Removing a tire

Part 1. Preparation and safety

Objective

• Safely remove a vehicle tire from a rim.

Personal safety

Whenever you perform a task in the workshop you must use personal protective clothing and equipment that is appropriate for the task and which conforms to your local safety regulations and policies. Among other items, this may include:

• Work clothing - such as coveralls and steel-capped footwear
• Eye protection - such as safety glasses and face masks
• Ear protection - such as earmuffs and earplugs
• Hand protection - such as rubber gloves and barrier cream
• Respiratory equipment - such as face masks and valved respirators

If you are not certain what is appropriate or required, ask your supervisor.

Safety check

• An inflated tire is a pressure vessel that must be treated with care and respect. Always fully deflate the tire before performing any repair tasks.
• Keep your hands clear of the bead breaker when it is operating. It applies great force to the tire that will cause you a severe injury if your hand is trapped.
• Always use correct lifting techniques when lifting a tire on and off the tire changer.
• The tire tread comes in contact with many unknown substances that are transferred directly to your hands. For this reason it is recommended you wear protective gloves when handling tires.
• If you do not wear gloves, wash your hands after the tire change is complete and before eating.
• Always wear protective clothing and the appropriate safety equipment.
• Make sure that you understand and observe all legislative and personal safety procedures when carrying out the following tasks. If you are unsure of what these are, ask your supervisor.

Points to note

• Always remove any balance weights from both sides of the rim before mounting it on the tire changer. If they are not removed, the bead remover will drag the weights around the rim causing damage to the rim face. This is particularly the case with alloy rims. The damage done by the balance weights is not repairable and usually requires the rim be replaced.
• The turntable jaws can hold the rim by grasping it from the outside or the inside. When mounting an alloy rim it is normal that they be clamped from the outside, whereas steel rims are clamped from the inside. Always check the instruction manual for the tire changer you are using for the correct method of clamping a rim.

Part 2: Step-by-step instruction

1. Visual check
   Before removing the tire, check the tread and sidewalls for barbs or pieces of steel belt that may cause you injury. Also inspect the tire for any obvious signs of damage. If there is any damage the tire should be discarded. Check the wheel for any balance weights and remove them with the wheel weight tool.
2. Deflate the tire
   Locate the valve stem and remove and store the dust cap. Using the correct tool, remove the valve core, remembering that compressed air inside the tire will escape with some force, so make sure the valve stem is pointing away from your face.
3. Break the bead
   Once all the air has expelled from the tire, locate the wheel in the bead breaker with the outside of the rim facing towards the blade. Locate the blade close to the edge of the rim while keeping your hands at a safe distance. Activate the bead breaker, which will force the tire bead away from the edge of the rim and over the safety ridge. Release the blade, turn the wheel one half of a turn, reposition the blade and release this section of the tire as well. Release the blade, roll the tire away from the machine and reposition it with the inside of the rim facing towards the blade. Repeat the bead braking procedure.
4. Mount the wheel on the changer
   Locate the wheel and tire assembly on the turntable and activate the jaws so they hold the wheel centrally. Test the security of the wheel by attempting to turn it. It should remain fast. Position the bead remover between the edge of the rim and the tire and apply some lubricant around the broken bead to assist in removal. Use a tire lever to roll the tire bead over the bead remover knuckle, and at the same time push down on the sidewall on the opposite side of the tire.
5. Remove the tire
   Activate the turntable so the bead is guided off the rim. Once the bead is removed stop the turntable and lift the tire slightly and remove the tube if fitted. Guide the lower bead into the rim well and using the tire lever, roll the lower bead over the knuckle and activate the turntable. The tire will come off the rim. Remove and discard the valve stem.