Telkwa

Rim: Bontrager Duster Elite 622 X 22 "tubeless ready"
Tire: Continental Cross King Protect 58-622 (29 X 2.3)

The Conti's were brand new when I installed them last summer. My first try at tubeless.

Today I decided to dismantle the front wheel. Just for practice and to see if the sealant had dried out or what. Bike didn't get ridden all winter.

I cannot get the tire bead off the rim. Tried clamps, figuring if I squeezed the tire into the middle it'd pop off the rim shoulder. Nope. Tried tire levers and other tools. Could get a tiny amount of separation between rim and tire but that was it. Didn't want to deform the rim or damage the tire so I just stopped.

I've changed lots and lots of bicycle tires in my day (motorcycle tires too) but never ever had a tire that wouldn't move off the rim. So if there are some tricks I don't know them.

Troul 

you might try sliding in a second lever in that tiny separation & work it slightly side to side while walking it further across in to the lip of the rim.

Andrew R Stewart 

Try harder. Current tires and rims are becoming tighter fitting as tubeless is being billed as the answer to a question only some were asking Andy

ThermionicScott 

Rather than using levers to pry off the tire, try getting all of the beads into the center well, grasping the tire in one spot, and pulling it laterally until a bead comes over the rim sidewall. That's not a great explanation, and I'd like to make a video or something someday, but it works well for me when dealing with tight or really stiff tires. It's annoying to my "just use a tire lever!" friends, but I nearly always triumph in the end.

Litespud

In this situation, I'd get a small "C" clamp and squeeze the tire until one of the beads lets go. There's nothing really holding it on except "sticky". Maybe apply the clamp every pre inches until the entire tire is detached.

blamester

Warm it up a bit.

easyupbug 

Tubeless ready rims are a nightmare when you have arthritis in your hands.

SoSmellyAir

I do all of the above: (a) I use a tire lever to push the bead from both sides of the tire off the hook into the center channel except at the valve stem where it is impossible to do so, (b) pull the tire at the opposite end of the valve stem, and (c) use a polymer lever to help remove the tire.

vespasianus

With the tire fully deflated, put some soapy water on the bead/rim interface. Let it sit for a bit and try again. It is basically the equivalent of WD-40 for a tight bolt.

Don't use a tire lever to break the bead, you should be able to do that by hand over the entire time. Tire levers can be used to get the bead over the rim.

sloppy12

I have had a couple that were terrible to get to break loose. orange seal really glues them to the rim. good luck.

Telkwa

Yeah, I didn't want to whine, but that's my situation exactly. I can't apply nearly as much force, and my wrist/thumb/hands hurt for days after.

I understand the part about getting the beads into the center. If I were at that stage the rest would be easy. I failed to get the tire bead to move off the rim shelf or shoulder or whatever the correct term may be.

Googled around and ran into some discussion of setting the rim on top of a garbage can, then applying force. I'm thinking of maybe setting a piece of plywood over the garbage can, then using a jig saw to cut out the center. Might cut out some slots that follow the shape of the rim so I could reach in with a C-clamp.

Laid in bed thinking about this instead of sleeping. I'm imagining supporting the rim as described above, then pushing something like a broad blade chipping gun attachment into the gap between tire sidewall and rim. Then use gradual force (C-clamp) or sudden force (hammer) downward, toward the center of the rim. The typical levering action that's usually used with tires won't work because I can't get a lever between the tire and the rim.

Will try soap and water, heating it up, C-clamps, etc. My wife's bike is set up the same as mine, so I'm looking at 3 more rims that might be better or might not.

Sure am thinking about going back to tubes. We're low-key riders, so some of the "advantages" of tubeless aren't much of a factor.

