How to Get a Tire Bead to Seal

Ash Wervis · Monday, December 6, 2021

11-06-2012,07:58 AM #1

apriliaforum expert

Tire mounting - help setting a stubborn bead?

I'm mounting a new rear tire and can't get one of the beads to set (pop).
Can anyone offer me any "tricks of the trade" so I don't have to risk over-inflating the tire?
For example, I'm not having a problem obtaining the initial seal. A good tip for that is a ratchet around the circumference of the tire.
My tire seals, inflates, and holds air - just can't get the last bead to snap-in. The problem is that I've reach upwards to 55-60psi (which is way past my comfort zone), one bead has snapped in, but the other does not. Yes I have used (plenty) of lube, dead hammered the area, bounced the tire, etc... This is ridiculous ... I've mounted many tires on my own and never had one this stubborn before - man these Q2's are stiff!

If no one has any quick creative tricks, then I guess I'll just dismount the tire and inspect that area of the bead since it seems to be always hanging up in the same spot. FWIW, I have seen a tire having a small nodule of extra rubber sometimes... maybe this is another case of that... Aaarg!
11-06-2012,08:02 AM #2

apriliaforum expert

Lot's of tire lube on the rim and the bead area. If you don't have tire lube, use Windex. Don't be afraid to use the lube, it dries up and is not slippery after it dries.
Also, make sure you are beading it up with air with the valve core out.

Currently in my garage
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'15 Ducati Panigale 1299S
'15 Ducati Multistrada S (White)
'12 Aprilia Tuono APRC (Yellow)
'98 Yamaha R1
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11-06-2012,08:34 AM #3

apriliaforum expert

We use one of these. Works every time. Maybe you can contact a local shop 'cause they ain't 'zactly cheap.
I see this problem a lot with internet purchased tires. They store them wrong for long periods and it deforms the tire.
11-06-2012,09:03 AM #4

apriliaforum Member

I had this a time or two, PITA
What I had to do was remove the ratchet strap after it will hold air. My guess is that it won't let the stiff tires expand enough.
I have a locking chuck so I put it on the tire, with the air line NOT hooked up to the compressor. Put the tire/ wheel in between
something immoveable like a tool box and a cabinet (standing up) and used 90+ psi.
11-06-2012,09:19 AM #5

apriliaforum expert

Originally Posted by Ace07

and used 90+ psi.

Holy shit that seems dangerous!

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11-06-2012,09:25 AM #6

apriliaforum expert

No. did it all day every day when I worked at a bike shop.

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11-06-2012,09:25 AM #7

apriliaforum expert

I ran into that problem awhile back on a Pirelli Angle ST. After several attempts, we realized it was the same exact spot that would not seat. We took the tire off the rim and inspected the bead. There was a bit of mold flash in that area. So, without another tire available, we cut the offending bugger off and the tire seated first attempt.
11-06-2012,09:27 AM #8

apriliaforum expert

When that happens, I would push that side of the tire in off the bead and start over on that side of the tire, but make sure that the part that didn't seatit self last time, seats it self first this time. This way the "pop" would happen at the area that was seated before. And yes, lots of windex.

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11-06-2012,09:33 AM #9

apriliaforum expert

A few techniques I use when changing tires, I haven't bought tires, for the street, locally since I don't know when. I have Dunlop Race Tire Service eight miles from my house, so I do buy my track tires from them.
If a mail order tire arrives packing tied out of shape, I use an inner tube and inflate it inside the new tire and sit it in the sun for a few hours.

I sit a new tire in the Sun and bring it in just before I'm about to mount it. I've thought about using my Tire Warmers to get some heat into a cold stiff tire, but haven't actually done that yet, anyone else tried this?

If after mounting, I can't get a bead to seal, I'll bounce the wheel and tire a little in that area hoping to move the bead a little and get a seal. If that doesn't work, I have a long 2" wide ratchet strap, I'll put that around the circumference of the tire and crank it down, this usually forces the beads out and a seal is achieved. If this fails, I then have a solid rubber donut that goes over the rim and creates a pretty good seal, by itself, between the rim and the tire. As I inflate, the tire bead pushes the donut off the rim, I've only used this twice in the past 15 years.

