Flat tire? Bead off the rim? Now what?

[1stDeuce]

Of course, you gotta get some real air into it ASAP, as the hot stuff will start to condense, and possibly even let the bead pop off.

Pull the valve core. That way as it's cooling, it'll just suck in air, instead of pulling the bead back off... Also helps keep from damaging the tire if you happen to use a little too much starting fluid.

And with no core, the tire will air up about 10x faster... I run it up to the desired pressure or a little higher, which only takes a few seconds, then jam the core in and tighten it, and then adjust the pressure to suit. Way faster than airing up from zero with the core in... Just don't loose the core while you're trying to jam it in as air is rushing out!

FWIW, I've never gotten WD40 to work for this, only good starting fluid. I have some cheap starting fluid that just burns like WD40... I just use that can for starting stuff.

 

[Sonny580]

Tire soap, (murphys oil soap mixed in water),--Cheeta ( 5 gallon size) , and 3- handle tire strap, usually gets me going.--Ether is for guys who don't like living.---I never saw that it worked.--guys putting my house siding burned up a skidloader tire trying that stuff.---loader was only a few feet from the house!
Most usually I get them on without any trouble IF tire and rim match. thanks; sonny

 

[JRobyn]

I'd be leery of tire-rim slippage on any Criscoed tire beads that are needed to transmit torque!

 

[lennyzx11]

I support the rubber tire on a couple of blocks with the rim hanging free between the blocks. Then I step on the rim in hopes of getting the rim to slightly set into the tire bead.
Then, carefully turn the wheel assembly over and remove valve stem. Connect the air hose and gently push down on the rim to close the gap on that side while not pushing the rim out of the bottom bead.
It's a knack but has worked for me for 20 years after an old tractor mechanic showed me.

 

[Texasmark]

CRISCO is the answer! I encountered the usual problems in trying to seat the beads on a tubeless 14.9-24 tractor tire. Ineffective squeeze from cargo straps around the circumference, inadequate large volume air supply, cold temperature that made the rubber less flexible, ineffective rubber lubricants and canola oil, front end loader push down on upright tire, etc. - all failed. I noted that there were short lengths on both sides of the tire where air was escaping and was about to try filling with water as a last resort when I thought about using some sort of paste to put in the cracks along the beads to temporarily seal the air gaps and let the low volume air application push the tire sidewalls against the bead. I needed a paste-like substance that was not sticky but slick and would not harm the rubber like grease - an all-vegetable shortening like ... Crisco! I pushed the white shortening in the air gaps along the bead with a popsicle stick and then started applying the low volume air. The low air pressure on the sidewalls inside the the tire was enough to seal the gaps without blowing out the Crisco and the beads slowly moved until - pop! After working for hours with the other methods, this vegetable shortening lubricant/sealant technique worked in minutes on the first try. Eureka! - I could hardly believe it. Two ounces of shortening from a 48 ounce can (Aldi痴 brand Carlini <$3). Lesson learned - next?

Outstanding discovery. I too have similar problems any time I work with tires with wide rims. The last resort.....local tire shop uses a commercial paste on problem tires which does exactly what you discovered.........and as you found out, it works.

I think everybody needs to paste your answer on the wall near their air compressor. Crisco is "still" available around here too. If you want to make a decent pie crust that's what it takes.