That problem is rare, but happens sometimes, mostly with balloon tires.

 

[smorgasbord]

So now my worry is getting a flat while riding. I often ride in a preserve where cars aren't allowed so it could be 5 miles or so away from help.

 

[m@Robertson]

The technique of centering the tire bead in the depression in the middle of the rim is essential, always. This guy is pretty chatty but I used this video on the wheel assembly portion of my 'how to build an ebike' series because he does the impossible in real time, right in front of you, without tools. A word of warning though: Significant hand strength is a requirement.

That problem is rare, but happens sometimes, mostly with balloon tires.

Nowadays, with tubeless-centric rims, its the norm. The damn things are actually built specifically to do this. I have some wheels - in particular my Surly My Other Brother Darryl rims that came stock with my Big Fat Dummy - that are so bad I send them to my LBS to swap tires when the time comes. In fact on that bike that is the sole reason I decided to do a second wheelset, because I knew it would be impossible to do a roadside repair with them. My LBS concurred and said they were the most difficult wheels they'd ever worked with.

The DT Swiss FR 560 downhill rim is another one. I've had to give up on some tire combos with it. Tubed tires in particular on wheels like this have less flexible or even wire beads and they are just NOT happy at all with a rim designed specifically to effectively stretch a tire tight over them. Thankfully, my Apostate has these wheels and I have found two tires (Schwalbe Pickup tubed, and Maxxis Aggressor tubeless) that will fit on them. On my new Bullitt I was able to seat a Marathon Plus Tour on one.

Since my original post in this thread, I have found the tools that let you work on rims like the FR560 without losing fingernails, skin and dollars fed to the swear jar.

The unfortunately-named Bead Bro gives you the third hand you've always needed and is a minor miracle worker. And it is such a miracle that the manufacturer commands $30 for one of them. Its worth the money.

https://amzn.to/3H8bNaf

And since thats not bad enough, the same manufacturer sells the Bead Dropper lever, which is not indestructible, based on the Amazon reviews, but is ergonomically the best tire lever I have ever used. I can get a great grip on it, it delivers force the best and the damn thing just plain fits in that tight spot very well.

https://amzn.to/3wsQLhk

yes thats right another $20. If you are working with tires frequently thats when the money starts making more sense. I am three wheelsets into the Bead Bro and I knew it was worth the money after the first wheel.

 

[fooferdoggie]

T-

https://amzn.to/3H8bNaf

And since thats not bad enough, the same manufacturer sells the Bead Dropper lever, which is not indestructible, based on the Amazon reviews, but is ergonomically the best tire lever I have ever used. I can get a great grip on it, it delivers force the best and the damn thing just plain fits in that tight spot very well.

https://amzn.to/3wsQLhk

I could have used those on my older rims. it was so hard to get tires off and on. Plus it was too hard to hang onto levers when you needed so much force. but both sets of tires for my two bikes I can almost do it with no tools or only one tire lever.