Can anyone at Sunday's Rallycross fix a de-beaded tire?

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

&@(& it! I de-beaded a tire at the last rallycross, and dropped it off at a local tire place to fix the day after. When I picked the tire up I didn't inspect it at all, and just threw it in the garage, and sure enough, the bead is still broken.

Is anyone going to be at the rallyx with the equipment (and knowledge) of how to get the bead back on correctly?

Also, my wife's tire class at Durham Tech. needs 15" tires for their exams. The only criteria is the bead must be intact, otherwise, anything goes. Contact her directly if you've got anything to donate, mcw@czeiszperger.org.

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:19 pm

Throw some soap on the rim and take it to a gas station that has air/vacuum setup. It's worth a try before someone attempts it tomorrow

RichardNuss · **Posted:** Sat Feb 13, 2010 7:24 pm

Kourosh is right - with an air compressor, you should be able to re-seat the bead yourself, no problem. You need a real compressor though, not a little 12V cigarette lighter version.

Just keep your fingers out of the bead area so they don't get pinched. If it fights you, then wrap a rachet strap circumfrentially around the tire and tighten it to help push the beads out against the rim as you inflate it. But most car tires on normal size rims don't need much help.

If you don't have a full-size air compressor, or have a really stubborn bead, you can use starting fluid to re-seat the bead, but it's very dangerous if you're not careful. I've done it a lot. Like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vboJDpXU ... re=related
or this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbHC1ZMl ... re=related
Leave the valve core out while doing this. I make a "trail" of fluid leading off the tire and about a foot on the ground, like a fuse I can light, so I don't have to get my hand as close as the folks in those videos (or the propane torch is a good idea to give you some distance). And don't use too much starter fluid, or you can blow the tire off the rim. I've done that.

Charlie Guthrie · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:14 pm **Posts:** 832

We will have the tire breaker (Harbor Freight) on the car trailer and an air tank. It is possible that the tire place did remount your tire without thoroughly cleaning the bead area.

A comment on seating beads using lighter fluid or other flammables. Basically that should be reserved to life threatening situations (meaning you might die if you couldn't mount the tire). It is virtually impossible to control the pressure that develops and high pressure can separate the tread plies causing major blow outs later on. If I was desperate I would start with just a little explosive mixture and fire it, gradually increasing the fuel load until it seated. Not to minimize this as a really cool trick when you need it, but don't make this your preferred method.
Charlie G

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Charlie Guthrie wrote:

We will have the tire breaker (Harbor Freight) on the car trailer and an air tank. It is possible that the tire place did remount your tire without thoroughly cleaning the bead area.

Thanks Charlie! I'm sure you'll have your hands full with the rallyx, but if you find the time you or Pete can show me how to use the tire breaker and set the bead with the air compressor.

Thanks!

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:46 pm

they might not have just put enough air in it. we used to have dirt race tires(round track) that would seat like 3-4 times. i would try putting some more air in it, with dish soap and seeing if it moves

BretLuter · **Posted:** Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:33 am

I've got a tire machine (shhhh, it's top secret) and a big azz compressor in the old barn.

If you can't get it done with what you've got, I might be able to help.

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:58 am

yeah, jeremys right. you've got to inflate them a lot higher than normal just so the tire can seat... then just back the air out until its at your desired pressure.

Charlie Guthrie · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:14 pm **Posts:** 832

Kourosh is right again...almost. Tire manufacturers insist that one not exceed the maximum tire pressure listed on the side wall. The reason being the possibility of breaking cords in the tire. I think most tire machines limit this to 60 psi, but take that limit with a grain of salt...read the lable.
Charlie G

Jeb Brookshire · **Posted:** Sun Feb 14, 2010 9:06 pm

Charlie Guthrie wrote:

Kourosh is right again...almost. Tire manufacturers insist that one not exceed the maximum tire pressure listed on the side wall. The reason being the possibility of breaking cords in the tire. I think most tire machines limit this to 60 psi, but take that limit with a grain of salt...read the lable.
Charlie G

Exactly why we use an inflation cage.

Back on subject. Take it to any Discount Tire Co. We will inspect it and reseat it for you for free, provided the bead is not torn, ripped or otherwise damaged.

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Thanks for the lesson on reseating the tire. The others also started to leak during the event, so I'm going to have de-bead the tires to clean them and reseat them. Looks like a trip to Harbor Freight :-)

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:23 pm

our little tire toy, has saved more than once many rally-x'er. Ourselves and one time, the entire awd class. We were I think at kevins, and the entire awd class needed tires reseated. That was one busy lunch break! :lol:

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:37 pm

It's a great tool to have. Def try to mount the unit to the floor or something. I once swapped 2 sets of tires, 1 of those was rally tires. Did it alone without it being mounted to the ground. I don't know how I did it and not sure why the tire mounter is still in one piece.

We also mounted 6 snow tires with it too. Not as difficult as rally tires, but it was cold out so we had 3 guys working together. Then we attempted a set of rally tires while it was cold out. And the same 3 of us couldn't do it.

That tool has already paid for itself.

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

KouroshNeshat wrote:

That tool has already paid for itself.

What tool are we talking about? The bead breaker? I bought one yesterday at Harbor Freight for $39.95, but I don't think it could get the tire entirely off of the rim, it just breaks the bead.

RichardNuss · **Posted:** Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:33 pm

This: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=34542

I have one too - have had it for MANY years, and added re-inforcement and welds to the base after I bent it. Used to have it mounted to the concrete floor of my parents garage (removable by bolts with concrete anchors) when I lived in an apartment. I now have holes in my trailer deck so I can bolt it down there when I need it. Just used it to dismount 10 junk tires from aluminum rims the other week. And mounted the Audi's rallyX tires with it (and I agree with Kourosh - they are tough to mount!)

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Can anyone at Sunday's Rallycross fix a de-beaded tire?

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