Mounting and Inflating Bias Ply Tires
Bias Ply tires have sturdy, but flexible sidewalls, due to their construction with nylon cords. This flexibility allows manufacturers to maximize shipping space by compressing the tires and banding them together. Of course, once unloaded it can make them seem oddly shaped and out of round. This in fact is not the case, and a misshapen bias ply tire is a completely functional tire. The ability to ship efficiently is one reason why Bias Ply tires are often more economical than their radial counterparts.
That said, a compressed tire can make mounting them difficult sometimes requiring special tools.
- To open up the bead it needs to be stretched. This can be done by hand or with your feet. If it seems quite difficult to open, then leaving it in the sun or somewhere warm can help make the rubber more pliable.
- When mounting the tire on the rim it is best to try to keep the bead open as much as possible.
- The easiest way to then inflate the tire is by using a tool called a bead blaster, this device shoots air at a high velocity to set the bead.
- An air line then needs to be attached to the valve stem. While the air is flowing, place a foot behind the rim and push the rim into the bead on one side. This should temporarily create a seal which should be tight enough to use your hand on the other side of the rim to bring the other bead of the tire close enough to seat.
If you would prefer not to deal with any of the potential issues associated with mounting a Bias Ply tire, let the expert RecStuff team do it for you. RecStuff offers free mounting (and a high pressure valve stem) on all compatible tire and wheel purchases. Also, RecStuff offers 100's of the best selling tire and wheel combinations ready for purchase.
If you insist on doing it yourself, we understand. Should any issues arise, do not hesitate to contact our team of experts. We are happy to help.