OT: mounting a tire on a rim

[Caddynut]

OK...I have had it....I have a portable tire changer from Harbor Freight and so far, it has worked great. I got the old tire off and got the new tire on the rim, but I can't seem to get the tire up far enough where the bead is formed so it can hold air. Is there a trick to do this?

[BodybyFisher]

Wet the bead, push the tire down and while the air is going is gently lift it, that is the way I used to do it when I worked in a gas station.

[Ranger]

I remember doing this as a "kid" when I worked for a Chevy dealer. We had a pneumatic tube that would slip around the perimeter of the tire and had an air fitting on it. When inflated it would squeeze the tire to the rim to seal the bead. Try tying a loop in the end of a rope and stretch it around the tire. Run the loose end through the loop and pull as hard as you can. That might just be enough to do it.

I had given some thought to buying one of those tire changers recently. The smaller one for my garden tractor. Ended up taking the two front tires & wheels to Goodyear and let them do it for $8 after busting my *smurf* taking the old ones off with screwdrivers & tire irons.

[Caddynut]

I will try lifting the tire again. I tried, but I could not hold the air nozzle on and lift. I will have to get some help since I don't have a locking air chuck.

[Caddynut]

just an update on a seemingly simple job that I had hell with. I ended up having my wife hold the air chuck on while I lifted up on opposite sides of the tire and presto.....pop, pop, pop and it held air. Take a look at my old tire....never have seen anything like this before. Looks like all of the belts broke and bulged the tire.