Tyre changing apparatus and method for removing a tyre from a corresponding wheel rim

A tyre changing apparatus for removing a tyre (3) from a corresponding rim (4) of a wheel (2), a bead breaker tool movable towards and away from the supporting element (6) along a movement direction (B) with an actuator and control means (14) connected to the actuator. The control means (14) comprise a processor (18) which is set up to receive data representing a curve of the feed speed of the bead breaker tool (9) towards the supporting element (6) and which is programmed to identify a position of contact of the tool (9) with the tyre (3) as a function of a deceleration of the bead breaker tool (9).