How the frick do you get Wrinklewall slick beads to mount?

Smiley · 06-11-2007, 08:50 AM

grrr, how frustrating.

My aluminum wheels finally showed up for my used paddle tires, the tires are actually ET Drag slicks with the paddle scoops glued to the scuffed off tread. The dune buggy shop got the tires on the wheels but could not get them to seat. I brought them home this weekend and tried for hours, my son Justin even came over and tried also. No luck.

I did get a lead on someone to take them to this evening that apparently has experience with mounting wrinklewall slicks. But man is this frustrating. I know that if I use tubes they will not function as well because you can't get a flat enough thread pattern, plus I would then need to put screws into the beads to keep then from slipping on the wheels during a start.

\rantoff

{OF}Blong · 06-11-2007, 01:20 PM

hmm ouch good luck smiley. As you already know I have no idea but doesnt sound like fun.

{OF}BadDaWg · 06-11-2007, 02:50 PM

Good luck Boss.
The only way I know is, put somthing under the backside of the rim to get it off the floor.
Then lube up the bead and push down on the tire and screw the bead on the back side of the rim as much as you can.
Lube up the front side, as you are putting the air to it, lift up and try to get the bead on the front side to seal for just a second while the airpressure is being put to it.
G/L, what your trying to do, with something as flexable as a wrinklewall.....
There aught to be smoke comming out of your ears, cuz thats a biotch.

Now, if you want to tube them???
Let me know, I have a fixture made up for the screw spacing for a 15" rim??
If you need it, I'll throw it in the car...(MadD's car Friday!!
I run 8lbs. in my S-10 and you know the torque that thing pushes!!
Think about the tube!!

Last try, wrap a rope around the tire while putting air to it, put a stick through the rope and twist it to try to squish the beads out on to the rim.

Myrv · 06-11-2007, 03:35 PM

Well, there's always the ether trick. Definitely not the safest but it is effective.

Examples:

YouTube - Setting the Bead...the fun way
YouTube - ether and tire

{OF}BadDaWg · 06-11-2007, 03:47 PM

Christ

{OF}Blong · 06-11-2007, 05:48 PM

looks like fun lets do it at the lan party in the middle of the road

.

{OF}Barney_B · 06-11-2007, 06:11 PM

The ether trick does work but you need to be careful not to use too much. The first time I saw someone do it, I about busted a gut laughing. Reminded me of my teenage years...doing really stupid $hit and somehow surviving.

I've also tried what BD suggested but used a wide ratchet strap...it could also prove to be a dangerous undertaking. It's my guess that your air supply doesn't have the sustainable volume to seat the bead. Another thought; I've seen people use pressure gun grease instead of soapy water on really big tires with fairly good sucess. Not sure if it damages the tires but once you get it seated you can always degrease it. Just some ideas.

Smiley · 06-11-2007, 06:44 PM

My lead was great! He made it look so easy. His equipment holds the inside bead against the wheel seat and all you have to do is work with the other bead. Easy as pie with the right equipment

He also had bead glue too

Now I just need to install longer wheel studs because the wheel flange is extra thick and you need to also use a special washer for the beveled lug nuts. One thing leads to another . . . I'll probably find out I don't have enough horsepower for these paddle tires and will have to fix that issue next, etc

And yes, we did the ratchet strap around the tire, but it just crushes it because it is so thin. We also tried the starter fluid redneck method with no luck because the bead was too far from the seat. That method works well on a trail out in the boonies on standard offroad tires