Darn Garden tractor tire will not seat.

jobguy · Apr 17, 2011

I use a Harbor Freight small tire changing tool to remove and replace small tires. But!!!!! The tires are flattened and strapped for shipping thus the tire has no form to easily seat or even come close to seating the bead once on the rim. Using a ratchet strap only makes about one third of the tire seat. If tires were allowed to ship in their natural shape seating would not be a problem. I think I will find something else to do for the rest of the day. If any of you have suggestions please let me know. I am afraid of using the lighter fluid or similar methods. I like my hands where they are. Thanks

Chooglin · Apr 17, 2011

Alot of times,if you remove the valve from the valve stem,it will allow a larger volume of air to enter the tire.

moored4 · Apr 17, 2011

jobguy said:
I use a Harbor Freight small tire changing tool to remove and replace small tires. But!!!!! The tires are flattened and strapped for shipping thus the tire has no form to easily seat or even come close to seating the bead once on the rim. Using a ratchet strap only makes about one third of the tire seat. If tires were allowed to ship in their natural shape seating would not be a problem. I think I will find something else to do for the rest of the day. If any of you have suggestions please let me know. I am afraid of using the lighter fluid or similar methods. I like my hands where they are. Thanks

As i was reading this the spray can trick was forming in my mind! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

You need to use a longer match stick or a hand held torch!:thumbsup:

RalphVa · Apr 18, 2011

I do all the following:

1. Remove valve stem.
2. Put ArmorAll around the bead.
3. Apply tension strap to squash beads out.
4. Use 120 psi air.

When beads pop out. Release air and put valve stem in. Put air back in. Immediately release strap if beads appear seated.

Those little tires are tough. I've mine on a 3 month cycle on my Outlook calendar to put air in them (also check air in all vehicle's tires) to make sure none of the little tires come loose from their rims.

Ralph

SandburRanch · Apr 18, 2011

If time isn't of essence, make a spreader and insert inside over shooting the normal shape by a large margin. Leave it in the sun or another heat source for awhile and see if that helps.

Car Doc · Apr 18, 2011

The strap is the best and taking the valve out of the stem and using lots of pressure. I have done all the above and still had to use starting fluid and a bic fireplace lighter its scary and takes a little practice but the heat helps the tire soften up too.

A tube would solve the problem all together.

oldnslo · Apr 18, 2011

If you have time letting it sit in the sun with a couple blocks of wood holding the beads apart will help get the tire back to its intended shape. An Inner tube inflated inside the tire is the best for this since it stretches the tire evenly.

Another trick is use a small inner tube and place it between the tire side wall and rim. This will some times hold in enough pressure to get the tire to seat. Problem is finding a small enough tube to do this.

Roy

deepNdirt · Apr 20, 2011

Here's what I do: (when bench-top mounting a tire) once the tire is mounted onto the rim I take a small pc of wood like a 1" x 2" stock approx 12" ....... once already having applied pressure with my foot against the rim pushing it into the other side of the tire I will take the wood stick and reach through taping the tire bead onto the rim seat, Once you have one side seated good take the wheel/tire and set it over something that will allow the wheel to fall through but still holds the tire from going through, I use a car wheel/rim,

As already mentioned remove the stem core and start inflating while pushing downward on the rim into the larger rim or what ever it is you choose to use, this will assist the sidewall of the tire to inflate into the other side of the rim,.... done it many times

it does help to have an assistant to put the air in while your pushing down on the rim,

If you choose not to try this

then get some blocks of wood 3 or 4 will do approx the size width of the tire a little wider will help, then wedge the blocks into the tire spreading the bead apart, lets set in the sun for a few hours, Hopefully the tire will loose it deformed shipping memory, :thumbsup:

Edit: I should also mention that its a good idea to seat the back side of the rim first, so's that the valve stem will be accessible at the top,

2manyrocks · Apr 20, 2011

It's helpful to have an air nozzle with the clip that will hold itself on the tire inflation valve. That leaves both hands free to try to push and pull on the tire to help seat it.

Also, as others said, you need to remove the valve core to get as full a flow of air as you can get. I had to take the guts out of my air nozzle so it would work since I take the valve core out.