Another one just won't budge again, its is just sealed tight, can't inject any sealant even with the valve out because there is air pressure, can't push the bead under the insert its just all locked in place, spent about an hour trying, blistered my hands and using a tyre lever trying to push the bead under. I think I am going to have to cut the tyre off, its brand new but I don't see any other way.
Things that make me disproportionately cross, YouTube videos showing how to take tyres with inserts off, where the tyre just falls off with no effort using the same techniques I have known for years but never work that easily ever.
Have you tried laying it horizontally on a bin and pushing down on the tyre with all your body weight to push the bead away from the rim?
I had to cut a (thankfully old and worn) tyre off once due to the inserts.
Use of the correct tyre plier tool does make it easier, a fact I discovered after cutting the tyre off and then ordering one of the tools.
On the other hand, it has saved my ride once. Dinged the rim just enough to break the tubeless seal, tyre deflated. I looked for the puncture (thinking it was just a normal thorn type thing) but obviously nothing to plug, tyre wouldn't seal. But I rode it a fair few miles back to the car on just the insert.
Equally you could argue that even if I'd have got a snakebite puncture on tubes, I could still have put a replacement tube in and carried on riding... 🤷🏻♂️
Use of the correct tyre plier tool does make it easier,
What tool is this? Got a link, it isn't something I am aware of.
What tool is this? Got a link, it isn't something I am aware of.
I think I am going to have to cut the tyre off, its brand new but I don't see any other way.
A mate of mine did exactly that after a slashed sidewall a couple of weeks ago, think it was a cushcore but not sure and he'd previously said it was pretty easy to fit. After struggling to get the tyre off for around an hour he cut it off (in about 10 pieces) with a stanley knife and tried to fit a brand new Tacky Chan with the insert while stood in the rain in the car park at Dyfi bikepark, another hour of trying to wrestle it onto the rim went by before he gave up, having missed several uplifts. I've got a pair of Rimpact inserts in the shed which were destined for my Hightower but I now have no intention of fitting, more hassle than it's worth considering I've only destroyed 1 rim in 20 years
I have ordered one of them to arrive Thursday, will be cheaper than cutting the tyre off.
But I still might dump the tyre inserts.
DM me if you want to offload those inserts 👍
I've got a pair of Rimpact inserts in the shed which were destined for my Hightower but I now have no intention of fitting, more hassle than it's worth considering I've only destroyed 1 rim in 20 years
Yeah, these are rimpact pros, and with the light bicycle rims that have the little valley for the bead to setlle into, they are a bad combination. I have removed maxxis tyres from this combination before and it was a battle, but these new contis just won't move at all.
DM me if you want to offload those inserts
I am in Germany, not worth the hassle to post anything to the UK since brexit.
Yes they can be a giant PITA but I'm always glad to have them.
I used to be a serial rim breaker/tyre slasher. Not anymore.
Probably not worth the grief if you don't have that problem.
The new inflatable cores amuse me, I'm guessing v2 will be lighter with thinner tube walls and then v3 will be...
I'm a recent convert to inserts. I'm not a serial rim destroyer but the thought of dinging a carbon rim terrifies me, so I've not got inserts on all 3 bikes, rear wheels only: Cushcore in one, Rimpack V1 in the others. Had a nightmare removing the Conti tyre and Cushcore from a Reserve rim but once I learned what technique worked for me, it was fine.
I bought the following tool but didn't find it much more useful than a normal Pedros tyre lever - I'd be as well sticking it up my ****: Cushcore Bead Dropper
USed them, threw them in the bin. Too much faff.
I've had 1 flat in the last 15 years..
Even the DH bike doesn't run them,
i`m a serial rear rim destroyer so i like an insert in teh back at a rocky bike park.
some are an arse but the protection and stability is good.
a cushcore lever tool thing helps push the bead under. or the handle of a fat pantbrush (so you can lean hard on the bristles!!) - i`ve used both successfully on more stubborn tyres.
I have the cush core levers, they don't work on this one.
Can you stand on the tyre and pull at the rim to break it off? I've done that before in this situation, although it was a smaller cross tyre.
I've seen variations of easy / hard / impossible without a tool when removing a tyre with an insert. It's hard to understand how some combinations will absolutely weld the tyre to the rim. Definitely something to be aware of if you're riding remote on a gravel bike, say, running inserts.