I've been unhappy with the asymmetrical Bontrager 22mm rims. In general, are wider rims easier to work with?

vespasianus

Orange seal is water soluble for that exact reason.

alcjphil

Tube type tires on the same rims will likely be just as difficult to dislodge from the rim shelf

blinky

It's not you , I had the same issue with a couple of Vittoria's that I got online and were described as "clincher" tires - I called the online store and they said a "clincher" by definition has to have a tube - whereas tubeless tires can run with or without - they said these tires just happen to have thicker side walls making the dismount a bit harder.
I tried everything as well and ended up bringing them to the LBS - the mechanic said it was tough but he eventually had success - I always used Michelin Pro Race and will go back to them - I also have removed lots of tires but these were ridiculous - my personal feeling is that they were manufactured to be used with or without a tube .

Telkwa

I repaired the original Bontragers, a pair of Kenda Nevegals, and some Conti Trail King Protects due to flats several times. All with tubes. No problems getting the tires off the rims. Not sure if any of those were tube or tl-ready.

What about wider rims? All else being equal, do wider rims put less of a deathgrip on the tires?

vespasianus

This 100%. I had a set of Challenge Gravel Grinders (with tubes) and I literally ripped my thumbnail off trying to unseat the bead. Just would not go. Added soap and water, waited 10 minutes and broke away easily.

KerryIrons

Just one more story in the "are tubeless road tires really something I want to try?" saga. Answer is no, but thanks for asking.

vespasianus

Has nothing to do with tubeless. Can happen with any tire.

Pridedog

I got a new bike that came with tubless ready rims. The only way I could break the bead on clincher tire to remove was with a shop vice, not very practical to carry on the bike. So I thought I would chance it, until I got a flat tire ridin bike and could not break bead to change. Had to ride on flat tire 13 miles home. Didn't damage tire or break the bead. My solution was to order true clincher rims and replace rims. Problem solved. IMOP there is no advantage to tubless rims or going tubless.

Telkwa

I hope the soap and water works.

Pridedog, you describe the exact thing I worry about.

I've been carrying levers and pump and spare tube with me. Might as well leave that stuff at home.

sean.hwy

I have had the exact opposite experience. Took me forever to break the bead for my tube gp5000 25mm tire.

The tubeless gravel king slicks 32mm and Vittoria Corsa G2.0 700x25c TLR took almost zero effort. Made question how they stay on they came off so easy.

dedhed

I don't have any tubeless bicycles but have broken lots of tubeless vehicle tires from tractors to MC, often rusted to the rim.
Vehicles - High lift jack
MC - pieces of curved cut wood and C-clamp(s)
I don't see where c-clamps wouldn't work for a bicycle.
or this guy's method

Troul 

the 4-inch ratchet clamps from wally world work & are less likely to snake bite the tire/tube. Sometimes those small 4-inch ratchet clamps are priced under $2 a pair, making it a better option.

Telkwa

dedhead -
Thanks for the short video. Regardless of how you get there (on the ground, on top of a garbage can, on your own custom plywood work surface) the guy in the video is applying force in the direction that it has to go. Levering won't cut it because you can't get a lever underneath the bead. Force has to be down and away from the rim shoulder. In the video the guy bends over and pulls upward on the rim. Seems to me you could accomplish pretty much the same thing with some wood cribbing under the rim. Maybe use a soft wood like cedar.

I'm optimistic that a technique similar to his (and soap & water) might do it.

Several guys have commented that the tire would be stuck on the rim whether it was a tubed setup or tubeless. I tend to agree. If the tire's bead is a bit too small and the rim is a bit too large, well, that's just physics. Or Murphy's Law. It's just that I've never ever experienced a stuck tire like this and it's my first experience with a tubeless. The tire's been on the rim for several months now so I assumed removal would be easy.

Camilo

He's having trouble getting the bead of the "shelf". He isn't to the point where he can even get it to the center.

OP: do a web search for terms like "removing a dificult tire" or "removing tire bead from rim shelf" etc. There's several Youtube videos on tricks; I encountered the same thing recently - couldn't even get the bead off the shelf in order to get tire levers in there. I ended up using a vise. On another tire I used a board trick I saw on Youtube -which is best explained by watching some of those videos;