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cant get tire off Bontrager tubeless strips

800 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  flyag1, 
D
last night I decided to try my studded tires tubeless (Nokian gazza extreme 29")
I have the Rythym elite wheels and new tubeless ready rim strips.
I allready had the tires mounted with tubes, I removed the tubes and rim tape added the rim strips and valves and installed the tires. So far so good, didnt even need tools
then I pumped up the tires to seat the beads and they did , rather loudly.
next step was to release the air and pop off the bead on 1 side so I could add sealant. but I could not get the tire off at all. Tried everything, big tire irons that I couldnt get under the bead, etc. I would prefer not to trash the tires anyone have any sugestions?
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AZ
Get the tires good and warm , thats all i've got .
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Dan Gerous
Are your valve cores removable? If so, just add the sealant through there. It's a temporary solution as one day or another, you'll have to take the tires off...
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D
I did add the sealant through the valves, and they were plenty warm but what happens when winter is over and I need to get the studs off? I might mention that the studs are wire bead
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Dan Gerous
These rims (with the strips) are a PITA. I had the opposite problem, couldn't fit my Schwalbe spiked tires on Bonty rims with the tubeless strips. I'm running tubes so taking the tubeless strips off and use regular cloth-style strips solves my issue, you may have to melt yours with fire! :p
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Dan Gerous said:
These rims (with the strips) are a PITA. I had the opposite problem, couldn't fit my Schwalbe spiked tires on Bonty rims with the tubeless strips. I'm running tubes so taking the tubeless strips off and use regular cloth-style strips solves my issue, you may have to melt yours with fire! :p
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:yikes: Ill wait till spring to try that
its funny, I was able to mount them by hand but when I pumped them up they were really loud popping in. I just cant get the bead free now, I even stood on it. Im afraid any more force will ruin the tire
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Dan Gerous
I'm guessing the bead is bigger than a UST bead but since the specific shape needed for tubeless is made of plastic and not metal as in a Mavic UST rim, the tire bead compresses a bit but also compresses the UST shaped notches of strip, making it extra tight. If it's that, force will eventually make the bead snap out of it's locked in place. Maybe injecting soapy water by the valve to make it more slippery?
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GhisalloWheels
How about using clamps, several in a row adding pressure to each slowly. It may stretch the wire bead though. You'll have to be careful.

Good Luck
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D
Dan Gerous said:
I'm guessing the bead is bigger than a UST bead but since the specific shape needed for tubeless is made of plastic and not metal as in a Mavic UST rim, the tire bead compresses a bit but also compresses the UST shaped notches of strip, making it extra tight. If it's that, force will eventually make the bead snap out of it's locked in place. Maybe injecting soapy water by the valve to make it more slippery?
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it was soapy when I tried
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D
chumbacabra said:
How about using clamps, several in a row adding pressure to each slowly. It may stretch the wire bead though. You'll have to be careful.

Good Luck
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thats a good idea, I'll try it

of course, if I get a flat on the trail that stans wont fix I'm screwed:rolleyes:
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dan0 said:
of course, if I get a flat on the trail that stans wont fix I'm screwed:rolleyes:
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No worries, a tire fitting that tight is a good thing as you can ride it for miles with out danger of hurting your rim:thumbsup:
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