Has anyone used the RIM SAVER Midweight, and if so have you got more than 2 years use out of it? I like th eidea of just some small protection to rim and tyre, but dont want full foam insert sucking up sealant. like others, im a serial rim and tyre destroyer so would like to save some money and grief..
these are rimpact pros, and with the light bicycle rims that have the little valley for the bead to setlle into
Sounds like the rim might be the culprit here rather than the insert? I've had WTBs with that sort of feature in the past and ended up destroying tyres, whilst removing them, without an insert in sight
but dont want full foam insert sucking up sealant.
That shouldn't happen unless you've accidentally used sponges instead
Insert is Absorbing Sealant | RIMPACT
I've been using rimpact (original) inserts for at least 5 years now and the only issue I have had with removing a tyre is with a Specialized Eliminator (original one, t7) on a DT471, like the OP the bead seemed to weld itself to the rim.
The only way to get it off was to remove valve core, let it deflate completely, and leave it in the sun for a while, then destroy the thumbs taking it off.
I change tyres a few times a year and have never had any problems.
Coincidentally, I've had magic mary radials on front and rear for a couple of months now ( no inserts ) and I'm going back to using my preferred specialized tyres with rimpact inserts, nothing wrong with the radials, I just prefer the feel and (especially) the profile of slightly squarer tyres.
I also had a pretty good rim whack at Ilkley on the radials which put a flat spot on the rim. I generally don't break components, or get flats, but the rimpacts have so little downsides for me, plus I like the damped feel.
I think you can run into bad luck with certain combos, just like when we started using tubeless and some tyre, rim, sealant, tape combos just didn't want to seal.
I love my inserts, until I got a conti tyre, & tried 8 times (once to a bike shop) to get it installed & inflated.. finally managed it & then broke my collarbone… came back to a flat tyre 8 months later & tried again with a weakened dominant arm & dumped the insert, after it took me a whole evening just trying to get the tyre off. They do work well but sometime they aren’t worth the hassle
d the only issue I have had with removing a tyre is with a Specialized Eliminator (original one, t7) on a DT471,
Nooooo!
I've got this exact combo stuck after forcing the insert in and realising I'd damaged the tape on inflation, so it doesn't hold air.
Might need to introduce it to the vice like I did the Michelin Wild Enduro that got stuck before.
The last 2 tyres I've written off have been on the front while only running an insert in the rear. Now I run a pair at all times on both bikes.
My local trails are Peak District and Wharny though. Lots of big sharp rocks and always a steep, fast option.
If there was no call for inserts I wouldn't bother but they've saved me a small fortune in tyres and rims.
d the only issue I have had with removing a tyre is with a Specialized Eliminator (original one, t7) on a DT471,
Nooooo!
I've got this exact combo stuck after forcing the insert in and realising I'd damaged the tape on inflation, so it doesn't hold air.
Might need to introduce it to the vice like I did the Michelin Wild Enduro that got stuck before.
It might have been a butcher actually, either way, completely out of the ordinary and I've used loads of Spesh tyres (Butcher & Hillbilly mainly) on 471s and never had any problems.
d the only issue I have had with removing a tyre is with a Specialized Eliminator (original one, t7) on a DT471,
Nooooo!
I've got this exact combo stuck after forcing the insert in and realising I'd damaged the tape on inflation, so it doesn't hold air.
Might need to introduce it to the vice like I did the Michelin Wild Enduro that got stuck before.
It might have been a butcher actually, either way, completely out of the ordinary and I've used loads of Spesh tyres (Butcher & Hillbilly mainly) on 471s and never had any problems.
I'll find out later this year. I've currently got Ground Control Grids on ex471s with Rimpact V1 inserts on two bikes and both will get chunkier treaded tyres ahead of winter...
The method I use with any tyre where it's impossible to break the bead (has never failed, with any insert, cushcores, rimpact pros etc) is to put the wheel down on a solid surface, stand on the tyre (not rim), both feet opposite sides across the diameter and apply weight and slight bounces (if necessary) until the tyre bead breaks away. Was nervous doing it the first time, thought I'd damage the wheel but was at my wits end trying to break the bead away. Have used this method on at least 20 tyres, never failed and never damaged a wheel.
(let as much air as possible out first)
Some of the comments here terrify me.
I've just bought a Kryptotal Enduro Rear and looking at it, the side walls are TOUGH. Particularly around the bead.
I struggled to get a worn out SE5 off the wheel the other day with a Rimpact V1 fitted. The thought of getting the Kryptotal on with the insert is already giving me anxiety.
