pressure to seat tire bead

[XphilX]

What psi is usually needed to seat the bead when putting a new tire on?
I got to 80 psi and I'm getting a little worried (probably a lot more than I need to be, but I figured I'd ask).

Thanks,
-Phil

 

[Peer Lovell]

Usually if the bead is well lubricated, you only need to go up to 40 lbs. or so max. You should be able to see if the bead is seated properly.

 

[MX-727]

I go to about 40 lbs. Bounce the wheel on the ground a few times too. That seems to help.

 

[XphilX]

i bounced it, stepped on it, jumped on it, even thought about running it over with the truck, and i got nothing

more psi? or will it blow?

 

[jmics19067]

80 psi sounds a bit scary . I would let all the air out again and re lube the bead and rim and then try again

 

[David Trustrum]

It might or it might start to tear the tube so it does at a later date.
Bad things can happen if you go crazy with the air, or so I read, never want to find out.

Are you mounting a too big a tire on a small rim?

Are the rim locks the right size?

Try some slightly soapy water on the bead.

 

[Anssi]

Just go back and forth with the air pressure. I usually do that and then leave the tire to sit at standard pressure for the next night if I'm not going riding immediately (at this point the bead is usually not seated on one side for about 1/5 of the rim circumference). After that the bead is usually seated.

 

[Senior KX Rider]

40 lbs usually does it for me. Bounce it on the floor a few times

 

[Vic]

I've never had to go above 60 psi. As mentioned, lube the bead with soapy water and try again. Whacking the offending area with a rubber mallet can also help. :)

 

[ADS]

Spray that sucker down with Amor-All or a similar product.
When I change tires, I usually lube the tire with Amor-All (wipe it on thick) the added slickness helps with the whole process and aids in seating the beads when inflated.

 

[Rooster]

I do like Vic said, rubber mallet or a dead blow hammer. Just be careful not to dent your rim! :eek: Lotsa lube is the best thing though.

 

[WoodsRider]

Although I don't recommend this method, one time I couldn't get a stubborn bead to seat on the rim. So I put the wheel on the bike and rode around at an easy pace. The bead seated in less than a mile.

 

[MXFastGuy]

80 psi?!?! For Pete's sake, be CAREFUL! When I was 16 I was inflating a tire after a change and went too high with the pressure...the thing blew. I wasn't hurt, but I couldn't hear anything for about 2 hours. Scary. :whiner:

If you lube the bead properly, 20 psi should be plenty to seat it. Never go over 40.

 

[23jayhawk]

Will you always hear the bead 'pop' as it seats?

I changed my first tire (a front), and aired it up with a manual bicycle pump. It looked like everything was a-okay, and the tire was evenly seated around the edge of the rim. Rode 20 miles in the woods & no problems. But I never heard the tire really seat.

So is this thing gonna come flying off the rim someday when I'm WFO in 6th?

 

[Danman]

I've never heard a tire with a tube "pop" when you seat the bead. Tubeless tires usually do. I guess that I've never realy paid attention when airing up my motorcycle tires. If it looks like the bead is seated than it is. You should be fine.

 

[MilkJuGGz]

Danman's correct. The tube tires that we use aren't going to "pop" like the other tires. Tires I've spooned usually seat at around 20 psi properly lubed.

Check to make sure your rimlock isn't bulging out the tube or is caught on its edges. I remember having a problem similar to that in which the bead wouldn't set because of the rimlock.

 

[Peer Lovell]

In addition to soaping the bead, did you clean all the grunge off the inside of the rim first with a wire brush and sandpaper?