Tire Bead seating Techniques?

[getlost4x4]

So I took a spare Land Rover Alloy in a 16" flavor with a used 285/75/16 E tire to a shop near me to have it mounted and balanced.

They could not the outer bead seated. He said he used tire grease, which I don't know if I believe because there was no residue left anywhere. He said he only put 80 psi in the tire to try to seat the bead as well. he was scared to go over that.

I used to work at a small euro garage back in the low point of employment a few years ago. I've changed quite a few really hard low profile tires and never had this issue. I put tires on my Range Rover that were E range originally and couldn't get them to seat until I used some Starting Fluid. Poof, they seated.:Wow1:

So last night I soaped the hell out of the rim and tire bead and broke out the starting fluid. granted it was probably a 10 year old bottle of it. I only got one good ignition, but it would not totally seat it. I used large copious amounts of the product without a good explosion.

I then broke out a 20K lbs ratchet strap and tried again, no luck. I cannot for the life of me get it seated.

The tires are old and crusty stiff as hell Toyo's. I just wanted a full size spare. Any ideas. Is Discount Tire or Big-O better at setting these things?

The wheel has a weird ring inside where the bead sits. its almost like a bead lock. i've never seen anything like it before.

 

[Martyn]

The ring inside the bead is the safety, typical for most wheels.

Seating a tire on the bead is usually a straight forward matter. I would assume that the tire shop inspected the tire and wheel to see if there were any issues. Older tires that have been used as spares dry out from lack of use, the oils in the rubber need to be heated by driving on them, it could be the tires are just inflexible now.

The tire may seat using higher air pressure, a shop with a cage may be willing to try this for you.

Please be very careful with the starting fluid and ratchet strap. Lots of cases of catastrofic injuries caused by this combo.

 

[ZG]

I had a similar problem with mine, which is exactly why I still run the stock alloys. They hold a bead extremely well, and they're decently strong.

Just go to a place that knows what they're doing, how hold are the tires?

 

[getlost4x4]

The tires seem to be pretty old. Not a lot of tread left, but they were going to be spares. My current tires are in great shape, only 6 months old. I usually put new tires on my range rover every 2 years.

I have steel wheels on my range rover now. I bought these aluminum wheels to use as spares.

It was only 35 degrees outside when I was working with the tire. So it wasn't very pliable.

 

[nfbeckman]

The rover alloys do seem to have larger ring behind the bead than most other vehicles. Id get a clip on tire chuck and set the tire outside in the driveway (away from small animals or yourself) and fill it till it seats. Itll get on there

 

[Red90]

Have YOU tried lubricated the bead and airing them up? Get everything inside, so it is warm.

 

[getlost4x4]

Yes. I soaped it up very well. i even tried silicon spray. I'm going to have my wife run it down to Big-O later today to see if they can seat it. I'm trying to take my rover down to Southern Utah for the weekend tomorrow, so I need it done ASAP!

 

[ZG]

My only reason for asking the age is that some bigger tire shops won't install a tire that's over 7 years old.

 

[roverandom]

The stock LR alloys are the hardest to seat and best at keeping a bead at low PSI I have ever come across.

Your old tyre and temperature are the two major issues working against you. My advice, buy a new tyre. Even if is just a cheapo all season. Do you really want a crusty worn out tyre for a spare anyway?

 

[brickpaul65]

Not that I am very knowledgeable in most things, but I was going to suggest a different tire...I just did not want to come across as a "buy something else" as opposed to helpig you actually solve your problem.

I have never been able to buy a used tire. I just can't do it. This is probably in part to a my experience in high school. My dad and I rebuilt a 1951 Chevy pick up. The tires that were on it were literally unused but there age was unknown. The truck was finished and I was driving it around for about a month. I had saved up enough to order new tires and wheels. Placed the wheel order. Two days later, driving home from work on the intersate, it was raining and I had a blow out, veered between two semi's, hit a concrete gaurd rail in the median, back across between the semi's off a 4 ft drop into a bluff.

No injuries other than a concussion. The truck was fixed because my dad is amazing. I also never skimp on tires or brakes. That does not mean I only buy michelin sport cups, just a quality tire, rotor, and pad.

Good luck and be safe. I am also jealous that you are taking a trip!

 

[getlost4x4]

my truck doesn't see many miles other then trips to go play with it. its been through a few times since I have owned it. its pretty reliable. i wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross country for any reason.

I'm going to just get another tire like the ones I already have on it shipped to me. then switch the steel wheels for the alloys and use a steel wheel for the spare. I'd like to loose some weight. these pro-comp steel wheels weigh a ton. way to heavy, and the powder coating is starting to come off.

 

[DividingCreek]

I first saw the ether thing done in a lava field in Iceland in December 2003, worked like a charm.

We have used it on the farm with really thick low speed ag tires on stuff like balers and always seems to work if you jack it up so the tire is off the ground. Surprised it didn't work for you

 

[getlost4x4]

Well I took it too Big O. There was a chunk missing out of the tire bead. So it was letting air out. I purchased another better used tire and had them install it. It went on without too much problem.

Dude said it was still extremely hard to get it seated with that bead in there.

He thought it was a cool design though.