Can't get rear tire off

[Rick]

Hi, I have a 2007 Vibe. I was driving home from work yesterday and the passenger side rear tire went flat. I figured, "no problem" as I have changed plenty of tires before on other cars. I got the jack and spare out, removed the lug nuts, and the tire will not come off! I put the lugs back on loosely and rolled back and forth down the driveway thinking that maybe it was rusted and just needed to be loosened. No luck. It is like the lug nuts are still in place. The tire will not come off. I looked at the owner's manual thinking there must be something I am missing, but it is the standard description for taking a tire off. I must be missing something! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[KITT222]

My dad and I have had the same issue with my Vibe and my step-mom's Corolla, each with the rear driver-side wheel. When we did was take a mallet, and just hit the tire on the sidewall repeatedly, going around the tire. It'll come loose. Then, try to scrape off the rust on the centercap to keep it from happening again.

[tpollauf]

I just experienced this yesterday when I finally took off my winter "steelies" and put on the original GT 18" rims for summer. Had a block of wood & hammer & beat them loose. I've had auto mechanics tell me that in severe cases you loosen up the lug nuts a bit then drive the car. The rims will "loosen themselves" to where it breaks away and then it can be removed! This is probably not good for the lug nuts BUT at least the tire comes off.

[vibenvy]

Yep, as KITT and tpollauf said, this is completely normal. I have two sets of wheels and tires that I switch between for summer and winter. Whenever I am swapping them, I inevitably have to use a rubber mallet on at least one of the wheels. What I do is lay down (sort of under the front and/or rear of the vehicle - whichever is applicable - but not enough that you're actually totally under it - safety first!) so you can reach the backside of the wheel and I beat on (not too hard, but hard enough to loosen it up) the outer edge of the wheel right where it meets the tire with a rubber mallet. It usually only takes a couple hits and the wheel pops right off.

The hub gets rusted and sort of "bonds" with the center of the backside of the wheel causing the wheel to get "stuck" on the hub. I have heard of people using anti-seize on their hubs to avoid this, but have never personally tried it. I just clean off the rust as best I can before re-installing the wheels.

[bluneon]

applying a light coat of anti seize or grease to the center hub flange will help prevent corrosion and wheel seizure.

[Rick]

Thanks all! I got my rubber mallet and started on the side walls of the tire, but that didn't work. So, I hit along the rim more towards the center. Took several good bashes around the center but it finally came loose. I guess I had better add a rubber mallet to my car kit. I cleaned up the rust and wiped it down with a cloth. Hope that will help for the future. Thanks again!

[Salsa Guy]

A little anti-seize around the center Hub. Did the same on a break rotor center hub.

[thebarber]

A little anti-seize around the center Hub. Did the same on a break rotor center hub.

This.

[vibedrivermatt]

I realize I'm sorta late to the party but I've also been in this situation.

What you wanna do is get really, really mad! Then muster up all your strength and fury and kick the heck out of the tire as hard as you can. It WILL come off. Although doing this on a scissor jack may be a bit hazardous. If you are able to use jack stands that would be ideal.