Problem getting front tyres to inflate
Discussion
Hi Chaps,
I have had a pair of Michelin Pilot Sports fitted to my front wheels, but I am having problems getting them to seal against the rims.
The tyres are 235/35/18's but when they are fitted there is a slight gap (perhaps 1mm) between the rim and the tyre that prevents them from sealing.
The wheels are refurbished early Image ones that were fitted to the first GTR's. The old tyres (Pirelli 245/35/18's) that came off the rims, fitted with no problems.
I have tried various methods to seal the tyre whilst inflating to no avail. There is slightly too big a gap to allow the tyre to be blown onto the edge of the rim... Even with a large reservoir and a good airflow we failed.
3 questions:
If I can get the tryes to inflate, will they be safe?
Is it possible to add a small bead of sealer to the rims to help them seal?
Is a 235 tyre too small for a 9" Rim? Anyone else use them?
This tyre is a great fit into the wheelarch and has solved my bodywork clearance problem, so I want to retain if possible...
Any ideas?
Many Thanks,
Mart
I have had a pair of Michelin Pilot Sports fitted to my front wheels, but I am having problems getting them to seal against the rims.
The tyres are 235/35/18's but when they are fitted there is a slight gap (perhaps 1mm) between the rim and the tyre that prevents them from sealing.
The wheels are refurbished early Image ones that were fitted to the first GTR's. The old tyres (Pirelli 245/35/18's) that came off the rims, fitted with no problems.
I have tried various methods to seal the tyre whilst inflating to no avail. There is slightly too big a gap to allow the tyre to be blown onto the edge of the rim... Even with a large reservoir and a good airflow we failed.
3 questions:
If I can get the tryes to inflate, will they be safe?
Is it possible to add a small bead of sealer to the rims to help them seal?
Is a 235 tyre too small for a 9" Rim? Anyone else use them?
This tyre is a great fit into the wheelarch and has solved my bodywork clearance problem, so I want to retain if possible...
Any ideas?
Many Thanks,
Mart
Sometimes you have to be quite rough with new tyre fits Martin.
Run some washing-up liquid around both beads first
If you have one sidewall almost seated it helps. Usually holding the wheel/tyre on the floor angled at 45' away from yourself put you foot against the wheel whilst holding the very outer of the tyre, at the same time as inflating. Basically trying to push the wheel against the tyre sidewall. Sometimes kicking them onto the seat is required and more than one pair of hands, just to get the initial bite/seal!!!!!!!!! Watch your fingers.....keep hands maily on the tread area..away from the sidewall.
If that fails try a ratchet-strap around the tyre circumference and repeat the above.
To check for seal, inflate the wheel/tyre, lay on its side and run a soap/water mix around the bead (joint). Leaks/bubbles will be very evident with this method, repeat other side.
Run some washing-up liquid around both beads first
If you have one sidewall almost seated it helps. Usually holding the wheel/tyre on the floor angled at 45' away from yourself put you foot against the wheel whilst holding the very outer of the tyre, at the same time as inflating. Basically trying to push the wheel against the tyre sidewall. Sometimes kicking them onto the seat is required and more than one pair of hands, just to get the initial bite/seal!!!!!!!!! Watch your fingers.....keep hands maily on the tread area..away from the sidewall.
If that fails try a ratchet-strap around the tyre circumference and repeat the above.
To check for seal, inflate the wheel/tyre, lay on its side and run a soap/water mix around the bead (joint). Leaks/bubbles will be very evident with this method, repeat other side.
Edited by 738 driver on Thursday 5th March 21:38
Edited by 738 driver on Thursday 5th March 21:40
Edited by 738 driver on Thursday 5th March 21:41
738 driver said:
Sometimes you have to be quite rough with new tyre fits Martin.
Run some washing-up liquid around both beads first
If you have one sidewall almost seated it helps. Usually holding the wheel/tyre on the floor angled at 45' away from yourself put you foot against the wheel whilst holding the very outer of the tyre, at the same time as inflating. Basically trying to push the wheel against the tyre sidewall. Sometimes kicking them onto the seat is required and more than one pair of hands, just to get the initial bite/seal!!!!!!!!! Watch your fingers.....keep hands maily on the tread area..away from the sidewall.
If that fails try a ratchet-strap around the tyre circumference and repeat the above.
To check for seal, inflate the wheel/tyre, lay on its side and run a soap/water mix around the bead (joint). Leaks/bubbles will be very evident with this method, repeat other side.
