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Mounting tire issue

M

MH

Member
Just mounted a set of new 18.4-34 firestone tires and tubes and I am having trouble getting the bead to seat. Have put up to 50lbs of pressure in them, loaded the tires and driven around on them. The bead just will not seat completely (rims are clean).

Anybody have any suggestions or tricks? I am just about at a loss on this one.
 
I always use tire lube for putting tires on. Makes it easy and you don't hurt the tire bead. Something I learn from years of tire and tractor tires, Fray lube is the best for me. I use dish soap and water to break the beads when taking off tire rims. Once you start using it changing tires is easy.
 
I used motor oil until someone said it would attack the tube and tire. (I put the tires on that particular tractor in the mid 90s and they are stil up.)

Then I switched over to Dawn dish detergent, it works pretty well if you can get some between the rim and tire.

We use NAPA Ruglyde (sp.?) here at work on lawnmower tires.

I have had some that just had to sit in the Sun for a while with max bead sealing pressure in them. If you are close by you will sometimes hear them pop when they finally seat. Then let them down to regular pressure.

These are just a few suggestions, the safety factors and risk is all yours.
 
We have lubed the rim...just being stubborn. Never have had this much trouble before. Guess we could try silicone. They are sitting in the sun now, we will see it that softens them up.
 
50PSI is in the danger zone and even the tire will tell you not to do that 30-35 is max.
Dish sop or if that does not work go to a tire shop and get some Murphy's soap which is a grease like stuff but water based made just for mounting tires
 

Driving around on them with lube on them is what worked for me, but you need to drop the pressure down about 10 lbs. below normal for them to be able to slip.
 
You can get the liquid form of tire grease(Murphy's oil soap) at a grocery store. When I have had the trouble you describe, I have had to deflate the tire, try to push it back away from the bead, and lubricate.
 
For getting the bead to pop or for air pressure. ??? Have never seen a tire yet that said such but not been doing tire repair for a living for a decade or more now
 
MH. Been in your position many times. You didn't mention what you were using for rubber lube. Don't bother to mess with dish soap. It is not slick enough for this use and it will shear out between the tire and rim. With Firestone's you will need a professional tire lube, a lube brush helps but not a necessity. Jack up each tire, push them away from the rim, lube everything very well and try it again. NAPA or car quest sells a good brand. I still get mine through the tire dealership I used to own. Get the liquid stuff and use it full strength, don't cut it with water, that takes away a lot of the lubricity.
 
Knock the beads loose again and add more soap or what ever lube you are using. I hear veggie oil works very well (local tire guy uses it) have yet to try it though
 
Your friendly tire store may give you enough of their gorilla snot to lube them. Mine did when I mounted my motorcycle tires. TDF
 
Like others said, go to truck or any tire business that does a lot of changing of large tires and get soap from them. My guy gave me a gallon that you dulute with water that really does the job. Watch your tubes and don't pinch them. I also have a bead breaker that works with a rachet. It cost around a $100 I think.
 
I have had better luck using Murphy's and having the tire standing up instead of laying down.
 
Thanks guys, Broke the bead down where it wasn"t seated and slicked it up with Murphys and that did the trick.
 
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