So I took my brand new Firestone bias ply repops (the 15 inchers that dont need tubes) and smoothies to a local mom and pop to have them mounted. The guy at the mom and pop said he wouldnt do them. If any of yall know San Antonio, people on the west side are willing to try anything whether they have done it before or not (and results may be reflected expertise). So off to the chain store. Chain store said they could do it. Handed the wheels and tires off and sat in the waiting room which so happen to have a window overlooking the shop. Old timer sitting next to me struck up a conversation about what those tires were and what they were going on. The giant wide whites intrigued him. Not shying away on a chance to talk cars, we struck up a conversation. The conversation turned to chuckles as we watched the first worker try to give the Firestone its maiden inflation. Then he brought a buddy. Then he added a second. Here comes the cheetah. Now the whole shop is in on it. After 30 minutes they were done and came in to tell me they couldnt do it. Old timer chimes in. ***The technical piece*** Asked if someone had something like a ratcheting tie down. He said an old trick of the trade was to run that ratcheting tie down the circumference (outside) of the tire and crank down. That way it will shrink the diameter tire and push out the beads. I happened to have on in my truck so I brought it out and handed it over to the workers. Under my close, watchful eye "worker A" ran the tie down as the old timer instructed and gave it a few ratchets. Sure enough the beads began to spread. After a few more the beads were touching the rim. Worker A hit the inflator and presto, tire was done.
Can also stick a semi inflated tube in the gap, and as the tire pumps up about to seal on the rim, pull the tube out the way..
Most places have the inflating ring on the tire machines now that usually have no problem popping it on. Back in the 60s and early 70s, they used to wrap the tires with paper that held the beads tight together and they were a bear to mount. We had a tube that was wrapped around the tire, pulled tight and inflated with air to push down on the center of the tread then you had to let the air out as the tire was inflated. The worst I ever had was trying to put a set of snow tires on a corvette. The only way we could get them on was to put an inner tube in them.
Most parts houses used to sell a metal band with a "T" handle to tighten the band around the outside tread diameter. I had one. Most tire shops had an inflatable woven material band that did the same. Haven't seen either in years.
Put them in the sun and get them hot before you try to inflate them. I worked in a tire shop for years and that helps. Also, we had a "air blaster". Basically a 2 gallon air tank with a valve and barrel that sits on the lip of the rim. When you release the air it blast the tire with air faster/instantly compared to the regular air chuck... Works. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
First shop I worked in had an old tire changer. Part of the equipment was a rubber tube that wrapped around the tire. When you inflated the tube it squished the tire and made it expand to the rim. Sometimes it worked. Incidentally, when you put new bias ply tires on your car it helps to inflate them to 45 PSI for the first few days. This prevents the tires from getting flat spots. You may notice, after parking overnight especially in cold weather the tires will go thump-thump-thump for a mile or 2 until they warm up. Overinflate the tires for a few days and this will be reduced or eliminated. It won't hurt the tires but don't do any spirited driving.
The guys at the tire store didn't know about that? The ether trick would really impress them. Both are pretty common practice to get wide tires to bead up.
Yep, Can of starting fluid and a BBQ lighter. Been doing it for many years. I used to carry a can with me when off roading in my rail buggy. I would knock the bead off the wheel every once in a while.
That was one of the first tricks I learned in auto shop in high school. Living in an ag based area it was a necessity. I ended up building a special strap I still use to this day then take the wheels to the shop for balance.
This is really interesting as i've never owned a car with bias ply tires prior to my Model A roadster, and i was under the impression all bias ply tires required tubes in them..
my first garage job was tires and lube at Firestone store in Webster Mass. we had 2 different tire bands to expand beads, One was a metal strap with a worm gear and crank like a big radiator hose clamp the other was a canvas covered tube the tube went most of the way around the tire with a section that work just like those pull stryle tie down straps pull the un inflated strap as tight as you could by hand then inflate the tube it would bulge those side walls right out to the bead seats . the air one was a bit easier to use than the steel one.
When I first got my tire machine, I tried (with little success) to inflate the tires while they were still laying horizontally on the machine. When I started taking them off the machine and inflating them while they were in a vertical plane, things got a lot better.
A few days before your going to mount said tires you should put a tube in them and inflate it until it spreads the beads, leave it like that for a few days and they will be much easier to inflate! I gave up with tire shops and bias plys,and just do them myself,usually 2 tire spoons and I mount them from the back side so you don't scar the fresh powder coat! 1x2s cut to say 6"does the same job as the tubes you just have to stretch the beads.
this is what happens when the Big Box and chain tire stores run all the mom and pop stores out of business I think its a 50 and up club that ever drove on nylon and bias tires on a regular basis hell when was the last time you saw a car with (snow) tires? with Studs!!
I've used that trick countless times over the years, as well as the starting fluid and match trick (it doesn't take a lot of starting fluid...lol) I change a lot of tires at home. When I go to set the beads I'll stand the tire up on its tread then lean it back onto a milk crate front side facing down. Now I put my foot on the rim and give it a few good pushes. This will partially (and sometimes fully) set the rear bead. Now turn the tire over so that the tire is leaning up against the milk crate again. The weight of the wheel will pull the front bead so that it contacts the rim. Start adding air and gently push on the wheel to make good contact and away you go. A little soapy water does wonders as well Bobby
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