Operating head for removing and fitting tyres on rims for vehicles

The operating head (1) for removing and fitting wheel tyres for vehicles comprises supporting means (2) associable with a tyre-changing machine (A), a reference element (4) associated with the supporting means (2) and positionable in the proximity of a section of the edge (F) of the rim (C) of a wheel (D) fixed on the tyre-changing machine (A), during the removal operation of a tyre (B) from the rim (C), a removal tool (3) having a free extremity (6) substantially hook-shaped, associated with the supporting means (2) and movable between a fastening position, wherein the tool (3) extends from the supporting means (2) beyond the reference element (4) to fit between the edge (F) of the rim (C) and the tyre (B) and to position the free extremity (6) below the bead (G) of the tyre (B), and an extraction position, wherein the free extremity (6) is arranged in correspondence to the reference element (4) to extract the bead (G) of the tyre (B) above the edge (F) of the rim (C), and positioning means (16) for positioning the tool (3) in a disengagement position, wherein the tool (3) is substantially moved away with respect to the reference element (4).