Monday 21 February 2022

the tyreglider

The tyre glider is a new product and is pitched as being revolutionary for changing cycle tyres. Shown below with an SD card adapter for scale
We all know some tyres are easy to remove and fit and some are absolute monsters. The tyreglider is designed to make that process a lot easier.

When removing the tyre it's basically a wide tyre lever with an easy to grasp handle. It's quite easy to use.
1. You get the removal part under the bead.
2. Grasp the tool and pivot it over the rim bringing the tyre bead with it.
3. Still grasping the tyreglider, you basically shove it around the circumference of the rim.

Below is a short clip showing the removal process


Refitting the tyre is a different process.
1. Clip the tool horizontally onto the rim with the pointy end in the direction you want to go.
2. With the bead of the tyre on top of the tyreglider, basically shove it with using the blunt end as a handle. The bead will just zip on.
3. If it's a tight tyre, then it will get harder as you meet resistance. Make sure the bead is as far into the rim well as it will go and shove. It is easier than trying to use one or two levers to get the bead over, and no chance of pinching the tube. The design of the tool allows you to give it a good push though.

There's a short video below showing how to fit a tyre using the Tyre glider

I've tried it with a couple of different tyres on a spare wheel I have.

The nutrak I tried was a doddle but I can just about manage to do that without tools, so not much of a challenge really 
The 20*1.35 Marathon Plus is notoriously tough though, but the Tyreglider made it a lot easier and quicker.
For me the the hardest part was getting the wider lever under the bead for removal.

Whilst this tool makes it easier, I reckon it will most help when you have gloved hands in the winter or possibly if you have reduced dexterity as for the most part you can use it just by grabbing it with the hand.

Whilst there are other tools to make tyre fitting easier, every one I know is larger and bulkier than the Tyreglider. I think it's verging on genius, and could be one of the best innovations I've seen in a long while.

It's definitely earned a place in my on road toolkit, although I haven't removed the tyre levers yet.

The only downside? That I didn't buy a second one for my home toolkit!