Tire refuses to seat

I've run out of tricks to get a General Altimax HP to seat on a Suzuki M50 rim.

Does anybody have some suggestions before I give up on it?

If this is a 15" rim, then "Yes", it's a known problem to some of us. Suggest you do a search for seating a tire. I ended having to grind 1/16" off the inside edge of a 15" car tire.

Try lots of KY jelly.... Seriously it is water soluble so it eventually evaporates and it is slicker than snot!

Thats what i used. My GF looked at me kinda funny when i ask for the KY to use in my tire It worked like a charm. Thanks Paul

I will try the KY jelly next. We had used Vasoline initially, then started using WD40 as a seating lubercant.

With 80 psi on repeated tries there is at least 8 inches on each side of tire seating band lines that are not visible. This installation may involve removing some rubber on the inside ring of the tire.

Would you use a rasp file to remove the rubber? Or what?

What is the highest "somewhat safe" pressure you would use to pop it on?

I am not sure with your tire and rim, but with my 205/65-15 Goodyear Triple Tred I had to go to 120 psi to seat the bead on my rim. Not for the faint of heart, but it worked, the first try was 110 psi and it almost seated, let the air out and lubed again and it popped at 120 the second time.

Also be sure the inside of your rim's bead is good and clean too.

Be Very Careful. Tires can explode and send shrapnel flying. We never used more than 80psi to seat a tire at goodyear. Ive seen tires explode at 100psi and you can damage the tire with excessive pressure. Clean the wheel, sand the rim with steel wool. More lube, also set it in the sun. I Used ky on my dunlop and it seated at 35psi. Try the ky and use a heat gun to heat the tire. just stay back as to not get the tire too hot. I dont know about grinding the rubber you may damage the bead. Paul

Fudd wrote:I will try the KY jelly next. We had used Vasoline initially, then started using WD40 as a seating lubercant.

With 80 psi on repeated tries there is at least 8 inches on each side of tire seating band lines that are not visible. This installation may involve removing some rubber on the inside ring of the tire.

Would you use a rasp file to remove the rubber? Or what?

What is the highest "somewhat safe" pressure you would use to pop it on?

Listen to the advice about using extreme high pressure, as tires can explode at those levels. When trying to mount a 15" car tire, no amount of any slick agent would help get it past the welded safety rings on the rim. I used a 5" grinding wheel on a drill to remove 1/16" all around both sides and it seated just fine. Never leaked any air at faster than interstate speed at 100 F temps.

Fly wrote:

Fudd wrote:I will try the KY jelly next. We had used Vasoline initially, then started using WD40 as a seating lubercant.

With 80 psi on repeated tries there is at least 8 inches on each side of tire seating band lines that are not visible. This installation may involve removing some rubber on the inside ring of the tire.

Would you use a rasp file to remove the rubber? Or what?

What is the highest "somewhat safe" pressure you would use to pop it on?

Listen to the advice about using extreme high pressure, as tires can explode at those levels. When trying to mount a 15" car tire, no amount of any slick agent would help get it past the welded safety rings on the rim. I used a 5" grinding wheel on a drill to remove 1/16" all around both sides and it seated just fine. Never leaked any air at faster than interstate speed at 100 F temps.

Fly this just isn't true about all 15 inch rims. I've seen many mounted with no problems beading the tire at all.

I keep finding that tire beads one inch or wider than the rim will give all kinds of problems. I had a douglas that was just under 3/4 of an inch wider that mounted at 35-40, and a Yokohama that was the same size that mounted at 65. Tried a tire that was a little over an inch wider and it wouldn't mount at 100. Before grinding on your tire I would try and trade it for a tire with a narrower bead.

Jerry

Grinding on the bead scares the hell out of me ,wouldn' be on my bike for any reason.

Dont grind the bead for any reason. You will void all warranties and liability on the tire. Buy a different tire. You shouldnt ever use 100+psi on a tire. Your safety isnt worth it. We had a yoyo checkin out a hot blonde while mounting a tire, he looked down to see 110psi as the tire blew up! It sounded like a bomb goin off. The blonde pissed her dress and fainted. Lucky no one was hurt. Be CAREFUL. If your gonna use high pressure, make sure your air chuck holds itself to the tire and you can stay back from the tire. We had a 6 foot hose from the trigger for airing up split rim truck tires in a cage. When the ring comes off 1 in 100 it sounds like a bomb an the ring hits the cage scares the hell out of you. The cage was 3" bars every 6". Strong. If your gonna use High pressure protect yourself. Do not have your arms or face over the tire when airing it up. Lay it flat on the ground and stand back or dont do it.Your safety isnt worth it.

