Tire bead unseating Tech

**mrblaine** · 11-29-2007, 10:36 PM

I know this in the the wrong section, but it's a valuable lesson for those that offroad, so if it can stay here as long as possible, it will be appreciated.

Most offroaders place unseating a bead among the scariest things they can have happen to them offroad, or at least all the posts I've read indicate this to be a common sentiment.

So, here's my question which I will later prove out for you.

The question is, just how hard or easy do you think it is to unseat a tire bead on an aired down tire, like an MT/R for example? Feel free to speculate, but I will almost guarantee you will be surprised at the answer.

The Mean Fish · 11-29-2007, 10:37 PM

Are you looking for a specific range in lbs per sq. inch or something like that or just "pretty damn hard"?

Jeepinty · 11-29-2007, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblaine

I know this in the the wrong section, but it's a valuable lesson for those that offroad, so if it can stay here as long as possible, it will be appreciated.

Most offroaders place unseating a bead among the scariest things they can have happen to them offroad, or at least all the posts I've read indicate this to be a common sentiment.

So, here's my question which I will later prove out for you.

The question is, just how hard or easy do you think it is to unseat a tire bead on an aired down tire, like an MT/R for example? Feel free to speculate, but I will almost guarantee you will be surprised at the answer.

I am confused. It is fairly easy to unseat a completely flat tire but is depends on many, many variables. Most of the time the weight of a average person on the sidewall of a tire is not sufficient to bust a bead, sometimes a highlift is used to break it down for boots, etc. Personally, of all the problems a lost bead is probably the easiest to fix.

1CleanTJ · 11-29-2007, 10:44 PM

its going to depend on the tire/tire sizeand rim width and the type of terrian will also play a part in a "safe" pressure. but for most situations above 10psi is ok. alot of people run lower then that and only have a tire unseat if they turn and the tire folds to much. seating a tire bead isnt to bad at all, takes a few minutes if you got some starting fluid/lighter fluid around

a rachet strap and a air source with plenty of air flow (remove the valve core to help seat better) will work well also.

**Humboldt** · 11-29-2007, 10:45 PM

At 12 LBS with 35" MT/Rs I have yet to break a bead even on my 10" steelies.

I have on occasion managed to create enough strain on the tire to let air be released at the bead dropping me to well under that requiring me to air back up to 12Lbs. Every time it was my fault though and likely could have been avoided.

Jeepinty · 11-29-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1claentj

its going to depend on the tire/tire sizeand rim width and the type of terrian will also play a part in a "safe" pressure. but for most situations above 10psi is ok. alot of people run lower then that and only have a tire unseat if they turn and the tire folds to much. seating a tire bead isnt to bad at all, takes a few minutes if you got some starting fluid/lighter fluid around

a rachet strap and a air source with plenty of air flow (remove the valve core to help seat better) will work well also.

Lighter/starter fluid in the tire is a scary situation if you don't know what you are doing. Since the inside bead of 99% of the wheels out there is much wider than the outide it rarely unseats, so if you have an air source you can usually just clean the outer bead a little then pull the tire towards the outside of the wheel while adding air.

**BlackRubi04** · 11-29-2007, 10:52 PM

I had a problem with losing beads on my last set of wheels. Eagle Alloy 187's with 34" TrXus MT's. Aired down to 14 and lost the left rear on 3 different occassions.

I believe it had something to do with the goofy lip on the wheels and I caught it just right each time to lose the bead.

Switched to a set of TR's and haven't had the problem since.

kd

The Mean Fish · 11-29-2007, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackRubi04

I had a problem with losing beads on my last set of wheels. Eagle Alloy 187's with 34" TrXus MT's. Aired down to 14 and lost the left rear on 3 different occassions.

I believe it had something to do with the goofy lip on the wheels and I caught it just right each time to lose the bead.

Switched to a set of TR's and haven't had the problem since.

kd

I bet that sticker had a lot to do with it as well.

carpekd · 11-29-2007, 11:19 PM

looks like you could've ran a little higher pressure in the terrain you were in...

**BlackRubi04** · 11-29-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpekd

looks like you could've ran a little higher pressure in the terrain you were in...

Thanks for the advice...

You trying to set a record for the most posts in a day?

kd

**mrblaine** · 11-29-2007, 11:46 PM

Take note of a few things. First, the strap is wrapped around the tire so as to not exert pressure on anything that it might damage.

For a few things you can't see. We are attempting to take some bend out of a collapsed trackbar. The driver's side was attached to the back of a car trailer that was still hooked to the tow rig.

I have a snatch block hooked to the sling and the winch line is doubled back to my tow hook.

The tire is around 7-8 psi.

I pulled hard enough on the sling with 3 rigs as anchors that I was dragging the Jeep we were fixing sideways and it was dragging the trailer and tow rig as well.

We finally removed it and yanked it with chains to straighten it a bit.

I could not get the tire to debead in the process. I was amazed.

Jeepinty · 11-30-2007, 12:01 AM

It would not debead because of the difference in how wide the bead area is on the back of a standard wheel. Next time your wheel is off look at how wide the lip on the inside is as opposed to the outside, it would have to be pulled/pushed that much before it begins to lose air. That is why you rarely see double beadlocks, usually just the outside needs to be locked.

**bman9089** · 11-30-2007, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackRubi04

I had a problem with losing beads on my last set of wheels. Eagle Alloy 187's with 34" TrXus MT's. Aired down to 14 and lost the left rear on 3 different occassions.

I believe it had something to do with the goofy lip on the wheels and I caught it just right each time to lose the bead.

Switched to a set of TR's and haven't had the problem since.

kd

i have those wheels. did you get the 15x8 or 15x10? I actually like the extra lip on the wheels. makes a nice flush area between the tire and the lip. I can't figure out for the life of me how the EAs would be worse than others. Because of the fake bead lock, the outer lip is much taller.

Which side unseated? The inner or outerside?

**BlackRubi04** · 11-30-2007, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bman9089

i have those wheels. did you get the 15x8 or 15x10? I actually like the extra lip on the wheels. makes a nice flush area between the tire and the lip. I can't figure out for the life of me how the EAs would be worse than others. Because of the fake bead lock, the outer lip is much taller.

Which side unseated? The inner or outerside?

15x8's.

Outer unseated 3 times on 3 different trips.

kd

**Wheelin98TJ** · 11-30-2007, 07:56 AM

I have aired my MTRs down to 0 psi and drove on the street without unseating the beads.

I was doing this to try and purposely unseat the beads and I thought it would be a very easy way to do it.
It didn't work.