Vaughan51

I am looking for any tips or tricks in getting a stubborn tire off the rim so I can fix a flat or simply change the tire.

On two occasions now I've had tubeless ready tires that I simply can't seem to break the seal of the tire to the rim so as to get a tire lever under. Struggling for 45minutes or so before I've made any progress - with the usual scrapes and nicks on the rim itself.

I don't know if maybe I should be putting some grease or maybe talc on the edge of the tire so it doesn't "bond" to the rim or what.

Any tips or tricks would be appreciated.

Thanks

10 Wheels

One of These is a must have for your tire.
Amazon.com : Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack, Black : Bike Hand Tools : Sports & Outdoors

HillRider

That Kool Stop tire jack is great for installing tires but not too useful for removing them.

OP: Try using a large pair of pliers to grab both of the tire's sidewalls just above the rim and squeezing them together firmly. That should almost always break one bead loose.

JohnDThompson 

The bead jack is for installing the tire; the OP's problem is removing the tire.

Some tire/rim combinations are very tight. If you are using plastic tire levers, metal levers may work better for you. They are unlikely to break, and tend to be thinner than plastic levers, which makes it easier to get under the bead to lift it. N.B. metal levers are not recommended for carbon fiber rims. Once you get the tire off, consider replacing the rim strip with a thinner and/or narrower rim strip, to make it easier for the tire levers to reach under the bead.

Bon chance!

Trakhak

Such levers used to be referred to as "spoons" in the U.K., I believe. The first time I encountered a tire that was refusing to come off the rim, I took the hint and grabbed a couple of spoons from the kitchen.

The broad, thin, nicely chamfered edge of the handle was perfect for levering the bead out and over the rim. And the spooned end hooked securely behind a spoke, freeing both hands to lever out the next section of bead with the second spoon.

Iride01 

Some tubeless rims have a little bump you have to get over to get the tire off the bead seat. I had to push with all my might I could muster in my thumbs the other day to get the bead broke from the seat of some 29'er wheels. These were tubed tires and it was the thick and wide rim tape that the bead was caught on and couldn't easily get over.

You might just wrap the jaws of some channel lock pliers with an old inner tube and use them to squeeze the tire in places till you get the bead broke and off the bead seat.

nickyd

I've used a combination of standard plaster tyre leavers and the Tyre Glider. Although Tyre Glider seems better for getting tyres on that off, it can help force the tyres over the rim.

ThermionicScott 

If it's a tubeless-ready rim as well, you'll need to pull the beads completely into the center well of the rim before they can be dismounted. What was once good practice is pretty much mandatory with these.

KerryIrons

Another "feature" of tubeless that you better hope never comes into play with a flat out on the road that your sealant and/or plug can't deal with.

JohnDThompson 

Carry an inner tube for that contingency.

KerryIrons

You completely lost the plot. The suggestion was to use large pliers to break the bead so as to be able to remove the tire. Are you assuming that tubeless users should carry large pliers on their rides?

JohnDThompson 

Your choice.
1) carry whatever you need to unmount/remount your tire on the road
2) change to a different tire/rim combination that isn't so stubborn
3) walk home or call an Uber

Vaughan51

Yep, mine are 29'er wheels. I thought I was going to dislocate my thumbs trying to remove the tire.

I did go out and buy some park tire levers (the metal ones) yesterday as I already have the plastic ones. Will be going back out and get a pair of channel lock pliers (for home change overs).

I will have to look for some narrower rim tape as well or I've been told the gorilla tape works really well as rim tape. Will try going to a narrower tape as a precautionary measure.

Some good suggestions to try out - just fingers crossed I don't have to do them in the back country gravel roads.

Thanks everyone!!!

HillRider

Of course not. It was a shop-technique to solve the immediate problem.

smd4

KerryIrons’ rhetorical question wasn’t directed at you. But his point remains: If the only fix for a flat that defeats sealant and plugs is to carry shop tools on a ride, then that sucks and should be considered when thinking of going tubeless.

Crankycrank

I've never tried this on a bike tubeless tire but there used to be a large plastic wedge for motorcycle tires that you would just hammer into the tire and rim to break the bead. Here's kind of a similar one for trucks to give you an idea. AME The Wedgie Tire Bead Wedge (75005) - Tire Supply Network I'm thinking you could sand down one end of a thick plastic bike tire lever to form a wedge and just push it with your hands to bread the bead. Like I said I have never tried this myself but if you have an extra lever laying around it may be worth a try.

zandoval 

I had one hell of a time helping a neighbor get a tubeless tire off. He had let the wheel sleep a few months in the Texas heat and the Slime inside the tier glued it in place. In frustration I used Charcoal Lighter Fluid and flooded the rim then removed the presta valve and squeezed a good amount into the tire. I then used my knockoff Tyrekey to lever the tire off the rim. After removal we used Simple Green to clean everything up and was actually able to reuse the tire because we did not damage it at removal.

It was a mess!!!!

https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plu...ting-tool.html

Trakhak

Park Tool PTS-1 Tire Seating Tool

smd4

If I ever get to the point where I need the Park Jaws of Life to remove my tire, then I’m just gonna throw in the towel.

KerryIrons

Yes, thanks for making even clearer what I thought was clear already. Apparently it wasn't.

grcolts

I have a Jamis Renegade with Riddler tires on the rims and they are so difficult to get off. Never in my riding have I had tires so difficult to get off the rims. I bought this tool from REI that is supposed to help with that problem and it did work very well for getting the tire back onto the rim but I still struggled with getting them off. When it comes time for new tires I will try a different brand. The tool from REI is called Crankbrothers Speedier Tire Lever.

Vaughan51

An interesting update, OR what could be called: Back to the Stone Age / Wood Age for tire removal

Out in the back country on a recent ride and came across a fellow cyclist who took a puncture. Asked if he needed some help and he said "nope I got this", but I hung around just in case as I had additional tire levers.

Interestingly the first thing he did was find a larger flat rock with a relatively straight edge ( I thought he was going to beat on his tire) but he placed it against the underside of the tire close to the rim, kneeled on the tire and pulled up on the rim. The tire bead broke free of the rim and he then proceeded to lever the tire from the rim.

He mentioned that a piece of wood works a bit better and usually he can find a piece in the ditch without to much looking but a stone works too if its around. Anyway he didn't seem to have any issues so once he was pumping up the tire we went our separate ways.

kcjc

Haven't need this tool since my college wrenching days at the campus bike shop some 30 years ago. Thanks for the laugh.