Tire Mounting / Demounting

Proper mounting procedures must be followed or sudden tire destruction, personal injury or death may result. Tire mounting must be done only by personnel trained, supervised and equipped according to Federal OSHA regulations.

DEMOUNTING
Completely deflate tire by removing the valve core prior to removing the tire and wheel assembly from the truck.

Remove tire and wheel assembly from the vehicle and demount the tire from the wheel in the following manner:

Tubetype
•Insure that the tire is completely deflated before removing from the rim. Place the tire on the floor, side ring side up.

•Pry the bead loose from the lock ring using the proper tools.

•Disassemble the rim parts carefully to avoid damage to the tire, tube, flap or rim parts.

•Turn the wheel over and unseat the second bead from the wheel.

•Remove rim from the tire.

Tubeless
•Insure that the tire is completely deflated before removing from the rim.

•Break the beads loose on both sides of the tire using a bead breaking tool.

•Lubricate both beads of the tire using a vegetable -based lubricant only.

•Place the tire and rim on the floor with the wide side of the rim down.

•Progressively work the tire off the rim using the proper tire irons.

PRIOR TO MOUNTING
Clean and prepare rim or wheel—inspect the rim or wheel for damage. Cracked, broken, bent, or otherwise damaged rim components and wheels must not be reworked, welded, brazed or otherwise heated. Never weld a rim with a tire mounted on it.

Proper size tube and flaps (if applicable) must be installed in the tire. New tubes and flaps must be used when mounting new tube type tires. Never use undersized, oversized, or used tubes or flaps. Insure that rim components are properly matched and that the proper size rim is being used (size, bead taper, etc.).

New valves, cores, caps, and O -rings should be installed with new tires. Never mount a damaged tire.

MOUNTING
Tubetype
•Remove the tube and flap from the tire (if installed). Clean and dry the inside of the tire to insure that all moisture, dirt and foreign material is removed prior to mounting.

•Install the proper size tube and flap. Always install new radial tubes and radial flaps in new radial tires. Be sure tubes marked “radial” are used in radial tires. Place the tube inside the tire and install the flap, insuring that the flap is centered. Slightly inflate the tube enough to shape it out.

•Lubricate the beads, rim side of the flap and the tube base with a vegetable -based lubricant. Do not overlubricate (inside of tire must stay dry).

•Mount the tire, tube and flap assembly on the rim.

•Assemble the rim parts making sure proper components are used and a proper fit is established.

•When inflating, always place the tire in an approved safety cage or equivalent restraining device and use an extension hose and clip -on chuck.

•Never stand over a tire while inflating. Do not attempt to seat rim components by tapping with a mallet when tire is inflated.

Tubeless
•Clean and prepare rim or wheel.

•Replace valve seals and stem.

•Lubricate both beads and rim flange.

•Work the tire over the rim flanges using proper tubeless tire tools.

•Mount the tire over the valve side.

•Inflate the tire in a safety cage to seat beads.

•Do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure shown on the sidewall of the tire and/or rim.

WARNING: When mounting truck tires, never use pressures above 40 psi to seat tire beads. If beads have not seated by the time pressure reaches 40 psi, deflate the assembly, reposition the tire on the rim, relubricate tire beads, rim humps, bead seat, and reinflate.

CAUTIONS
Always inflate tire/rim assembly in an approved safety cage or equivalent restraining device, use remove controlled clip -on air hose, and inflate to pressure recommended by vehicle manufacturer.

Always insure that rim components fit properly before inflating.

Never tap component parts with a mallet while the tire is inflated.

Never attempt to disassemble multipiece rims while inflated.

Do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure on the sidewall of the tire. If beads do not seat at 40 psi, deflate, relubricate and reinflate.

WARNING: Never pour or spray any flammable substance into or onto a tire or wheel for any purpose whatsoever. The residue left by the substance could result in a fire or explosion which could cause an accident.

WARNING: Never pour or spray a flammable substance such as gasoline or ethyl ether into a tire and light with a match so that the resulting explosion seats the beads of a tubeless tire. This practice is extremely dangerous and can result in a severe explosion or undetected damage to the tire or rim which can cause severe injury or death.

WARNING: Always replace a tire on a rim with another tire of exactly the same bead diameter as the diameter of the rim on which it will be mounted.

CORRECT RIM SELECTION
Truck tires are designed to be used on wheels and rims that conform to the dimensions and contours shown in the Tire and Rim Association Yearbook for the year in which the tire is manufactured and that are designed as approved wheels and rims for each particular tire size and type.

Usage of other wheels and rims must be expressly approved for the particular application involved.

The load and cold inflation pressure stamped on the rim and/or wheel must not exceed the rim and wheel manufacturer’s recommendations even though the tire may be approved for a higher load or inflation.

Rims and wheels may be identified (stamped) with a maximum load and maximum cold inflation rating. For rims and wheels not so identified or for service conditions exceeding the rated capacities, consult the rim and wheel manufacturer to determine rim and wheel capacities for the intended service.

TIRE AND RIM MATCHING IMPORTANCE
Remember the importance of proper matching of tires and rims. In particular, special care must also be used in the mounting of any 16” diameter tire sizes, as well as the 15.5” and 17.5” sizes. The 16” size tire must be mounted only on the approved 16” rims and not the 15.5” or 16.5” rims. In addition, any 15” size tire must be mounted only on approved 15” rims not the 15.5” rim and any 17” size tire must be mounted only on approved 17” rims not on the 17.5” rim.

WARNING: There is a danger in installing a tire of one rim diameter on a rim of a different rim diameter. If attempts are made to mount and inflate a 15” diameter tire on a 15.5” rim, a 16” tire on a 16.5” rim, or a 17” tire on a 17.5” rim, serious injury or death may result.

Rims of different diameters and tapers cannot be interchanged. The following diagram illustrates the difference between rims of two different tapers and diameters:

The following diagram shows how the beads of a 16” tire will not seat on a 16.5” rim. The beads should not be forced out against the rim flanges by using more air pressure, because this will break the beads and the tire will explode. Never exceed 40 psi when seating the beads on the rims.

USE OF LUBRICANTS IN MOUNTING/DEMOUNTING OF TRUCK/BUS TIRES
Bridgestone Firestone does not recommend the use of petroleum products as a lubricant in tire mounting or demounting operations.

Only a vegetable oil lubricant should be used. Do not use solvents or petroleum products as a lubricant in conjunction with tire mounting or demounting.

In those cases where a tire submitted for adjustment consideration for bead related damages shows evidence of having been contaminated by petroleum lubricants or other non -recommended material, the adjustment will be disallowed by tire manufacturers. The use of nonrecommended products or materials may result in the deterioration of rubber and eventual failure of the tire.

Acceptable lubricants such as Murphy’s Soap, Ru-Glyde, Bishmans, etc. are recommended for mounting and demounting passenger and truck/bus tires.