Changing Tires

Anonymous-0 · May 8, 2011

I like to do my own tire repair when possible. I have found it very difficult sometimes to reseat the bead on tubless tires when airing up again. I have seen on videos of using starting fluid sprayed into the tire and lighiing it. The explosison forces the tire on the bead. Anyone tried this? Stan

msb · May 8, 2011

Have done it . Don't use it unless its a last resort. It will scare the pants off you the first time you do it. Spray the either in the tire and toss a lighted match. Match only needs to come close to the tire.A Bead Cheeta is much safer and not that dificult to build.

JOHNNYfromMI · May 8, 2011

Done it many times.
Sure beats fussing with it for an hour or more!
Don't take much starting fluid.

snoop-nc · May 8, 2011

i CANNOT emphasize enough...DON'T DO IT!!! A inflated tire can be/is a bomb just waiting to explode.

I worked in the tire business for over 10 years...had a co-worker (supposedly experienced) killed inflating a rear tire off N-Ford.

You did not indicate what size(s) tires involved, but the Cheeta is easy and infinently safer.

You might try taking the "core" out of the stem when inflating tire.

I have not...but you might want to GOOGLE your question.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL....and NO ETHER!!

Rick

JDseller · May 8, 2011

Used to do it all of the time to truck tires. Now if the DOT smells either they have a tester that checks the tire air for it. Just looks like an air guage. If they find any they will red tag you and make you have a tire shop remount all of the tires found to have either in them.

I built a air bomb out of a thirty lb propane tank off of a fork truck. Just had a local machine shop intall a plate with a 1 1/2 pipe nipple in the side of it. Put a ball gate valve with a flatened outlet pipe. Works great. It had a lot more air than the Bead-a-cheata. Here is a picture of a factory built one.

bison · May 8, 2011

I Been doing all my own tires for many years.
Big and small.
If you clean the rims and use dishwasher soap or tire grease on the beads and center the tires on the rims before putting air in you should have no trouble seating them.That goes for tubed or tubeless.
I never had to resort to using ether,nor would i.

old · May 8, 2011

I have done it many times and NO I will not recommend doing it to any body. I did that when ever I was working on the 10X22.5 tubeless tires on my big rig. Ya it works if you know how to do it but do it wrong just one time and that will be the last time you do it because you will be DEAD and if not dead hurt badly. The only safe way is using the tank method that shoots a large amount of air in all at once. Some one else showed a picture of that tank set up and that is the only way it should ever be done

Bryan inIowa · May 8, 2011

Works well if you know what your doing . Those that can ,do . Those that can't , proof that Darwin was right .

Super Trucker · May 8, 2011

Have used ether for many years doing truck tires on word comes to mind MORON!!!!!! Looking back it reafirms my policy on GOD LOOKS OUT FOR DRUNKS AND IDIOTS ! And I'm not a drunk. Please don't ues ether!

buickanddeere · May 8, 2011

As previously stated. A warm flexible soaped tire. A ratchet strap and remove the core from the valve stem.
Ether for both engine starting and tire seating. Is a last ditch emergency measure if it's the only way to get a dying person to the hospital.
Ask anybody who works in the emergency medical profession. How many casualties pass through the hospital doors because they tried to save a little time or money

John A. · May 8, 2011

Stan, Depending on the size if the tire being seated a come-a-long, or a light 1 in wide nylon ratchet strap pulled tight around the center of the tread helps a lot.
Or fabricate or buy a air bubble with a 2 in ball valve to dump in a large volume of air to expand the tire and hence set the bead. You see these little air bubbles around most tire shops I believe they can be bought in the $150 or less range, Even thought they cost that one would save more than that in aggravation. Hope this helps.
I have Ether ed tires before, I prefer you not to do that, So I will not speak to that! Hope this helps.
Later,
John A.

