Very good tire install and removal tool |
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I was trying to install Continental Grand Prix 4000S 700x23 tires on my Shimano wheels with standard tire levers, which proved to be an impossible task. So I bought this tool in addition to the Kool-Stop Tire Bead Jack, as I had read good reviews on both. For my rear tire, I tried the Crank Brothers Speed Lever. It was able to get my rear tire on with a small amount of effort. I thought, Cool!! Then I tried my front tire with the same tool. It proved to be a little tighter, however, and the Speed Lever wouldn't budge on the last few inches of the tire bead, and I could tell if I pushed it, I'd risk breaking the tool.
Enter the Kool-Stop Tire Bead Jack. Wow!! With very little effort, the Kool-Stop tool was able to get the tire on. It was positively mind-blowing how easy it was, after previously wrestling for a couple hours with the same tires with standard levers to no avail. For installing tires, the Kool-Stop Tire Bead Jack is definitely THE tool to have.
Next, I tried to see how effective the Crank Brothers Speed Lever was at removing tires. It proved to be quite good. You just have to be sure to grab the first part of the bead that you push out over the rim as you rotate the tire lever around the tire (or else the first part of the bead will fall back in the rim as you rotate the Speed Lever). (Note that the Kool-Stop Tire Bead Jack cannot remove tires; it is only used for installing tires.)
Bottom Line: The Speed Lever is an excellent tool for removing tires, and a very good tool (but not the best) for installing tires. It can probably remove any tire, but it will fail to install the very tightest tires. I would recommend keeping one of these in your toolset along with a Kool-Stop Tire Bead Jack. |
| Mike at REI on 02/02/2009 |
Never had a problem; I love this |
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| I've had one of these for years, and considered it gods gift. I use it on all my family bikes -- BMX, cruiser, MTB, 700c road, and never had a problem. I hate traditional tire levers, which always seem to need an extra hand. This works like the rotating lever used in auto tire shops. It extends to anchor on the axle, and then you spin it around to pop the bead or push it on. the people who've had trouble with it probably just haven't gotten the knack of using it. Once you do, you'll not want to go back to the Old Ways. |
| dad4x at REI on 10/10/2007 |
The Best Tire Lever, I love it!!! |
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| I find it extremely useful to remove and install road and mountain bike tires. To remove a tire, I break the bead with another tire lever, get the 'speed lever' under the bead and the other end on the axle. Then just rotate the lever around the wheel. I especially need this speed lever to safely install tires that are hard to put on. Get most of the tire bead on by hand, then finish the difficult part with the speed lever by rotating the lever. No pinched tubes!!! Its much easier than wrestling with the tire by hand. |
| mauidoug at REI on 02/02/2008 |
An O.K. Tire Lever |
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| I use this product to assist my Pedro tire Levers. I notice it works best when I use the Pedro to get the bead off of the rim and then insert this lever and hook it to the axle it works faster when you use the Pedro in addition to this one. It looks fragile and looks like it will break at any moment if you get tough with it. Bottom line plastic levers are going to break eventually |
| biker23 at REI on 07/07/2008 |
Great removal tool! |
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| I just bought this yesterday, and I must admit I use it like a traditional tire lever (can't get comfortable hooking it to the axle). And I must also say that the constructions seems a bit fragile. But I just love it because it did a really easy job of installing 2 beaded road tires and one folding. To extract tires, I've found it useful at time to complement my Pedro's. |
| Iago V at REI on 04/04/2008 |
Great! Most of the time... |
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This gadget is great! So much faster than regular levers, but with one exception.
Road tires, such as the Specialized Armidillos, for 700c wheels are incredibly difficult to remove and install. I ended up breaking my SpeedLever while trying to work the lever around the bead of the tire.
Other than that, it's great on every other tire/rim that I've worked on. |
| Dipster at REI on 09/09/2007 |
The name is right. This lever is speedy |
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| Normally, it takes me 30 mins to struggle with bike tire installation on my 700c rim. With this speed lever, i can install the tire in 5 mins. However, I wish that they make this lever a little bit more sturdy since the plastic does seem a little bit filmsy like the other reviewers say |
| Outdoor Ng at REI on 09/09/2008 |
Crank Brother Speed Lever |
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| scx at REI on 05/05/2009 |
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