The Chainlink

Can't get tire off of rim

My only working bike is out of commission due to a slow leak in the front tire.

I struggled last night to get the tire off the rim and finally gave up; the frikkin' tire is so tight that once you get one lever under the bead, and pulled back into its hooked-to-spoke position, you absolutely can't get in under the bead anywhere else. I have several types of lever I've tried (including the orange ones with metal inside), and went at it with a large flathead screwdriver as well (on the fence about whether I want to re-use the tire) and couldn't budge the damn thing.  I have above-average grip and pinch strength so I don't think weakness is a factor.

Any tips appreciated, even if it's things I already tried.

It's a 26" Sun CR-18 rim, for what that's worth.

Was kind of a nice change of pace walking to/from work today but this is a really stupid problem I'd like solved . . .

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Permalink Reply by Bernard Joseph Hannigan on November 4, 2011 at 10:21am

I have CR-18's...Kwik Stick pops em right off...

                            - Barry "I write the songs" Manilow

Permalink Reply by rb on November 4, 2011 at 11:57am

+1 on the Kool Stop- My rims on my Paramount are brutal- the only way to get the tires off is with a Kool Stop bead jack- I think that I got mine from Universal cycle 5-6 yrs ago.

 

All other tough tire and rim combos issues have been solved with yellow Pedro's levers as Dug mentions.


Good luck.

 

notoriousDUG said:

Some tire/rim combos have a terrible interface.

On bad ones you can sometimes get them off by starting two levers under the bead on two spokes adjacent to each other on the same side.  Make sure they are good strong levers like Pedro's or the all metal ones like Park makes.  Press on both levers at once and you *should* be able to get the bead to pop over.  With that much bead off you should be able to start the tire off, or at least be able to get a lever in farther down once you pull one of them out.

 

Word of warning: If it comes off that hard it is going to be murder to get back on as well try to avoid using levers to remount it as they can pinch the tube and cause punctures.  If it is very difficult try working it in from the valve stem to the opposite side of the rim and then working it in against a solid surface with the heel of your hand.  If all else fails it is a good idea to invest in one of these:

It's a Kool-Stop bead jack and it is invaluable when it comes to mounting a tough tire/rim interface.

 

Hope this helps.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on November 4, 2011 at 1:02pm
Not my photo.  I didn't think of wearing gloves.

dan brown said:

nice photo howard,

hey : how did you manage to hold the camera stable enough to get that photo...a tripod ?

 

db

 

p.s. the dish soap is a good idea. I have had some success with that before too

 

 

 

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