Currently in my garage
--------------------------
'15 Ducati Panigale 1299S
'15 Ducati Multistrada S (White)
'12 Aprilia Tuono APRC (Yellow)
'98 Yamaha R1
'93 Bimota Db2
'75 Honda CB400F

My Sons bikes
'07 Ducati 1098S
'08 KTM 250 XCW
'05 Honda 650XR
11-06-2012,09:35 AM #10

apriliaforum expert

Leave the wheel indoors overnight so the rubber can warm up and soften a bit, spray in a bit of soapy water, and fire in up to 90psi without the valve....she'll pop....promise.
11-06-2012,10:59 AM #11

apriliaforum expert

Just to re-iterate, I'm not having a problem getting a seal or holding air. Problem is seating the final bead in. A fast in-rush of air or the ratchet strap technique is mainly for getting an inital seal started, while high psi is for setting that bead into the rim lip.
Yup, I've tried plenty lube too. Even thinking about giving KY a try :P

@Tifa - Sure, I can try the 90psi (my compresser will handle that no problem). I'm just worried as anything above 60 psi is virgin for me and outside my comfort zone. If I try 90, I'll 1st need to get far away from the tire, aka need to buy a dump valve and screw-on fitting so I'm not crouched over the tire.

@srastoder - Yup, I'm with you on that... I tried to get the problem side to set-in 1st, even put shims around the other areas but it won't go 1st.

@aimhigh - Ima thinkin' along the same lines. I'll most likely dis-mount and inspect.

Thanks for the tips! I'm confident I'll get it mounted properly tonight, I just enjoy hearing these great tips.
11-06-2012,11:51 AM #12

apriliaforum expert

When I first started mounting my tires, I heard of a tire tech being seriously injured by a piece of broken rim during the bead up process, don't know how true that was.
Anyway, being a wimp, I would lay an old bath towel over the tire while beading it up. I figured if anything went wrong, that towel would have enough weight and drag to capture wheel shrapnel.

Currently in my garage
--------------------------
'15 Ducati Panigale 1299S
'15 Ducati Multistrada S (White)
'12 Aprilia Tuono APRC (Yellow)
'98 Yamaha R1
'93 Bimota Db2
'75 Honda CB400F

My Sons bikes
'07 Ducati 1098S
'08 KTM 250 XCW
'05 Honda 650XR
11-06-2012,12:10 PM #13

apriliaforum expert

Originally Posted by ChrisE

Lot's of tire lube on the rim and the bead area. If you don't have tire lube, use Windex. Don't be afraid to use the lube, it dries up and is not slippery after it dries.

Also, make sure you are beading it up with air with the valve core out.

This.
Lots of lube will solve your problem, get it on the edge of the bead not the face as well as the wheel surface. Then, air it up quickly before the lube dries. 60psi is usually plenty. If you don't have tire lube use a dish soap / water mix. (don't use K/Y or other petroleum based lubes)
11-06-2012,12:46 PM #14

apriliaforum expert

Over 75 psi you can split the rim and be in a world of hurt. At high psi, regulation requires the tire to be in a steel safety cage while seating the bead.
A little finese will usually get you further along and leave you better off than brute force.

Keep it safe!
11-06-2012,11:31 PM #15

apriliaforum newb

I had a few moments when I really wanted to use K/Y. It doesn't contain petroleum, safe to use with rubber toys or latex and, unlike special tyre lubricants, readily available. Are there any reasons not to use it and deal with soapy water?
That said, I wouldn't worry pumping to 80-85psi. *Nominal* pressure for a typical car spare donut is 60psi. 100-120psi is a normal range for a bicycle, so anything in double digit sounds safe. The key is to put correct pressure before hitting the road :-)