rlp in Co. · May 8, 2011

I never use soap anymore because it rusts the rim and a tire won't seat on a rusted rim. When I have a tire changed by a shop I ask them to use grease and they never give me a problem. If a bead won't seat properly and leaks, I dismount the tire and put a bead of cheap house silicon on the rim in the bead area. Put vasoline on the rim first to keep it from permantly sticking to the rim.
I change all my own tires (except when away from home), and have used ether for many years with no problems. It is best to have someone with experience to show you how to do it. It won't work when the temperature is really cold; the ether just burns and doesn't explode. I spray the ether in the tire and then run a trail of ether on the outside of the tire to act as a wick. Throw the match on that trail. I heard of an inexperienced person lost his fingers trying to throw the match inside of the tire. There is risk in most everything we do in this life. Don't proceed if you think that the risk is too great.

tlak · May 8, 2011

My rear tires held air but weren't seated. I lubed the rim well and put extra air in the tire then parked it in the sun. Half hour later they were seated.

BlaineF · May 8, 2011

I have done it once.I don't recommend it.Best to do the tank set up or other methods to set the bead.It will scare the Sh!! out of you.I think the ether method is how farm deaths happen .Be safe and careful .BlaineF(WA)

tomNE · May 8, 2011

Have down it 100's of times but the new starting fluid has so little explosiveness; you really have to spray alot in!

mazemeister · May 8, 2011

they make special grease for that application that won"t break down the rubber. grease on the bead combined with ratchet strap around the tread- squeeze in on the tread, force both beads out- and put the air to it. sometimes it takes some convincing but if the rim is clean it usually works. the ether method does work, but like said before, wouldn"t recommend it.

flying belgian · May 8, 2011

You said you do your own "when possible". This is one of those times when it is not possible. Take it to a tire shop.

Tony in Mass. · May 8, 2011

We are all tractor guys right? So find inner tubes who's inside diameter is the same size or a bit smaller than the outside diameter of the tires, a safe ammout of air, twist the soaped up bead to the rim, and it shouldn't take too many tries. A tire shop I went to alot years ago did that, never saw it anywhere else or since.

Az. Peapicker · May 8, 2011

While I was working for a school system I took a air charging tank the small portable type . took a circle saw cut a 1 1/2 hole in the end , brazed a fitting over the hole put a ball valve onto it with a 4 inch long nipple & flared the end. Works like the cheta tank but can still be used as aportable air tank . Works wonders on hard to seat beads on wheels . Only put about 120 lbs of air into tank , its the air coming out in volume that does the trick . Also they make a fitting that can be screwed on the valve stem that will connect straight to the air hose.I bought one from Snap On.

El Toro · May 8, 2011

Remove the valve core and see if they will reseat
and I coat the beads with dish detergent before airing them up. Hal

36 Coupe · May 8, 2011

I have worked with tubless tires since the 50s and have not used ether.We had a metal strap and a tube that was placed in the gap.I have little trouble with tubless tires these day.I have used a little brake fluid on tough ones.I put a tube in all wheel barrow tires that leak air.

bruster · May 8, 2011

If you haven't used it... DO NOT use it! I did commercial Tire work, and the safest way to seat the tire bead is with Tire mounting soap. It is as thick as grease, and all you have to do is make a dam between the tire bead and the rim. The tire will seat and you just gather up the squeezed out excess and toss it back in the can. Or you can find some one that has a Cheetah air tank. (This is what I always use now)

OLDER tires are never to be seated with starting fluid, because the force of the flare up CAN blow through any weak spot in the sidewall (as one driver I knew did, and lost his beard, stash, and eyebrow on the right side!)

tomstractorsandtoys1 · May 9, 2011

I do all my own tire work ad hate tubeless tires. I will put a tube in them rather than fight them. A friend tried the either trick on a lawn mower tire and when the dust cleared the tire bead had popped out over the rim. No either for me.

Spotted Horse · May 9, 2011

Sometimes, on tubeless tire beads that won't seat without some help, I've stood the mounted tire on edge and swung it above my head,... then swung it back DOWN (on a concrete floor) as hard as I could.
You'll be amazed how many times the impact will seat the beads just enough the tire will then "take air".

Make sure you lube the beads good first, and the valve core has been removed.
Some beads may take a couple of "swings" to get the beads seated, try putting air in the tire after each swing.

Changing Tires

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