Very stubborn TKC tire mounting

[tso650]

After wrestling this front tire on, I thouroughly sprayed it with windex and started inflating it. The bead sat perfectly everywhere besides one spot. And at that one spot it wont sit on either side of the tire. It is currently holding over 40lbs of air and still will not seat. I tried deflating bouncing around and inflating agian, still same problem. Any ideas? I can submit a pic if need be.

-Tim

[tso650]

Thanks anyways, just finished it. Deflated, used tons of soap and windex. Inflated, repeated 2 more times. That is one tight and sticky tire!

[randyo]

fwiw, next time try a tightening a belt/rope around the circumference of the tire like a turnequet , it forces the bead to spread

[rjudge]

After wrestling this front tire on, I thouroughly sprayed it with windex and started inflating it. The bead sat perfectly everywhere besides one spot. And at that one spot it wont sit on either side of the tire. It is currently holding over 40lbs of air and still will not seat. I tried deflating bouncing around and inflating agian, still same problem. Any ideas? I can submit a pic if need be.

-Tim

When I mounted TKC80s on a KTM 950 Adv I had, I had to go way above 40 PSI. I'm thinking around 70-80 PSI. I had it in a cage, just in case. I finally had to sand the "hump" on the rim down a little in one spot to facilitate seating of the bead, especially out on the trail. Also, I use Armorall on the bead to slick it up. I've had goo luck with it. Keep it AWAY from the tread. We used to use a mixture of dishwash soap-water-antifreeze in the tire store where I worked a long time ago.

The rope trick is only for getting the bead started when there is a big gap between the bead and the rim bead seat and not to make it finally seat. This is usually not a problem on these TKC80s. You need to remove the strap/rope before fully inflating to seat the bead or it could break and give you a whipping. :var_53:

Rick

[GrayWolf]

Just inflate until it seats and then let the air out and inflate to normal pressure. The chances of you putting enough air in the harm the tire is pretty low.

-GW

[Dr. M]

I took tire service training in 1974 when I worked at a friend's Chevron service station... often you have to exceed the rated tire pressure to get the bead to seat. So leave OUT the valve core from the valve stem so the excess pressure can be released immediately following seating. While it can take 60 psi or more to seat a tire, I have had two friends injured when a steel car rim failed during inflation and the air pressure was explosively released. One broken arm, hearing loss, and lots of cuts and bruises plus a hole in the garage ceiling 14 feet above the work location. That's why you see mounting cages at most truck tire service centers... there is a lot of energy in an inflated tire.

Always make sure the rim is absolutely clean of residual tire rubber before mounting. And while soap, windex, and nose snot can work, go visit the No-Mar tire changer website and buy yourself a jar of their mount lube. Less than $15 and you won't regret it. One pint will last you a very, very, long time. Here's the link:

http://www.nomar-secure.com/category_s/4.htm

I don't work for them, but I have one of the very first "classic" set ups and have been using it for just over two years. Paid for itself a year ago. I can assure you that their mount lube will get a tire to seat if the rim is clean.

My best-
Steve

[markjenn]

Excellent post. Most people get away with over-inflation to get the bead to seat, but you can't apply this indiscriminately. I get very nervous above 50 psi and generally would never go above 60 psi without having hearing protection and some kind of protection cage.

You always want to clean the bead seating surfaces during a tire change. I use WD40 and one of the plastic (not metal) scotch-brite-like pads and scrub down the bead surfaces very thoroughly. This usually cuts the old tire residue and gives a nice clean seating surface. Since doing this regimen, I've never failed to seat a bead with 40 psi or less.

And use proper lube. The OP said something about windex. Windex? Very soapy water will work in a pinch, but I bought a gallon of RuGlyde rubber lube a few years back and am still using it. Actual tire mounting paste is excellent too, of course. Waterless hand cleaner works very well. While it works Okay, I'm not a fan of WD40 which has solvents. You want a rubber-friendly lubricant, not a solvent.

- Mark

[gijoecam]

Tire mounting paste, and nothing else... I once had someone tell me that 90 PSI was OK to seat a bead... Until he busted a $400 rim. With the proper lube, I've never had to use more than teh maximum rated pressure to seat the bead of a tire... There's absolutely no need to. IMHO, if you find the need, something's wrong.

-Joe

[Skippii]

Huh.
When I have problems seating the bead, I can't get ANY pressure in the tire, let alone anywhere over 40.

Once I do start to get pressure in the tire, then I always get the pops around 20-40psi.