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Tools - Portable
Pedro's Tyre LeversPedros Tyre Levers.jpg

Pedro's Tyre Levers

8
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Fri, Jan 13, 2017 15:46

First Published Jan 13, 2017

3
£4.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Generally excellent tyre levers, but a little extra length would be welcome
Weight: 
42g
Contact: 
www.silverfish-uk.com
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Pedro's Tyre Levers remain a firm favourite of mine for roadside tyre fitment/removal, and judging by my eclectic fleet, seem genuinely compatible with most tyre/rim combinations. A lifetime warranty adds further peace of mind, and I have another two pairs in very rude health, despite seven years' regular use.

They're available in several fairly lurid colours as well as these pink numbers – not for everyone, but no problems locating them in a grassy verge, bottom of a pannier or brimming tool box. Riding companions and strangers alike seem more inclined to return them immediately afterwards, too...

> Find your nearest dealer here

There's nothing particularly exotic about their composition – we're talking beefy, reinforced plastics – but good engineering separates them from otherwise capable competition.

At the business end, a broad but nicely defined chisel tip is perfect for infiltrating and refitting tight beads. Angular bodies provide plenty of purchase and although stubbier than some, have withstood considerable force without turning to blancmange.

Like most jobs, technique plays a big part. Long established 700x23 and 25mm Kevlar beads require a nimble plucking technique, one lever following the other in close succession until 70% of the bead has relented. Unlike some designs, hooking the bead adrift by clipping one lever at an adjoining spoke, then using the second to prise the reaming bead away, was less effective. A third definitely came in handy at times, my 26x1.6 Vittoria Street Runner and 42mm Maxxis Roamer were cases in point.

In the past eight years, I've only had one lever break – snap, to be precise – and that was remounting a particularly stubborn cross-country tyre and rim combo which, to be fair, had an unenviable reputation for chomping composite levers of all calibres. The Pedro's warranty was honoured and bleeding fingertips healed, so all good.

> How to repair a puncture

Allowing for their price differential, in comparable service the Pedro's are ageing much better than those bargain – and still very worthy – polyamide BTwin levers. The latter's supple nature has come in handy when cajoling the remaining section home, but after 18 months, their lipped ends are starting to look quite chewed.

Not so my elderly green Pedro's, although one went missing in long grass within a matter of rides, so I'd recommend the most garish colour going. Long-term use tells me I'd like them a little longer and sold in threes, but otherwise they remain my wedge pack weapons of choice.

Verdict

Generally excellent tyre levers, but a little extra length would be welcome

road.cc test report

Make and model: Pedro's Tyre Levers

Size tested: 1 Pair

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Pedro's says: "The tire lever, though seemingly one of the simplest and most basic of cycling tools, is one commonly used by almost every cyclist, and unfortunately, one often responsible for unnecessary frustration. Really, what is more fun than flatting far away from home, being thrilled you lugged that spare tube and pump, and then having your tire levers snap in two? Pedro's award winning, universally loved tire levers feature molded box construction and a proprietary plastic composite blend that makes them the strongest levers available. The unique chisel tip shape easily inserts beneath the tire bead and the slightly thicker shape keeps the lever securely in place. Additionally, the bold shape of the lever and helpful dual spoke hooks makes removal of even the tightest tires a simple task. Pedro's tire levers are available in bright yellow, pink, green, and orange making them easy to spot in the shop or in the woods making sure you don't lose them. As long as your riding buddies don't steal them from you, we are confident the Pedro's Tire Levers will be the last levers you buy. Do yourself a favor and give them a try. You will love them! If you ever, somehow, manage to use your gorilla strength to break them, our levers are back by Pedro's lifetime warranty, and we will happily replace them for you."

I would generally agree. For the record, I have broken one and lost another in the past eight years.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Moulded box construction, propriety plastic composites, 40g each.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Generally excellent, although like most things, good technique plays a part.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Have broken one in the past, but generally very hardwearing.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10

Some additional length would be welcomed but otherwise very pleasant to use.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall, the Pedro's tyre levers are high-quality models that work well on most tyre/rim combinations, are pleasant to use, and easy to spot. Some particularly tight beads have required a third lever and I'd be happy to pay a little extra for a pack of three. There are lots of tyre levers that will do the job. However, to date, few have fared so well in the longer term.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Well engineered and made from decent quality materials; garish colours ensure they're hard to lose.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

A little additional length would be welcomed, as would a third lever, but these are minor points.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Well executed tyre levers; not the cheapest but very durable.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 1m 81cm  Weight: 70kg

I usually ride: Rough stuff tourer based around 4130 Univega mountain bike frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

Pedro's Tyre Levers 2017
Pedro's Tyre Levers
Pedro's 2017
Pedro's
Tyre levers
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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3 comments

Avatar
mike the bike | 7 years ago
7 likes

 

"Generally excellent, but a little extra length would be welcome."  The story of my life.

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to mike the bike | 7 years ago
0 likes
mike the bike wrote:

"Generally excellent, but a little extra length would be welcome."  The story of my life.

I'd be satisfied with that!

Avatar
Dnnnnnn | 7 years ago
0 likes

Agree that these are very good levers. I also agree that " technique plays a big part" and am not sure you should need more length on these fellas - at least found fitting new tyres.

I've found I rarely need levers to fit even tight and tough tyres (e.g. Marathon Plus on a variety of rims) once I learnt that kneading/massaging/squeezing most of the tyre+tube deeply into the well of the rim before thumbing (rarely levering) the last section over the rim was a much better approach than bunging it on loosely and then applying mega leverage with a Pedro (or lesser lever, of which I snapped a few).

Most importantly, this careful seating into the depths of the rim (effectively reducing the diameter it has to stretch around) means much less chance of pinching the tube due to too much force on a lever. I never found pumping up a fresh tube to find I'd just put a hole in it much fun...

Removing a tyre is a different matter - lever away!

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