Paul

Pull it off the bead, clean the wheel seating area to damn near a polish. Lube the hell out of it with a non petroleum lube, ie. vege oil, ky or whatever.
Air the tire up to 80 psi or so. Roll it out onto the driveway and set it out in the full sun. Most of the time the heat from the sun will soften teh rubber up enough to let it slip on.
Then again there are a few tire that wont work. There are different tires for different bikes too.

If you are balsy enough to run up the pressure on it to get it to seat here are some very important safety precautions to take.
1- always use a remotely controled lock on chuck. A simple valve at the compressor will do the trick.
2- if available use a tire catch rack, if no rack available securing a heavy chain to the wall with eye bolts and running it through and around the rim and stand the tire up. It is always the sidewall that blows so standing it up will keep it from launching as will the chain. The chain or racks will also keep it from the launching across the floor.


See you out there
Smokey

I just got mine to seat today. Here's what I did.

1. wipe the rim down real good. Makes sure the entire inside of the rim is clean and shiney. (keeping in mind that the tire is catching on the second corner down, not the first when it refuses to seat). Then mount the tire. It's harder to clean the rim good if the new tire is already mounted.
   
2. use Pam cooking spray generously on the sidewalls of the tire, and all of the rim you can. If necessary, get a pry bar to pry the tire away from the sides of the rim to make sure the rim gets a good amount.
   
3. start adding air, with the chuck in place. For me, I got it up to 80 lbs. Still wouldn't seat.
   
4. make use of this wonderful heat we're experiencing. Left the tire with 80 lbs out in the sun in the back of my truck. A few hours later I checked on it, and success. Tire was seated.
   
5. let air out till 35 lbs are left.
   

That's what just worked for me. Once I get my tire installed, I'll post pics.

Good Job . we left a few out in the sun to seat at goodyear.

Tshirtmeister wrote:Good Job . we left a few out in the sun to seat at goodyear.

I wonder if leaving the tire out in the sun to get soft before you mount it might help...

1- always use a remotely controled lock on chuck. This is true!!!

Before you fall for all the panic warnings there are several of us who have seated at over 100 psi. I did use a remote lock on the chuck, we were not near the tire and we did stand it up, I would have put it out in the sun to let it do the rest of the work but did mine in early March and it was cold outside. I had to run it over 100 psi. My tire did not explode and no one was injured. If there is any way to seat it without going to 120 psi like i did I would suggest doing that. However not all tires explode or are damaged at 100 psi or more. I am living proof and we did take the proper safety precautions so no one would be injured if it did. I have over 5000 miles on my GYTT and it is a smooth ride and loses no air. A lesser quality tire than the GYTT might not stand up to the psi but I am only speaking from experience on my rim and tire.

Beermand wrote:1- always use a remotely controled lock on chuck. This is true!!!

Before you fall for all the panic warnings there are several of us who have seated at over 100 psi. I did use a remote lock on the chuck, we were not near the tire and we did stand it up, I would have put it out in the sun to let it do the rest of the work but did mine in early March and it was cold outside. I had to run it over 100 psi. My tire did not explode and no one was injured. If there is any way to seat it without going to 120 psi like i did I would suggest doing that. However not all tires explode or are damaged at 100 psi or more. I am living proof and we did take the proper safety precautions so no one would be injured if it did. I have over 5000 miles on my GYTT and it is a smooth ride and loses no air. A lesser quality tire than the GYTT might not stand up to the psi but I am only speaking from experience on my rim and tire.

My first one was like this. Only, I had the tire on it's side, and was crouched holding the chuck on. I was ready for it to explode and kill me. At 120 I stopped (all my pancake compressor would do). I moved 5 feet away, and PING! I hit the deck and my friend dove behind the truck like he was being shot at. about 20 seconds later, the other side popped, and I quickly let out the pressure.

That was back before we knew about KY jelly and veggie oil.

ttexastim wrote:

Beermand wrote:1- always use a remotely controled lock on chuck. This is true!!!

