What are the techniques for removing tires with sensors?
2 Answers
Keep the bird head 10 cm away from the valve (the valve is located below the bird head), use a pry bar to lift the tire, select reverse rotation, and peel the tire bead past the valve. Then switch to forward rotation. During installation, position the valve at the 4~5 o'clock direction and use the auxiliary arm to prevent tire slippage.
I used to work part-time at a tire shop, and these sensor-equipped tires are particularly delicate. Before dismounting the tire, always use a marker to draw a circle near the valve stem to mark the sensor position—these things are expensive and can be ruined if hit by the tire machine. You must use a nylon tire lever head; metal ones can easily scratch the rims. When you reach the marked position, shield the sensor with your hand and insert the pry bar from the point farthest from the sensor. Apply plenty of lubricant to avoid damaging the tire bead from hard pulling. After mounting the new tire, don’t rush to inflate it—first check if the sensor wiring is properly seated in the rim groove. Inflate to 2.5 bar, then deflate to 1 bar, repeating this three times to ensure the tire bead fully seats against the sensor base. Finally, always use a torque wrench to tighten the valve cap—I’ve seen apprentices shatter sensors with an impact wrench in the shop.
