Content area
Full text
Technicians need to use proper lubricant when mounting tires
Proper bead lubrication can be critical to tire mounting and to radial truck tire casing life. The goal of using a bead lubricant is to temporarily reduce friction between the rubber tire bead and metal rim flange area. This allows rubber to slide easily against the wheel as mounting tools are used to deflect the bead over the wheel flange area and down into the rim well until the complete tire bead is inside the rim flange area.
Lubrication is especially important for tubeless radiais, as the tire beads are quite thick and keeping a smooth rubber surface is critical for sealing and maintaining the high-pressure inflation.
Also, tubeless medium truck tires and their matching rims use a 15 degree taper in the bead seat area. During initial seating, beads must climb this higher angle ramp and seat firmly in the area formed by the rim flange and this ramp.
There are two basic considerations when...