Bias tire mounting problems....

[Greg L.]

I took my Goodyear Speedway F70-15 tires to get mounted onto my 8" rims today at a reputable classic car shop in town here and they said that it would cost $300-$400 to do them because of the shape that they were from storage. Seems that the wrap that Goodyear had on them squeezed the lips so tight that they would have to find some way to spread them so that they would stay that way long enough to mount and seat them.

See what I mean...


Is this normal for this type of tire and is this a common problem with this original tire and rim combination? He suggested that I install a tube and inflate it to spread the lips to about 8" and then let it sit until it's taken a set so that is what I did...actualy I went to 9" just because....


Do you guys think this will work or is there a better way so that they are able to be mounted?

Thanks,
Greg Linton
#45455

[Norris W.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

First of all, the "reputable" classic car shop is either NOT reputable, NOT competent with tire service, or both.

Of course they could be mounted with tubes, then broken down and re mounted tubeless, probably the next day, but that's a LONG way from 3 to 400 bucks. Most anybody in the tire business should have an air type inflator that should mount them without much trouble, but in place of that, a simple rachet strap, wrapped around the circumference in the middle of the tread will almost always expand em enough to seat the beads.

[James F.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

Greg,
I had the same problem with some 7.75 x 15 red lines I purchased through Kelsey Tire. I merely placed them outside in the sun while they were expanded using some 2x4 wood pieces and some quart cans of paint inserted at the tire lips. A good day in the sun or several days in the garage at regular temps will solve the problem. Forget the tube.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

This is a common problem...the tire shop must have expertise and patience to mount the tires. Their quoted price is a way of saying "We don't need the aggravation, but if we can skin you, we'll do it".

Norris6139 is correct, both about the shop, and how the tires have to be mounted. I also had this problem...my Discount Tire shop had to fool with them a bit (both the rachet belt and high volume inflation equipment), and they got them done after a bit. They didn't try to rob me; no extra charge.

Shop around; just make your requirements clear, as in, "No scratches on THESE RIMS! Balance weights on the backside only!"

[Duke W.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

Bias ply tires can be tougher to get the beads over the flanges than radials because the sidewalls are stiffer. But the biggest problem when mounting relataively narrow tires on a relatively wide wheel, which is the case of F70s on an 8" wheel is getting the beads to seat.

Way back when I jockeyed tires I recall using an inflatable band around the circumference of the tire. When inflated it would compress the OD and force the sidewalls out. Sometimes it took two, even three guys to "wiggle" the tire with the air flowing at the maximum rate to get the beads to begin sealing and finally pop out to the flange.

Try another shop that has experienced techs. It might be tougher than mounting a set of radials, but it's not a 300 dollar job.

I have a tire shop and experienced tech that I use. He lets me watch both the mounting and balancing, and I usually tip him at least ten bucks. When he ran the runnout data on a Hunter 9700 without putting it on the invoice I tipped him 20 bucks. He does excellent work.

Duke

[Norris W.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

I closed the store in the early 90's, but kept my Hoffman tire changer and balancer, so I've always done my own stuff.

I had one guy that had been an old tire mounter forever............... he was in his 70's, and he usta' spray a little ether and toss a match when he'd do the really big 4WD stuff, but it always scared me when he did it. I wouldn't recommend it, and never wanted to experiment with it myself to find the right sized blast.

[Joe C.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

Agree with Norris and Chuck. Don't let that SOB touch your car. Better yet, don't let him even get NEAR your car, because the stink will never clear.
There is a ultra high volume inflator, which momentarily pulses a large amount of air into the carcass. It is generally an approximately 5 gallon portable air tank, which dumps though a diffuser nozzle which is directed between the rim and the bead of the tire. This causes the tire to expand momentarily. Simultaneously the operator has his air chuck feeding the fill valve. If he's worth his salt, he'll hit it just right and the tire will "magically " inflate. Look around for an "olde fashioned" tire shop. Stay out of Sears, Pep Boys, and brand name tire chain stores.
Look for places like Dale's, Clyde's, Gomer's, Woody's, Homer's, Jethro's, etc, etc. Find the oldest guy in the shop, usually with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and most importantly, the gout. He'll know how to do it.

Joe

[Clem Z.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

we used to use a rubber "donut" coated murphy oil soap that slipped over the rim to cause a seal between the tire bead and the rim and as you put in the air in the tire the "donut" was squeezed out and the bead sealed.

[Greg L.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

Thanks guys, I didn't think it was as big of a deal as he made it out to be but I thought I'd check with you guys first.

The tire tube trick seems to be working so far. I've had it inflated to spread the lips 9" for about 6 hours, deflated it and it went down to 6" so that is a lot better than it was. I reinflated it and will probably leave it like that for a few days to see if it doesn't stay closer to 8" when deflated again.

Ah the good ole ether trick! I rememder having to use that on trailer tires in the garage to get them to seat. A little nerve racking the first few times but it sure works good. I used to bust lots of tires but that was long after bias plys were no longer in general use so my bias ply experience is limited to those old trailer tires. Sounds like the ether trick might work for me again...just not sure if I have the guts to try it again....

One other question...the place I took the tires to said that they were the wrong tires(F70-15) for the rims(8") and I said no that was how it was in 1969. He then called Western Corvette here in Calgary to make sure and they said that the tires should be a G70-15 and not a F70-15... I don't think they are right. Which tire is correct for 1969, the F70-15 or the G70-15?

[Wayne P.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

Besides a tire store, you need to find a Corvette Shop too. Yes, F is what you want.

[Norris W.]

Re: Bias tire mounting problems....

Quote: "Look for places like Dale's, Clyde's, Gomer's, Woody's, Homer's, Jethro's, etc, etc. Find the oldest guy in the shop, usually with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and most importantly, the gout. He'll know how to do it."

Hey........... I resemble that remark. Don't forget Bubba's also.

Clem, you're showin' your age. I'd forgotten about the donut and Murphey's.

Seriously though, the sudden blast type inflators will do the job, but for what we're talkin' here, a simple racheting motorcycle tie down will be more than adequate to put F70 bias tires on 8" ralleys.