seating the bead on a tire

When you are repairing or replacing a tire on your vehicle it is often hard to get the bead to seat onto the rim. An easy way to do this is with a can of ether/starting fluid. A quick, very quick shot of starting fluid, into the tire where the rim meets the bead and is not seated, just a psst, that long, just psst, say it with me psst,,,I knew you could. Then drop a match into the bead/rim area and there will be a 'pop' or bang and viola' the bead is seated. DO NOT use more than a psst's worth of starting fluid,,,,,BIG BANG can happen. Use all due care and caution, safety glasses and a fast jump back are advised.

+insert disclaimer+ not my problem if you blow up your tire and/or self
snowbyrd

 

I've seen this in action. Boy is it scary, but it works.

First you should take a ratchet strap and put it on the outside of the tire and tighten it up. While it pushes on the middle of the tread it pushes out on the part that is touching the rim. If this doesn't seat the tire on the rim leave it on and use the ether trick.

 

Re: seating the bead on a tyre

One time we did it on a 42" super swamper in the middle of the Little Sluice on the Rubicon Trail and that was a sight to see. Scared the crap out of every living thing for a half mile radius.

Careful is good.

 

Re: seating the bead on a tyre

For the less pyrotechnically inclined, a ratchteting strap tightened around the centerline of the tire may do the trick. Soap, shampoo, butter, or whatever is expedient should be slathered around the bead's faces. I've done this with up to a 33" a/t with a 12v $8 air compressor.

Andrew

 

Re: seating the bead on a tyre

Remember>> just a 'psst' into it Repeat after me a 'psst' no more no less just a 'psst'. Had a mech dump almost a half can into an 18 wheeler tyre and '''''''''boy did we run''''''''' big big POP heee heee
Remember just a 'psst', that is all you need, press the can and say 'psst', all you need. ha ha
I have tried the strap thing,, never had too much luck with it.
My BOV has split rims..................OK I hear ya'll screaming about them. wrap a tow chain before ya inflate them...............Not for the neophite, not for the faint of heart, but for me it works.......splits will kill you if you know not what you are doing,,,,,,find an old guy to teach you.....if they will...

the still wandering snowbyrd

 

ahahahaaaaaaaa......thanks for the tip, but I'm already missing enough body parts......I'd sorta like to die with what's left.

I'll take a 2" wide heavy ratchet strap and squeeze bottle of dish washing soap any time

 

Or you could just by a couple of tools and do it the right way

 

Re: seating the bead on a tyre

I have done it many times sucessfully.
The ratchet strap method works good too.

 

Re: seating the bead on a tyre

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Re: seating the bead on a tyre

Ive used the ratchet strap meathod several times, main thing I have found is that if you dont have a compresor with a holding tank where it will give a burst of air and or beat the tire as the air goes in then I havent had any luck at it. IF you can put a lot of air in fast then it works well. I dont think I would be able to get it done with a 12v air compressor.

Dose removeing the vaulve core still let it set with the either meathod and keep it from trying to suck down back off the bead as it cools like for if you just have the slow 12v pump that wouldnt air it up quick enouph to counteract the vacume created by the air in it cooling back down? I could see it being a good alternative for a roadside repair where didnt have the stuff to seat it 'the right' way or if the ratchet strap wouldnt work.

 

Re: seating the bead on a tyre

Monkeyman on this vid you can hear the air (hot gases) escaping through the valve stem

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Re: seating the bead on a tyre

ratchet strap and compressor method

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Re: seating the bead on a tyre

Ok, I wasnt sure if might have been a reason it wouldnt work but THOUGHT that might make it SLIGHTLY safer and also avoid the problem shown in the first video where the tire sucked in and looked like it was going to pull back off the bead as the air inside cooled after the explosion/fire causeing the vacume.

 

The trick is to not use too much ether (starting fluid) and you can leave the valve stem in, you can always try it again. I don't think I'd stand over it with a bic lighter and light it. I've heard of hairspray working also, I wouldn't imagine other propellants would work. No sense in blowing one self up trying to get back on the road.

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Never found a need to use ether on anything exceept a rear tractor tire. Lube the tire bead and rim (both sides), Push down on the tire forcing the bead to seat on the rim, turn the tire/rim assy over letting the weight of the tire sag the lower bead onto the rim. a little nudging may be necessary to effect a seal while airing up.

 

a spray of carburetor cleaner and one of those extended bbq lighters works on my lawn tractor tires.."WHOOOUUUMP."