Cush Core makes the best lever. It's not only robust, the fat bulb handle that fills your palm is what makes it special.

Bead Dropper

The Ultimate Tire Lever. The Bead Dropper tire tool significantly helps in removal and installation of CushCore tire inserts. Especially the critical step of dropping the bead into the rim channel. Rubberized ergonomic handle – the most comfortable tire lever you’ll ever use. Unique “thumb...

cushcore.com

 

Cush Core makes the best lever. It's not only robust, the fat bulb handle that fills your palm is what makes it special.

Bead Dropper

The Ultimate Tire Lever. The Bead Dropper tire tool significantly helps in removal and installation of CushCore tire inserts. Especially the critical step of dropping the bead into the rim channel. Rubberized ergonomic handle – the most comfortable tire lever you’ll ever use. Unique “thumb...

cushcore.com

I will pick up a couple

And I want the Bead Bro! Have you ever found yourself using both hands, both feat, your chin, and a knee to get a tire on! I have!

Bead Bro

It’s Simple. It’s Effective. It’s your Bead Bro. Holds the bead down in the rim channel, allowing you to use both hands to complete the remainder tire installation. It’s like having a third hand. Locks bead to the rim using a rubber bumper. Won’t scratch or damage your rim. Fits rims up to 40mm...

cushcore.com

But if its summer I heat tires uo in the sun, if its cold I place them in front of space heater. Gets them nice and gooey

 

Every experienced mechanic I’ve asked recommends Pedro’s levers.

 

On a ride I recently broke a park tool lever on the trail, alone, at dusk. After trying a million times to get the tire back on w/o two levers I finally got it on. I think it was my pure rage that popped that bead back in.

 

Last October at ~10,500ft skirting the snow line heading for a mountain pass, 4+ hours from civilization my rear DD Maxxis flatted when a snapped spoke pierced the tubeless tape. Trying to unseat and fix that muddy SOB with the OneUp pump tyre lever took me an hour. Immediately added a Pedro's lever back into my pack.

That ride started just before sunrise and finished at sunset, I could have done without that mechanical delay

 

You lot have the heart of a cream puff. Or toasted Marshmallow. What's wrong with you? It's a bicycle tyre. We used to just steal Mum's desert spoons from the kitchen cutlery drawer and use them. Worked a treat. LoL

 

What are your suggestions?

Tempted to search but can't be bothered. But I'll go out on a limb and assume you're one of the "I haven't had a flat in years so I don't bother carrying tools or a tube" riders.

So the obvious suggestion would be to carry tools so you can fix that flat and not have to walk out. Secondary suggestion - maybe gasp carry a tube for the rare instance when you can't get the tire to hold air?

Hey, you asked. 🤣

How far was the limp out?

 

Tempted to search but can't be bothered. But I'll go out on a limb and assume you're one of the "I haven't had a flat in years so I don't bother carrying tools or a tube" riders.

So the obvious suggestion would be to carry tools so you can fix that flat and not have to walk out. Secondary suggestion - maybe gasp carry a tube for the rare instance when you can't get the tire to hold air?

Hey, you asked. 🤣

How far was the limp out?

I totally own that I wasn’t quite prepared. I only had a Co2 inflator, and after taking the tire off last night, I found that the sealant was down to almost nothing.

The climb was all on a fire road , then a bit of hike a bike up to the start of the trail. The trail is quite rowdy, and the first half has a lot of sharp rocks. It is pretty much the only trail in which I’ve had flats in the last 5 years. I made it 50 feet.🤣

I immediately pushed back up and exited to the road, so at least I’d have a somewhat smooth surface to roll back down. The Co2 got me back to the road, but I had to roll about 3 miles and 1800’ vert back to my car on a flat rear tire w/ no insert.

The rim is fine, and I couldn’t find any significantly large holes in the tire. Sealant probably would have sealed it up, if it had been topped off.

 

crank bros speedier tire lever is the best portable one I've used
[the best are the big metal ones too heavy for riding with]

 

For carrying on a ride I prefer the Wolftooth levers. They include a couple other helpful tools like a rotor straightener, rim straightener, and a really good tire lever.

