Recommend a Tyre Lever

[Smokin Joe]

As all recumbent riders will know doubt have experienced, 20" tyres can be an absolute swine to remove and refit. Two levers bit the dust during a recent tube change so I was wondering which ones you more experienced trikers use.

Metal, perhaps?

 

[fossyant]

Pedro's for hard to fit tyres.

 

[wisdom]

I use the wide blue ones from park tools and have never had an issue with fitting any tyre.They are strong with no flex.A bit of talc may help

 

[arch684]

X tools tyre seating tool from wiggle £9 but to big to carry in a saddle bag

 

[mjr]

Bontrager red levers seem tough (metal core) and widely available. I'm still using decade-old revolution levers from Edinburgh Bicycles. 20" on a folder rather than a 'bent, in case it matters.

 

[Specialeyes]

After going through a few others, I discovered Topeak Shuttles a few years ago and and would highly recommend them. I have a set in each saddlebag and the workshop. They don't flex and also have a nice rounding to the tip which I like to think makes them more rim-friendly!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Topeak-Shuttle-1-2-Tire-Lever/dp/B00JQN4LR0

 

[fossyant]

There are quite a few good plastic levers but the Pedro's will do a wired Schwalbe Snow Stud easily. Decathlon levers are good too.

 

[I like Skol]

THESE babies have never let me down and are cheap as chips too.

 

[Jason]

Park tools x 3 pack, NEVER let me down

 

[Smokin Joe]

Thanks for the replies, I'm tossing up between the Pedros and the Bontragers at the moment but I'm also tempted by the metal X-Tools levers. Just a bit worried about damaging the alloy rims, should I be?

 

[smokeysmoo]

My Park Tools TL4 levers both let me down badly a couple of weeks ago, both snapped at the lightest pressure!

Replaced with a pair of Pedros on the recommendation of @fossyant

Thankfully I haven't had to use them in anger yet but they feel the part.

FWIW the tyre that defeated the TL4's was sorted after walking home with a pair of very old generic plastic levers, the type you get in a cheapo puncture repair kit, go figure

 

[mjr]

It's as much to do with technique as lever strength.

And metal levers are too risky when coated ones are available, IMO.

 

[Tigerbiten]

It's as much to do with technique as lever strength.

I agree.
The only tyres I've had trouble fitting where new M+'s.
Most others I can fit single handed without levers.

I normally have more trouble after fitting tyres with the flat spot where the tyre hasn't fully popped out onto the rim.
I've learnt that a light coating of soft soap on the inside of the rims helps a lot with this.

 

[wonderloaf]

Pedro's all the way.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Pedro's it is then.