So I'm calling around getting quotes on installing tires again since I'm basically living in a new place with new shops here. Everyone around here wants a LOT of money. When did I start living in NYC? This is podunk WV people!

I'm looking into doing it myself. I've done tubeless tires on tube rims before (with tubes), but never done an actual tubeless install. My worry is that I won't be able to put enough air in to get the bead seated as my only air pump here is one of those small emergency bicycle pumps. But I don't want to be spending over a hundred dollars to get the things mounted. Are there any tricks to seating a bead with a tiny wimpy air supply? Will I be able to do it with a floor pump? I don't particularly want to try the aerosol+fire method, and I don't need to be buying a compressor.

Specifically, the tires I'm looking at are Avon am26 Roadriders (bias ply) 110/70-17 front 130/80-17 rear. Standard GS500 rims.

I'm running those exact tires and I did the install myself.  I took the wheels with the newly installed tires to a gas station with a free air pump and pumped them up until the bead seated with a loud pop.  Then I checked the pressure and found it was a lot higher than the recommended amount and let enough air out until I was good.  I've also heard that bouncing the tire with almost the right psi amount helps to seat the bead.  Good luck.  It's worth the savings and good experience to DIY.

Hmm, gas station air pumps hadn't crossed my mind, thanks! I'll have to see if there's one in walking distance here. Did you use anything like windex to lube up the rim or did it just pop it on by itself?

Hmmm....last shop I went to cost me 10 to dismount and 10 more to remount. Air was free

They want $40 per tire around here, that's after you buy from them (most of them quote 30-40 over per tire) and bring in only the rims. Back in PA I had it done $50 the pair including new valve stems, and I got the tires separate.

Quote from: Badot on April 03, 2013, 12:49:33 PM
So I'm calling around getting quotes on installing tires again since I'm basically living in a new place with new shops here. Everyone around here wants a LOT of money. When did I start living in NYC? This is podunk WV people!

I'm looking into doing it myself. I've done tubeless tires on tube rims before (with tubes), but never done an actual tubeless install. My worry is that I won't be able to put enough air in to get the bead seated as my only air pump here is one of those small emergency bicycle pumps. But I don't want to be spending over a hundred dollars to get the things mounted. Are there any tricks to seating a bead with a tiny wimpy air supply? Will I be able to do it with a floor pump? I don't particularly want to try the aerosol+fire method, and I don't need to be buying a compressor.

Specifically, the tires I'm looking at are Avon am26 Roadriders (bias ply) 110/70-17 front 130/80-17 rear. Standard GS500 rims.

don't worry. pick up a SLIME patch kit with a 12v (cigarette receptical powered) compressor at walmart for $10.

with that, and dish soap, any tire will bead up as it should. clean the rim bead very well, then slick up the tire bead with 50/50 water dish soap. LEAVE THE CHERRY OUT of the valve stem, and inflate. it may take 2-3 tries or 60 psi ,but it will seat, with just that cheap compressor, or your bicycle pump.


the more difficult part is breaking the bead of the OLD tires.

use a 2x4 under your car's bumper, or under a set of stairs, or whatever. remember, dish soap works for removing old tires just like installing new ones.

like so:





don't just look at the bead, run your finger around it and you'll feel inconsistancies until it seats 100%. you can balance your wheels with just the axle, wheel, and two buckets. if your bearings are too stiff, replace them or go for a ride to warm them up, then try again. wheel weights are cheap and easy to apply.




there, enjoy your new tires

Alright, thank you. I'm well aware beads are a pain in the *** to break but I have my methods 
As far as a 2x4 under a car bumper, I don't think I can get much force out of an imaginary car. These one's aren't old. Haven't even been on a year yet. I just ride a lot and weigh a lot (with luggage)

Also, I hate all the little 12v compressors I've seen, they take forever. Are the slime ones any better? I'm tempted to just go with a stomp pump.

I did my own for years before I got too old.    I just squarted some liquid dish wash soap on a rag and wiped it around the bead for seating.  Can even do that after tire is on rim.  I always took them to a gas station to blow them up and seat the beads, needed higher pressure and volume than little air pumps at home had.