8-Bit Tire Lever Kit One

8-BIT TIRE LEVER + DISC BRAKE MULTI-TOOL A double-sided multi-tool with a tire lever on one end and disc brake support on the other. The high-strength plastic lever easily removes tires without damaging the rim. On the machined end of the multi-tool, an 8mm flare wrench can open and close the...

www.wolftoothcomponents.com

 

I bought one of these doohickeys but I haven’t used it yet:

https://a.co/d/6OyDIki

I guess I could try a “desert spoon.”

 

Maybe someone needs to make a regular lever with an aluminum or steel insert. I would buy one.

In my garage I dont care because I have accumulated a few so I dont care if they braeak.

 

I have like 30 levers, including the Cushcore one and I still find myself using the Pedro's one every time. Every bike with in frame storage has a Pedros in it.

FWIW, you can break the Cushcore one. Back when I used inserts I broke at least two of them I'm 100% sure that was a combo of poor technique and lack of patience.

I once had to use an old, rusty butter knife that I had found on the trail, collected to throw away and forgotten was in my backpack for who knows how long. It worked, not recommended.

 

Pedro’s

 

Pedros are my go to-s. When things get worse than that, I'll dig out a cheap set of moto tire levers.

https://a.co/d/5S4t699

 

Another vote for pedros -- almost always pick up a 2 pack when at the LBS. I tend to be impatient and break them "now and then"

 

Has anyone broken these?

 

Up in the thread I asked about a steel core lever - NEED! I am not a weight weenie!

 

Is it wrong that I'm scared to use anything with metal on or in them on carbon wheels? Are you guys all running aluminum or just sending it with metal levers on carbon wheels?

 

I used a steel Pedros DH lever on a DH casing tire and cracked a carbon rim once, so I don’t use metal anymore.

 

Pedros or regular Park have always worked for me. Although I have snapped a Park lever - their plastic isn't quite as tough as it used to be.

For any of the plastic levers, I think they tend to get brittle over time. Best option may just be a fresh set of Pedros.

 

Try and break this. I keep them in my pack but have never needed them on the trail.

 

Bad boy levers. They’re too heavy to carry in a pack.😜 I gave mine away. I was afraid I would be too tempted to use them on carbon.

 

The OP is full of crap. Pedros levers can’t be broken. Unless he’s a Sasquatch pretending to be a Cookie Monster.

 

The only time being a Clyde is beneficial. Put the wheel on a blanket. Put the only deflated tire on the edge of a 2x4 and step on the rim. haven’t met a bead yet that could resist my tonnage.

Disclaimer - may scratch or damage rim, bend rotor, or cause personal injury. Only use this method after offending the neighbors with a copious amount of profanity.

 

A Tyre Glider is all you need >>

https://tyreglider.co.uk/

 

Pedros, but I really like the new Park Tools TL-4.2 tire lever... wide, thin, but short tip profile. I've had times the Pedros lever will slide into the rim bead, damaging the tape, when levering over the tire bead. The Park Tools lever, based on its short and sharply angled tip, works better to grab the rim bead.

 

You can’t go forcing something if it’s just not right. Any tire lever will break. It’s technique that keeps them from breaking.

 

Probably right. I’m just going to get a couple more Pedro’s levers. Their plastic has just the right mix of strength to flexibility. They normally work fine for me on most tires, even DH casings.

My latest combination of a DH casing + a Cushcore Pro was a little too much for the old Pedro lever I had. Next time I deal with that wheel though, I’m going to use some plastic carpentry clamps to press the tire and insert in to the center in a few places. That should eliminate the need for quite so much brute force. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before I broke my last lever…

 

I had a ton of tire levers, Pedro's is still the goto no nonsense lever.
Actually over the years I am learning to appreciate other things Pedros make over other brands.

The real test to a tire lever is Schwalbe tires on super tight rims.

 

I've tried metal core levers where the core didn't go all the way to the end and the plastic end snapped off. I carry multiple Pedros in my pack and one of these in case I need something I think won't break:

Tire Levers

Durable Titanium Tire Levers Crafted from ultra-strong titanium, these tire levers are built to last. However, please handle with care—rough use may cause scratches on your rims. Hand Welded in Durango, CO, USA

kingcage.com

 

I have a pair of the Forge & Bond levers. Have not used them, but they are bomber.