It’s not uncommon for motorists to be out on the road and get a flat tire. When this happens, you should be able to simply pull over to the side of the road, change the tire, and be on your way. Learn how to get a stuck tire off.
However, sometimes the tire can become stuck on the wheel, making it difficult or impossible to remove. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. There are a few things you can do to try and get the stuck tire off.
One of the first things you can try is to use a wrench or other tool to loosen the lug nuts that hold the tire in place. Once they are loosened, you may be able to wiggle the tire off by hand. If this doesn’t work, you can try using a tire iron to pry the tire off. Insert the tire iron under the edge of the tire and lever it up. You may need to use a lot of force to get the tire to budge, so be careful not to damage the wheel in the process.
In this article, we will further discuss how to get a stuck tire off of your wheel.
Why Do Wheels Get Stuck?
Although there isn’t a sure-fire answer to this, the most common and obvious answer is corrosion. Over time, your wheels will slowly start to rust and build up grime. This can make it more difficult to remove the tire, as there is less of a smooth surface for the tire to grip onto.
Another possibility is that the lug nuts have become seized onto the wheel. This can happen if they haven’t been removed in a long time, or if they were tightened too much when last put on.
How to Remove a Stuck Wheel or Tire
You can try the following tips to remove a stuck wheel or tire:
1. Driving on Loose Lug Nuts
If the lug nuts are only lightly tightened, you may be able to drive the car forwards or backward just a bit to loosen up the tire from its hub. This won’t work if the lug nuts are seized onto the wheel or if they are too tight and are only meant for attempting to get the tire off.
2. Apply Rust Penetrating Spray
You can purchase rust penetrating spray from your local hardware store. This type of spray is designed to help loosen up rusted surfaces. Simply apply the spray to the wheel and let it sit for a few minutes before trying to remove the tire again.
3. Kick by Using Your Foot
Sounds more like something a frustrated kid would do, but it can actually work. Sometimes giving the tire a good hard kick with your foot can be enough to loosen it up and get it off the wheel as long as the force should help knock some of the rust off that has been acting as cement in between.
4. Use Lumber and Hammer
If you have some sturdy lumber and a hammer, you can try to use this method to pry the tire off. Place the wood against the tire and hit it with the hammer until the tire pops off. You want to make sure that the wood is thick enough so that it doesn’t splinter and damage your wheel.
5. Crowbar Between Hub and Rim
This is the last resort method as it can damage your wheel if not done properly. You’ll want to place the crowbar between the hub and the tire’s rim. Once it’s in place, start prying the tire off by moving the crowbar back and forth until the tire pops off.
6. Take Your Car to a Service Station
If you’re still having trouble getting the tire off, it’s best to take your car to a service station or a mechanic. They will have the proper tools and experience to remove the tire without damaging your wheel.
How to Prevent Stuck Tire
There are some things that you can do to prevent your tires from becoming stuck on the wheel again:
Step 1. Use a Metal-bristle Brush to Scrub the Wheel Hub and Bolts
You can use a metal-bristle brush to scrub the wheel hub and bolts. This will help remove any rust or grime that has built up over time.
Step 2. Apply Anti-seize Grease on the Back of the Wheel
Apply a thin layer of anti-seize grease on the back of the wheel. This will help create a barrier between the metal and the air, which can help prevent rust in the future.
Step 3. Attach the Wheel Back to Your Vehicle
Once you’ve removed the stuck tire and cleaned the wheel, you can then attach the wheel back to your vehicle. Make sure to tighten the lug nuts securely, but don’t overtighten them as this can cause them to become seized on the wheel again.
Conclusion
If you find yourself with a stuck tire, don’t panic. There are a few things that you can try to remove. If all else fails, you can always take your car to a service station or mechanic and they can help get the tire off for you. Just be sure to take some preventive measures in the future to help prevent this from happening again. Thanks for reading!