Thanks for the comments Driver,Run some washing-up liquid around both beads first
If you have one sidewall almost seated it helps. Usually holding the wheel/tyre on the floor angled at 45' away from yourself put you foot against the wheel whilst holding the very outer of the tyre, at the same time as inflating. Basically trying to push the wheel against the tyre sidewall. Sometimes kicking them onto the seat is required and more than one pair of hands, just to get the initial bite/seal!!!!!!!!! Watch your fingers.....keep hands maily on the tread area..away from the sidewall.
If that fails try a ratchet-strap around the tyre circumference and repeat the above.
To check for seal, inflate the wheel/tyre, lay on its side and run a soap/water mix around the bead (joint). Leaks/bubbles will be very evident with this method, repeat other side.
I have pretty much tried all of that with no luck. I had the tyres fitted at a 'performance' tyre centre (they do Lambo's etc) and they failed to get them on and eventually gave up (they still charged me for fitting and balancing so I won't be returning!)...
Is it possible that there is a problem with the rims do you think?
Only thing else I could think of is to try a commercial tyre fitter with a very big compressor.. Oh Err... :-)
Mart
You could try sticking/inflating a tube in there first, would get them on the beads, then you would just need to break one bead to remove the tube. If you left them for a few hours/overnight with the tube inflated, it might get them nearer their fitted shape.
A bit of messing but maybe worth a last attempt?
Forgot to add to last post.........also try to inflate without the valve core initially.........you will get a slightly greater volume through the restrictive valve body....every bit helps.
A bit of messing but maybe worth a last attempt?
Forgot to add to last post.........also try to inflate without the valve core initially.........you will get a slightly greater volume through the restrictive valve body....every bit helps.
Edited by 738 driver on Thursday 5th March 22:36
Edited by 738 driver on Thursday 5th March 22:38
I had early rims on my GTR and had no end of problems keeping them sealed.
The only way I could get them inflated was to take them to a tyre fitters but to the commercial vehicle bay as the airlines they use are not flow regulated like the car bay ones are.
I wish you luck. You only need to park with the tyre against the edge of a dropped curb and it will deflate. Mine went down so often that I ended up fitting a remote tyre pressure monitoring system having run flat and ruined two tyres. I ended up buying new rims.
Steve
The only way I could get them inflated was to take them to a tyre fitters but to the commercial vehicle bay as the airlines they use are not flow regulated like the car bay ones are.
I wish you luck. You only need to park with the tyre against the edge of a dropped curb and it will deflate. Mine went down so often that I ended up fitting a remote tyre pressure monitoring system having run flat and ruined two tyres. I ended up buying new rims.
Steve
Well, fitted the old front tyres again today and they sealed fine...! Not sure what the problem was with the other tyres...? Think I will invest in a couple of new 245/35/18 Michelin Pilot PS2's as they seem to be a good all round choice. I think that the slightly narrower tyre was the problem perhaps?
Been putting the headlight covers on tonight.. What a messy job!
Cheers,
Mart
Been putting the headlight covers on tonight.. What a messy job!
Cheers,
Mart
Funny reading this thread as I had a similar problem with my daily transport (Merc C240T) last summer. When I changed my tyres from Pirelli PZeros for a set of new Michelin Pilot Sports (225/45/ZR17 front and 245/40/ZR17 rears), I had one of the front tyres deflate after around 200km travelling on the motorway. Didn't realize until too late and the tyre was destroyed. Tried 3 different new tyres to seal properly on the front rims with no success. Wheels are official Merc alloy rims. Ended up having to buy two new front tyres (Pirellis) and no problems since. I have been trying with help from my local tyre supplier to get Michelin to admit a possible problem with this (size) tyre with no success for the moment 
Am rather peeved with this ongoing problem, apart from the extra unexpected expenses as the Michelins seemed better runners than the Pirellis (less noise and tramlining). Could the problem experienced by others be due to a faulty batch or design of the tyre?
Am rather peeved with this ongoing problem, apart from the extra unexpected expenses as the Michelins seemed better runners than the Pirellis (less noise and tramlining). Could the problem experienced by others be due to a faulty batch or design of the tyre?GTRMikie said:
MattYorke said:
Re original Q - Put a ratchet strap around the circumference of the tyre and tighten it up.
Is that with the tyres inflated or flat? I have some Mini tyres which don't seal properly so this might be worth a try.The alternative is to use a bead blaster which is like a compressed air cannon. You pump it up with an airline/compressor then hold it against the bead/rim and pull the lever. It releases all the air in one hit which should then seat the bead and allow full inflation to follow.
Steve
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