Before you fall for all the panic warnings there are several of us who have seated at over 100 psi. I did use a remote lock on the chuck, we were not near the tire and we did stand it up, I would have put it out in the sun to let it do the rest of the work but did mine in early March and it was cold outside. I had to run it over 100 psi. My tire did not explode and no one was injured. If there is any way to seat it without going to 120 psi like i did I would suggest doing that. However not all tires explode or are damaged at 100 psi or more. I am living proof and we did take the proper safety precautions so no one would be injured if it did. I have over 5000 miles on my GYTT and it is a smooth ride and loses no air. A lesser quality tire than the GYTT might not stand up to the psi but I am only speaking from experience on my rim and tire.

My first one was like this. Only, I had the tire on it's side, and was crouched holding the chuck on. I was ready for it to explode and kill me. At 120 I stopped (all my pancake compressor would do). I moved 5 feet away, and PING! I hit the deck and my friend dove behind the truck like he was being shot at. about 20 seconds later, the other side popped, and I quickly let out the pressure.

That was back before we knew about KY jelly and veggie oil.

The visual I got of two grown men diving for cover from a tire shooting at them made me laugh out loud while sitting all alone. Thanks

Smokey

00 Doc wrote:

Fly wrote:

Listen to the advice about using extreme high pressure, as tires can explode at those levels. When trying to mount a 15" car tire, no amount of any slick agent would help get it past the welded safety rings on the rim. I used a 5" grinding wheel on a drill to remove 1/16" all around both sides and it seated just fine. Never leaked any air at faster than interstate speed at 100 F temps.

Fly this just isn't true about all 15 inch rims. I've seen many mounted with no problems beading the tire at all.

Maybe not true on your 15" rim, however, it is most certainly true in the case of my Vulcan 900. As I said, I do not have the tools to measure the inside of the rim's diameter, but can certainly measure the inside diameter of tires. The several brands of bike tires I measured was 15 1/16" diameter and the several brands of car tires that I measured were 14 15/16", a 1/8" difference. Certainly enough to keep the car tire to seat over the safety bead of the rim.

As was said, one person used 120 PSI to allow the bead to be seated, is this what you call "no problems beading the tire at all"? If so, you need to take another look at it. Unless you have a safety cage, that is far too much PSI to be called no problem.

Larry Simpson wrote:Grinding on the bead scares the hell out of me ,wouldn' be on my bike for any reason.

And yet you question those that say "mounting a car tire on my bike scares the hell out of me, wouldn't be on my bike for any reason." Being afraid of something you haven't tried or even researched has never been a reasonable approach to me.

smokey2255 wrote:

ttexastim wrote:

Beermand wrote:1- always use a remotely controled lock on chuck. This is true!!!

Before you fall for all the panic warnings there are several of us who have seated at over 100 psi. I did use a remote lock on the chuck, we were not near the tire and we did stand it up, I would have put it out in the sun to let it do the rest of the work but did mine in early March and it was cold outside. I had to run it over 100 psi. My tire did not explode and no one was injured. If there is any way to seat it without going to 120 psi like i did I would suggest doing that. However not all tires explode or are damaged at 100 psi or more. I am living proof and we did take the proper safety precautions so no one would be injured if it did. I have over 5000 miles on my GYTT and it is a smooth ride and loses no air. A lesser quality tire than the GYTT might not stand up to the psi but I am only speaking from experience on my rim and tire.

My first one was like this. Only, I had the tire on it's side, and was crouched holding the chuck on. I was ready for it to explode and kill me. At 120 I stopped (all my pancake compressor would do). I moved 5 feet away, and PING! I hit the deck and my friend dove behind the truck like he was being shot at. about 20 seconds later, the other side popped, and I quickly let out the pressure.

That was back before we knew about KY jelly and veggie oil.

The visual I got of two grown men diving for cover from a tire shooting at them made me laugh out loud while sitting all alone. Thanks

Smokey

After we realized the tire had seated and didn't blow up ... we were laughing hard too. Especially at my buddy who dove behind the truck.

Fly,I don't question those that say the car tire on the bike scares them,I could care less what they think and it doesn't really suprise me that you don't understand the logic behind being reluctant to weaken the interegity of the tire that I am trusting my life too but I guess that is just more false information on my part huh.

Larry Simpson wrote:Fly,I don't question those that say the car tire on the bike scares them,I could care less what they think and it doesn't really suprise me that you don't understand the logic behind being reluctant to weaken the interegity of the tire that I am trusting my life too but I guess that is just more false information on my part huh.

You keep making these things 'personal' instead of about the idea. Lighten up, you might find it actually will result in more ideas being put forth that might help people.