Seating new tires on rims

[Rustywreck]

after reading this, I watched some youtube videos of it being done. the explosion method seems to work, but don't know if I'd do it. I sure wouldn't do it with anyone watching - that usually guarantees I look like a fool.

 

[JimR]

after reading this, I watched some youtube videos of it being done. the explosion method seems to work, but don't know if I'd do it. I sure wouldn't do it with anyone watching - that usually guarantees I look like a fool.

I can only say that it works like a charm. I would not overload the tires with flammable liquid like I saw in the You Tube videos. I guess they did this to also inflate the tire at the same time. I will be using that method in the future for stubborn non road use tires.

 

[beenthere]

And this trick can cause a tire to go bouncing off into space (or your shop, or whatever else might be close by, including you). That prolly is the biggest danger, and not the explosion itself (unless lit by a cigarette lighter and a finger gets caught in the bead, or the arm sleeve goes up in flames. )
A good trick to know, and one to be very careful with, as already mentioned. My buddy tells of the lawn tractor tire that took off bouncing around the shop. Dented the ceiling and landed finally on a classic car being restored. Had to completely re-do the hood.

 

[NuBota]

I just did all four tires on my old lawn tractor a few weeks ago. The ratchet strap method worked fine for the front tires.

Had a devil of a time seating the first rear tire with the strap. Was real close to using the ether method - but was paranoid - so kept wrestling with the strap. Finally got out the torch and ether and an 18' telescoping pole - plan was to strap the propane torch to the pole and go out into the middle of the yard for my first attempt - just in case I used too much. It was late at night at this point so I decided to wait until morning. Made one last attempt with the strap, and hugging the tire and got it. Tried the second one same way and got it pretty quick.

So I will save the pyro method (long pole mode!) for another day.....

 

[sandman2234]

The main thing that concerns me with the petroleum based ether or gasoline is the effects on the tire long term. Especially if there is some residue left inside the tire that didn't burn due to some off the wall reason. Softening rubber to mount it, while making it easier to mount, might have long term effects on the lifespan of the tire. (ONLY a concern, not a validated reason!!) The company mounting the O/P tire should have been able to mount the tires on clean rust-free rims using the proper methods, but who knows all the varibles that they might have run into. If rim sizes vary as much as width sizes does, then it is possible that a slight difference in the overall diameter of the tire bead does affect the mounting of the O/P's tire. I recently purchased a pair of tires for my Steiner and the tires arrived with the correct markings, but OBVIOUSLY were not the same as the tires that I had already mounted. There is almost two inches difference in the width of the tires and are both marked exactly the same. So if the manufacturer can't get a width correct, why would any of us believe that diameter of the rim bead could be held in strict tollerance?
David from jax

 

[The Haymaker]

My NH sales rep was a tire guy in a past life. This was his method for doing truck tires in the back of his service truck. He said the one time he overdid it on a stubborn tire, he increased his headroom 3" in the truck. In other words, it's fine, just keep your head out of the predicted trajectory!

I've even used this on stubborn ties of my two-wheeler I peddle freight with. Grease on the beads also helps.

Other than an already compromised wheel failing, I don't see a huge safety issue with this. I don't think there's much you could do to a tire that is any worse than the stresses seen during normal use.

In my spud-gun hobby, the pressures created by ether, methane and butane is only around 60 psi, and that's in a much smaller chamber with the same amount of fuel.

 

[JimR]

My NH sales rep was a tire guy in a past life. This was his method for doing truck tires in the back of his service truck. He said the one time he overdid it on a stubborn tire, he increased his headroom 3" in the truck. In other words, it's fine, just keep your head out of the predicted trajectory!

I've even used this on stubborn ties of my two-wheeler I peddle freight with. Grease on the beads also helps.

Other than an already compromised wheel failing, I don't see a huge safety issue with this. I don't think there's much you could do to a tire that is any worse than the stresses seen during normal use.

In my spud-gun hobby, the pressures created by ether, methane and butane is only around 60 psi, and that's in a much smaller chamber with the same amount of fuel.

My thoughts exactly. The only tire bounce that should be experienced is from the tire expanding outwards toward the floor. Since the lower bead was already on, the bounce was miniscule. I will be doing this more in the future. No more straps to suck the widewalls out. This was so much easier to do. For the faint of heart, don't try it, it may scare the heck out of you. There is no loud bang either, just a pop as the tire seats on the rim.

 

[The Haymaker]

I do keep water handy because any ether in liquid form on the outside will burn.

I love my spigots in the shop!

 

[JimR]

I do keep water handy because any ether in liquid form on the outside will burn.

I love my spigots in the shop!

Remember that water should not be used on flammable liquids.

 

[The Haymaker]

Remember that water should not be used on flammable liquids.

Depends on the amount. Traces of ether or a burning engine, water will work fine. For larger spills or pools, no, water is bad. It'll spread/spatter.

I do have a few extinguishers down there too, but water is much easier when welding.... Or making noise inflating tires.