How to Remove a Valve Stem With Tubeless Mountain Bike Tires

Some mountain bike tires today feature tubeless technology. Once properly mounted and inflated, the tire beads seal against the sides of a specially designed rim. The design eliminates the need for an inner tube. Like traditional, inner tube tires, a tubeless mountain bike tire uses a valve stem in order to pass air into and out of the tire as needed. The appropriate wheel must first be removed from the bicycle before the valve stem can be removed.

Instructions

1. Unscrew the lock nut from the tip of the valve stem so that the lock nut is fully extended.

2. Press the tip of the lock nut, expelling air from the tire. Continue to press the lock nut until all air has been removed from the tire.

3. Pinch the tubeless mountain bike tire’s sidewalls toward one another until one of the beads dislodges from its channel inside the tire. The bead is the section of tire that forms a seal against the rim.

4. Push the loose bead out of its channel all the way around the rim, rotating the wheel as needed.

5. Force the loose bead into the center of the rim, again rotating the wheel as needed.

6. Place the mountain bike wheel upright with the stem at the top. Push the loose bead directly above the stem up and away with your thumbs, revealing the base of the valve stem.

7. Grasp the base of the stem and remove it from its hole in the rim.

References

• ParkTool: Tubeless Tire Mounting and Repair
• "Bicycle Maintenance & Repair for Road and Mountain Bikes"; Todd Downs; 2005