Tire seating question

[GooberPea]

Hi all, today is my first attempt changing a tire. I'm doing the front on my '81 850G first. I got a new tube. Amazingly, I got the old tire and tube off. I got the new tire and tube in the wheel too. "Great" I say, "the hard part is done."

Well, maybe not.

I'm just not sure that it's seating. From what I can tell, I'm supposed to hear 2 "pops" as each side seats. I don't even hear one. Is it possible to seat the beads without them making the pops? If so, is there another way to tell if they are in fact, seated? If not, what the heck am I doing wrong?

The reason I ask is because when I put air in the tire it doesn't seem to leak or anything. I'm using tire lubricant all the way around and I don't see any bubbles either.

I am positive the tube is not in the way of the tire. I checked by eye and by running my fingers in the wheel (which hurt ).

I tried inflating with and without the valve core in place. I went significantly over the rated PSI in my attempts. I won't say how much but I'm still in one piece

Is this one of those things you just get the knack of at some point, and I just have to keep trying? Thanks all,

Craig

 

[chuckycheese]

Seat

Seat

I think you're probably alright but hang on...there's a number of real tire mounting experts on the forum and they'll tell you, for sure.

 

[SabreJim]

tube in a tubless tire doesnt make a pop when the tire seats due to the tube expanding on the inside of the tire walls. I like to put a little dish soap on the inner lip where the tire seats agains the rim. This ensures that it slips into place.

 

[SabreJim]

Also makes sure you have the yellow dot lined up right

 

[mighty13d]

well on my 80 and 82 gs850g I do not run tubes because they are forged rims not spoked and they aren't made to run tubes in them. Now saying that, you will not hear any air leaking or see any bubbles if your tube is not leaking. Also I believe that there was somewhere around 70psi in my new rear tire that was just put on before it snapped into place. You can look around the inside of the lip of the rim and you would be able to see a small 1/4'' gap or so where it's not fully seated. It's kind of obvious. If it's seated it will not have any gaps around the lip of the rim. Hoped I helped.

Also like I was hinting at... Make sure you double check that you should be running a tubed or tubeless tire on your bike.

 

[Nessism]

Tire lube helps the bead seat, in many cases I'd go so far as to say it's necessary. Regarding what kind of lube, many people will suggest materials other than actual tire lube but I stay with the tried and true. The front wheel on my 850 has significant corrosion on the inside due to contamination and I'm not taking any more chances. A jug of Rylube from Napa will last a lifetime and only costs about $15.

Regarding pressure to seat the tire, I suggest you stay under 50 or so. The tire carcass may be damaged if you go much higher than this. Regarding the pop sound, tube type rims sometimes don't make that noise. Judge if the tire is seated with a visual inspection - the bead should look uniform all the way around.

 

[GooberPea]

well on my 80 and 82 gs850g I do not run tubes because they are forged rims not spoked and they aren't made to run tubes in them. My rear wheel says tubeless applicable, but my front wheel does not. Also, the front had a tube when I took it off. Now saying that, you will not hear any air leaking or see any bubbles if your tube is not leaking. Oh yeah. Duh

 

[GooberPea]

5 replies in under 10 minutes. That's awesome. Thanks,

I guess the consensus is that the "pops" are not necessarily going to occur on a tube tire/wheel, and visual inspection will suffice. Along with a really careful maiden voyage test run Unfortunately, I'm still waiting for bearings so I won't know for a few days.

In the mean time, I'll compare how it looks with the rear tire which I haven't fiddled with yet. If it looks good, I'll call it good until I can put the whole thing back on the bike.

I guess I'll expect to hear pops when i do the rear then since I won't be using a tube on that one.

Thanks all!

 

[Guest]

There is a line on the tire that runs along the rim. It should be even the whole way around the tire. If it dissapears inside the rim it did not seat.

 

[rphillips]

Sometimes a tire will pop when seating, sometimes they won't. The "pop" comes when the bead kind of hangs on the wheel, then pops into place. Many times, especially when using lube, the bead doesn't hang, just slides into place with no "pop".

 

[Billy Ricks]

There is a line on the tire that runs along the rim. It should be even the whole way around the tire. If it dissapears inside the rim it did not seat.

What Chef said.

 

[posplayr]

All U guy's are full of B$ here is the real way to do it.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=125030&highlight=redneck+tire

 

[GooberPea]

There is a line on the tire that runs along the rim. It should be even the whole way around the tire. If it dissapears inside the rim it did not seat.

Thanks... that sounds like exactly what I needed to know. On the Avons I got there are 5 tightly spaced lines right above the edge of the rim. I can see them all the way 'round on both sides. Plus, this time I think I actually felt it seat. I didn't hear anything, but my hand was resting on top of the tire as I was inflating it, and it kinda "bumped" up at one point.

You all rock! Thanks everyone for the help.

 

[bwringer]

When you spin the wheel, it will be very obvious if a bead didn't seat.

That does seem odd that an '81 GS850 needed a tube, though.

 

[Guest]

All U guy's are full of B$ here is the real way to do it.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=125030&highlight=redneck+tire

LOL
I forgot about that way. I was waiting for my hair to grow back to try again. :-\\\

 

[Billy Ricks]

LOL
I forgot about that way. I was waiting for my hair to grow back to try again. :-\\\

That's how they got those little skinny tires on lowriders to seat where the sidewalls are pooched out way more than intended.

 

[wilmas2cool]

I used tubeless tires on the 1979 GS850 from 1980 on with no air loss ( other than the normal loss, maybe a couple of pounds a month, same rate on all of our bikes ) with many sets of tires on the old bike. Also use silicon like Armor All or Son of a Gun to mount and seat beads and I believe I have always gotten a distinct pop upon seating. Many miles so far with no failures.

 

[frasermanx]

What size tires?

What size tires?

350 x 19 and 450 x 17 ... or larger ?

thx
frz

 

[sharpy]

Also makes sure you have the yellow dot lined up right

Lined up where? The heaviest spot or where the valve stem goes? 2/3rds of the time they are not the same area.

 

[salty_monk]

My 80 was that way.. tubeless compatible rear, tube type front.

Dan