I bought some Conti Ruban tyres that seem to cement onto my rims in tubeless mode. Had to shove a flatheaded screwdriver in eventually to break the bead seals so i could get my usual plastic levers in, and that's not good for rims or tyres!
I've seen this plastic tool available for helping things out, but it has one review saying the user had it snap in a couple of places with their tubeless setup.
Would I be right in thinking it wouldn't work with tyres that are cemented in place like my Rubans do?
I'm in two minds whether to chuck the tyres anyhow, as I think they're dangerous if you clip a square edge kerb or flagstone as you can go down fast.
IME levers don't really help with breaking a tight bead regardless of the design - you'd need a really really thin, and hence generally weak, prong to get the lever in.
Put the wheel on the ground and stand on the edge of the bead is my technique.
Like this, there's a Youtube video for everything:
Right, tool for normal tyre situations at home only then, since won't break a stuck bead.
I tried standing on it on a low kerb, and a couple of wooden blocks and a mallet. I didn't have a bench vice at hand unfortunately. In the end only a flatheaded screwdriver worked. It was a marathon task at home and there's no way I could see myself managing a trail-side repair necessitating bunging a tube in.
I bought the tyres blind, for fast, comfortable road riding, with the ability to do gravel trials. There were virtually no rider reviews on them. I can safely say I personally wouldn't buy them again given the tight bead issues, and their seeming allergy to clipping square edges.
Try different shoes? I find XC-style SPD shoes with firm soles acting as close to the bead as poss work much better than trainers eg.
Ultimately though, yeah, there are horror stories of people cutting tyres off when absolutely nothing else worked, so maybe you're in that territory.
Got a black & decker workmate? Kinder than a vice.
Clamp the tyre and push the rim over 90deg.
Works a treat for me.
I've not got/tried one, but isn't this basically what Vittoria's airliner bead tool is designed for:
Anyone tried one?
I've used a garden spade to get mine off before, same method used for changing dirt bike tyres, disc side facing up.
I feel your pain. I've always liked Conti tyres but trying to break the bead off a Kryptotal recently led to a lot of bad words indeed.
I feel your pain. I've always liked Conti tyres but trying to break the bead off a Kryptotal recently led to a lot of bad words indeed. I used a vice in the end. I have no clue how I'd tackle things if I had to fit a tube out on the trail.
Boiling water on the bead helps loads
