Some bits of kit are glamorous, others are definitely less so. The best tyre levers are rarely going to be the conversation starter at a party, but with the best road bike tyres and the best gravel tyres now becoming harder to install and remove thanks to being tubeless ready, having a reliable set is more important now than it ever has been.
In days gone by this list could effectively be condensed into a very short sentence to the tune of “literally any of them will be fine”. I’ve got some vintage rims which don’t even require levers to get the tyre on and off, but more recently, I’ve snapped countless basic levers trying to install or remove stubborn tubeless tyres on tubeless ready rims.
A strong tyre lever is one thing, but if strength was everything we’d all just use giant flathead screwdrivers. The best tyre levers are designed in such a way as to be ergonomic so as to avoid damaging your hands, and also protect your rims and tyres from damage too.
If you need to know how to change a bike tyre we’ve got you covered, as well as a load of options to get you rolling again with the best CO2 inflators and the best bike pumps too. Plus, we’ve put together a handy guide at the bottom to answer a few questions you may have.
All the levers in this list have been tested by installing and removing what I think is a benchmark tricky tyre, the Challenge Strada. The tyre itself is pretty difficult to get on and off the rim, but also being cotton cased it’s a little more fragile too so is a good test of the protective qualities of the lever.
The best tyre levers available today
Pedros tyre levers are probably the closest thing to the Gold Standard in tyre levers. They aren’t the strongest in this list, nor are they the smallest or lightest, but they are cheap, durable and strong.
The rounded lever tips can struggle to get the tyre bead off on some stubborn tyres, unlike the Unior levers, but they are a little stronger with less flex. When unseating, the plastic, which is the smoothest finish of all the levers here, slides along rims and tyre beads easily.
These are what I carry on my rides except in certain cases, and as a bonus, I’ve…
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