How to Fit (and Remove) Stubborn Tubeless Tyres

The Struggle is Real: We have all been there—wrestling with a stiff tubeless tyre that simply refuses to budge. Whether you are trying to pop an old bead off or wrestle a fresh tyre on, here is the professional guide to saving your thumbs and your rims.

Part 1: Removing a Stuck Tyre

If you are struggling to break the bead seal, you might need to get a bit “agricultural” with your technique.

• The Foot Method: Place the wheel flat on the floor (protect the rotor/cassette). Place one foot on the “high” side of the wheel to hold it down. Place your other foot on the tire bead and sidewall, then push down firmly to pop it off the rim.
• The Vice Method: Alternatively, you can use a workshop vice with a similar squeezing action to compress the tyre and break the bead seal—just be gentle with your rim!

Part 2: Pre-Installation Prep

Before you even touch the tyre levers, there is one secret trick that changes everything: Heat.

Pro Tip: Get the tyre warm before fitting. Leave it in the sun for 30 minutes or carefully place it near a heat source. A warm tyre is significantly more pliable and stretchy, which will save your thumbs a lot of pain.

Check Your Tape: Ensure your tubeless rim tape is properly applied and not too thick. Overly thick tape reduces the diameter of the rim bed, making tight tyres even harder to mount.

Part 3: The Installation Technique

The Golden Rule: The Central Well
When fitting the bead, you must push the installed part of the bead down into the deepest part of the rim (the central well). This creates slack, allowing you to inch that final, tight section over the rim lip.

Lever Technique:
Start at the valve and work the tyre on. When using levers for the final tight spot, ensure you use long, plastic-coated levers (like the Lezyne Power Lever XL). The plastic coating is essential to prevent scratching or damaging your expensive rims.

If the tyre keeps slipping off, tools like the Crankbrothers Slider are invaluable. They have clips that hook onto the rim wall, preventing the bead from migrating back off while you work on the other side.

Part 4: Seating the Bead

Once mounted, you will usually need a sudden blast of air to seat the bead—use a pressure canister, a tubeless-specific pump, or a compressor.

Still won’t pop?
If the bead refuses to seat, lubrication is your friend. Apply a little washing-up liquid, silicone spray, or even WD40 around the bead to help it slip into place.