I get that fitting/ removing a tyre with an insert is more difficult. The insert takes up the space in the centre of the rim that you need to shove the tyre into.
I don't see how it makes the tyre seem welded to the rim though.
I've had that tyre on and off that rim at least 6 times. Never had a problem. Then I fitted an insert and the bloody thing did NOT want to move. Why does that happen??
With a brand new Continental wash it first with soapy water or IPA. They're quite oily from new, I imagine it's some kind of mould release or some other manufacturing leftover.
They're greasy to the touch and very, very tacky. It makes them incredibly difficult to slide onto a rim.
I noticed they're much easier to fit and remove after a few rides once the polish has worn off.
I found the Kryptotal Enduro rear was quite a loose fit, so it might not be too bad. The DH front was very tight. Not only are they different casings but they come from different factories.
The only time I've had a tyre insert the rim just cut through it like butter and pinched the tyre anyway, multiple times. I think the Roval aluminium rims have a particularly narrow sharp bead which doesn't help. No doubt I could get a tougher tyre insert, but didn't really see much benefit for me.
I’m a serial wheel breaker, Rimpact pros stop that (mostly 🤣 ) so are a yes for me. They are currently on 8 wheels and I’ve done a few friends too recently. Some tyres are slightly more challenging but it is a lot easier the more you do. To remove, for medium to somewhat challenging tyres, I use one of those pump / grips with rubber heads and it’s pretty easy to pop off. For absolute arse tyres, I carefully support the rim on the floor, stand on the adjacent rim, grip the tyre and essentially do a deadlift action. Even if it felt completely stuck, it just pops straight off, although I realise this technique may not be to everyone’s taste! I’ve had similar with non insert tubeless too.
For putting them on, tyre straps, work round several times and low profile tyre levers (not the cushcore tool which is awful and easy to damage rim tape), usually takes 5-10 minutes at most.
After lots of issues, I now only use Rimpact valves and I have a sealant syringe that I got from Amazon that includes a thin steel injector you can push through the insert if you need to. I also now only use muc off sealant, thin but effective, lots of sealants are too thick! If you have a different valve (or any) and air isn’t coming out then just stick a WD40 / other lubricant nozzle through, you know, the thin red detachable plastic delivery tubes. 🙂
I've just bought a Kryptotal Enduro Rear and looking at it, the side walls are TOUGH.
Good luck with that!- i`ve had 3 flint cuts in 3 months on the enduro casing. Tough they are not. 2 front 1 rear. my sidewalls are now more specialized grid siewall glued to it than the orginal conti!
the cut int eh rear with teh insert made me cry with dispair as it was only on a week and it was a battle to get the insert in (and out)! haha.
FYI no cuts on the schwalbe supergravity casings for over a year before - same trails, same bike.
+1 for Supergravitys. No need for inserts, they're so tough they stand up by themselves.
Well the vittoria air liner pliers has worked, still a fight even with them though, they are barely big enough for a 2.4 tyre and the handles really need to be better designed to spread the load for the force required, but I have it done without cutting the tyre off.
I put it down to a tight rim and tyre combination, the insert making that worse and the crappy silca sealent that had blocked the valve up too much to allow the tyre to deflate sufficiently.
A little tip for anyone that removes the valve core and still can't let the air out the tyre.
Just undo the locknut on the valve and push it into the rim.
No need for fannying about with straws or poking allen keys into the valve.
A good trailside technique for breaking the bead is to put the wheel on the floor at 45 degrees with your knees either side of the wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock. Then grab the tyre at 12 o'clock as close to the bead as possible.
Then pull back and down. You can use a fair amount of your body weight this way instead of just trying to squeeze the tyre with your fingers.
Honestly inserts aren't that difficult to work with.
Go and try an MX tyre and Mouse then come back and tell me that an MTB insert is difficult. 😉
Having said all that I'm not a fan of inserts for other reasons and much prefer to use a stronger tyre with more pressure where possible.
A little tip for anyone that removes the valve core and still can't let the air out the tyre.
Just undo the locknut on the valve and push it into the rim.
Even this didn't work for me once. I believe the insert had separated the tyre into two air chambers. I put a drill but up the valve to make an air release hole. Since then, I always punch out such a hole using an old biro casing before fitting them.
If you can’t get the valve to release the air, even taking the lock nut off, before resorting to cutting the tyre off the rim to let the air out, maybe just put a hole in the tyre. You can always fix it with a mushroom plug after.
Tuping this blind due to how awful this website is, hopefully it’s legible.