Quote from: Badot on April 03, 2013, 03:55:13 PM
Alright, thank you. I'm well aware beads are a pain in the *** to break but I have my methods 
As far as a 2x4 under a car bumper, I don't think I can get much force out of an imaginary car. These one's aren't old. Haven't even been on a year yet. I just ride a lot and weigh a lot (with luggage)

Also, I hate all the little 12v compressors I've seen, they take forever. Are the slime ones any better? I'm tempted to just go with a stomp pump.

i'm very good at waiting. mine pumps a 21" tire to 40 PSI in 10 minutes or so. the 18" rear (5.10") takes about the same. most importantly i'm not worn out from pumping it up 4-5 times, only to need more lube on the bead to seat it.

the cool part is if i flat on the trail, i can pump it up, ride out, and repeat as needed. changing tubes (a dualsport bike) with mud and rocks all around sucks.

What about wrapping a ratchet strap around the center of the tread, tighten it until the bead is almost seated, then filling with air? Once you start to set the bead, release the strap and keep filling the tire up.

Quote from: ohgood on April 03, 2013, 03:20:50 PM

Quote from: Badot on April 03, 2013, 12:49:33 PM
So I'm calling around getting quotes on installing tires again since I'm basically living in a new place with new shops here. Everyone around here wants a LOT of money. When did I start living in NYC? This is podunk WV people!

I'm looking into doing it myself. I've done tubeless tires on tube rims before (with tubes), but never done an actual tubeless install. My worry is that I won't be able to put enough air in to get the bead seated as my only air pump here is one of those small emergency bicycle pumps. But I don't want to be spending over a hundred dollars to get the things mounted. Are there any tricks to seating a bead with a tiny wimpy air supply? Will I be able to do it with a floor pump? I don't particularly want to try the aerosol+fire method, and I don't need to be buying a compressor.

Specifically, the tires I'm looking at are Avon am26 Roadriders (bias ply) 110/70-17 front 130/80-17 rear. Standard GS500 rims.

don't worry. pick up a SLIME patch kit with a 12v (cigarette receptical powered) compressor at walmart for $10.

with that, and dish soap, any tire will bead up as it should. clean the rim bead very well, then slick up the tire bead with 50/50 water dish soap. LEAVE THE CHERRY OUT of the valve stem, and inflate. it may take 2-3 tries or 60 psi ,but it will seat, with just that cheap compressor, or your bicycle pump.


the more difficult part is breaking the bead of the OLD tires.

use a 2x4 under your car's bumper, or under a set of stairs, or whatever. remember, dish soap works for removing old tires just like installing new ones.

like so:





don't just look at the bead, run your finger around it and you'll feel inconsistancies until it seats 100%. you can balance your wheels with just the axle, wheel, and two buckets. if your bearings are too stiff, replace them or go for a ride to warm them up, then try again. wheel weights are cheap and easy to apply.




there, enjoy your new tires

I agree. I used to work for a tow/recovery place as a service tech some years back (with my own service truck etc). and this is the exact method used to install 18 wheeler (simi what ever u want to call them) tires. I used dawn dish soap and never had a problem(and no i did not mix with water.. just straight dawn dish soap around tire will seal it right up).

Quote from: Big Rich on April 03, 2013, 07:06:51 PM
What about wrapping a ratchet strap around the center of the tread, tighten it until the bead is almost seated, then filling with air? Once you start to set the bead, release the strap and keep filling the tire up.

you can if you want to, but it's not needed. if the bead doesn't seat the first couple of times, more soapy water and more air pressure. 40psi usually does it for street tires. for some tubed knobbies i get up to 60psi before the tire is on evenly.

mo lube = mo better

The problem you're going to have with a hand pump is that air will probably be leaking around the bead far faster than you can pump.  You really need something that can move a lot of air quickly in order to seal the bead well enough to build up pressure to get it to seat.  In short you need a compressor with a tank.  Either you can use one at a service station as previously suggested or you can go out an buy one.  An adequate compressor can be had for well under $100.