how do you seat a tire bead?

[left4dawn]

I have heard of multiple way of seating a tire bead. which way do you do it?

I took off tires from 2, 1 piece rims i have and have put new tires on them, but dont know how i can seat the beads. i have used the starter fluid method before, when the bead fell off on just 1 side.

how would you go about filling tubeless tires up, if both beads arent seated?

 

[Swabbster]

i use straight dish soap on the rim and the tire and fill it up and press on it and it will pop on the bead most of the time

 

[left4dawn]

would that work for when both sides are unseated? right now the tire is on there, but wiggles back and forth

 

[KieranM]

Soap around the rim of the tire, then get somebody to press the tire against the actual rim and blow it up with an air compressor. Try putting pressure on both sides equally.

 

[mikes80kart]

Soap, and take the valve out also, air travels easier, and also if you get some rope and go around the middle of tire and tight as you can, usually works

 

[qtband]

Take an old belt and place it around the tread of the tire. Tighten by pulling on the belt. This will force the bead a little outward towards the rim. Place the rim (valve side up) on something like a coffee can so that the tire doesn't rest on the work surface, only the rim. One side of the tire will now be resting on the rim. It is important that you remove the valve core! You need the most air flow that you can get! Try to air the tire up and if you hear leaking from the top side, lift very slowly on the area that has the leak. If the hissing starts to go away, give it a second for the tire to catch. Once the tire starts to air up, your good. Put a few pounds of air in it to seat the bead then let the air out and remove the belt. The tire should stay seated. Replace the valve core and air the tire up to the desired amount. I don't use any lubricant when I use this method.
This is how we had to mount skinny tires on wide rims for cars!
Good Luck!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I use a ratchet strap around the tire when I have a particularly stubborn tire. Along with the soap, I also sometimes use a locking air chuck. Since it will stay on the valve stem on it's own, it frees up both my hands to manipulate the tire. Please be warned- when doing it this way, you MUST use the regulator on the compressor to limit the available air pressure to maybe 30 psi, because you may not be able to pull the chuck off fast enough when the tire inflates.

 

[OzFab]

I can't believe no one has mentioned this: Remove the valve centre from the stem. This will increase the amount of air flow & improve your chances. You can use any method mentioned above, but do this first

 

[Iron John]

X2000 on removing the valve stem. You can refill with air with the stem installed after the beads seat.

One important item to remember, regardless of what method or combination of methods you employ (ether, straps, soap, whatever) is to 'seat' one of the beads by hand. It will not be fully seated, but it has to be in proximity and 'attached'.

Do this by firmly pulling (or pushing) the tire one way or the other to get that bead to 'seat'. Now attach a clip-on air chuck with the valve stem removed.

Now squeeze-push the other bead on without disturbing the other side that you preliminarily seated.

Listen to where the air is escaping from, and tilt your push towards it.

All of a sudden, you will find the tire taking air and it will seat.

If not, go to plan B, using the other techniques. You will get it.

But you need to have one side pretty well closed up, even with the starter fluid method. BTW if you do that, you want the valve stem out as a safety - you are just 'exploding' things enough to seat the beads and not to potentially rip things apart (small tires are not as strong as a 44 inch mudder!). You do not need much ether to pop the beads on.

 

[spyder1968]

i built my own bead "blaster can" similar to the kind they use on truck tires. the only difference being a much smaller ball valve and narrower tip. usually works quite easily on the first try. they are fairly simple to build and will save you lots of time if you tend to do tire work frequently.

 

[Iron John]

i built my own bead "blaster can" similar to the kind they use on truck tires. the only difference being a much smaller ball valve and narrower tip. usually works quite easily on the first try. they are fairly simple to build and will save you lots of time if you tend to do tire work frequently.

That's a great idea. Did you need to use larger than a 3/4" ball valve?

 

[qtband]

....It is important that you remove the valve core! You need the most air flow that you can get! ....

I did mention it.....

 

[Swabbster]

i did not mension taking the valve core out because only some air chucks will fill it with no core, i have a pistol type one that works with no valve core, but straight soap on both sides clip the air hose to the steam and i use my knee and press down quick and it will add more pressure to pop the tire on the bead, if the bead got messed up when you installed the tire it may not hold air, i had a knobby 145/70-6 tire and i messed up the bead it would hold air for about a day, later on i put a lawnmower 13-5-6 tube, i will add one way is starting fluid and a lighter, you will spray a little in light it and it will pop on the bead and instantly air it up, the fire will air it up and then it will contract and pull it off the bead, i have had a tire blow up on me using starting fluid but the soap works every time

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I can't believe no one has mentioned this: Remove the valve centre from the stem.

...Then you ain't paying attention! ...

take the valve out also,

It is important that you remove the valve core! ... Replace the valve core and air the tire up

 

[OzFab]

I did mention it.....

...Then you ain't paying attention! ...

Ok, it was late after a big day, I must've missed them, sorry guys

 

[Blazkowiez]

I use grease on the cleaned bead of the rim to help the slide, soapy water for the rubber itself.

On stubborn tires I will use 4 items, first of which is a tie strap (ratcheting). Second is an actual tire strap, third is a cheetah (if you don't know what this is, look it up). Lastly I have gotten rather good at pressing tires against a wall at while inflating them. That is my main weapon.

Also on stubborn tires consider patience is you've got massive pressure and it won't pop over the safety bead, most tires have a max seating pressure and although I've exceeded this on several occasions I don't suggest this for others.

You may consider building a safety box and filling it from a distance with a long trailing chuck.

 

[spyder1968]

i will have to double check what size ball valve it is.( tank is at a friends house currently)

i THINK it was either a 1" or a 1 1/4". was easy to build too !

 

[fourtogo]

Hi this how mount tires. You need a piece of sheet metal the width of widest tire you are going to mount . The sheet metal will have to be able to rap over it's self . Lube rim and tire bead with dish soap < no water needed . Rap sheet metal around rim, use a winch tie down strap snug strap down on tire and sheet metal. Check tire beads are flat and even on both sides . Take valve core out, blow up tire till beads seat. Release air reinstall valve core inflate tire . Check both sides on bead for even mount surface. Wipe soap off tire and rim combo are ready to use. One more thing never stand over tire while inflating. They do sell tire rings for doing all this also . I have been using method for a while . All ways safety first . If you don't feel it's work right STOP AND START OVER.

 

[Iron John]

i will have to double check what size ball valve it is.( tank is at a friends house currently)

i THINK it was either a 1" or a 1 1/4". was easy to build too !

Sounds like an easy addition to any portable air tank.