YACT: Is it possible to inflate a tire with 0 pressure?

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

I don't remember if I posted this in my flat tire thread, but the spare ended up having not enough pressure. It deflated when I tried to move my car closer to my apartment (it was in the parking lot). I bought a compressor, but inflating the spare seems to be impossible. There is no seal with the rim. Is there a way to get around this?

Soybomb · May 4, 2003

If its come off the rim it needs more pressure than your compressor can make to seat the bead.

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Damn.. looks like I'm going to have to get my car towed either to Discount Tire or to a mechanic to put on tires (If I order from Tire Rack).

Actaeon · May 4, 2003

Borrow a friends spare?

Soybomb · May 4, 2003

You could take the spare to any shop and they can seat it.

An off roading trick to seat a tire when you don't have a good enough compressor is to put a ratchet strap around the tire to pull it in and make the least internal volume, then spray something flammable inside, and toss a match on it hoping it will pop into place. Its dangerous though so don't go it.

Evadman · May 4, 2003

If your tire came off the rim, bring it to a gas station. those pumps will usually put out enough volume to snap the bead back on. Be aware that it will sound like a gunshot and can take off fingers if you get your fingers end up betweent he tire and rim.

If the tire looks like it is on the rim aready, deflate it all the way, then have a friend drive his car on the rubber portion to pull the tire away from the rim. Then do the above to put it back on.

soybomb: I have done that. As you said, it is not recomended, but can get you home if their is no other way besides walking. It is possible to blow the tire into little bitty pieces though. As an asside, you can not see rubber on an X-ray.

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: Soybomb
You could take the spare to any shop and they can seat it.

An off roading trick to seat a tire when you don't have a good enough compressor is to put a ratchet strap around the tire to pull it in and make the least internal volume, then spray something flammable inside, and toss a match on it hoping it will pop into place. Its dangerous though so don't go it.

Thanks, I'll try that.

What is a ratchet strap though?

Evadman · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: Soybomb
You could take the spare to any shop and they can seat it.

An off roading trick to seat a tire when you don't have a good enough compressor is to put a ratchet strap around the tire to pull it in and make the least internal volume, then spray something flammable inside, and toss a match on it hoping it will pop into place. Its dangerous though so don't go it.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll try that.

What is a ratchet strap though?

linky & Linky

cyclistca · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: Actaeon
Borrow a friends spare?

There are many types of bolt patterns. Unless the friend has the same car that's probably not going to work.

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: Evadman
If your tire came off the rim, bring it to a gas station. those pumps will usually put out enough volume to snap the bead back on. Be aware that it will sound like a gunshot and can take off fingers if you get your fingers end up betweent he tire and rim.

If the tire looks like it is on the rim aready, deflate it all the way, then have a friend drive his car on the rubber portion to pull the tire away from the rim. Then do the above to put it back on.

soybomb: I have done that. As you said, it is not recomended, but can get you home if their is no other way besides walking. It is possible to blow the tire into little bitty pieces though. As an asside, you can not see rubber on an X-ray.

Hmmm... Thanks. I'll try rolling the wheel over to a gas station. Good thing I live in the city.

Edit: It's impossible to roll a tire that small for that distance.

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Is it bad to leave the car on the jack for a day or two? Is that abnormal stress bad for the body/frame/monoque-tub-whatever?

cyclistca · May 4, 2003

Yes it is. I've seen standard car jacks fall down if left for long periods. If you need to leave your car like that your better off getting some jack stands and putting it on them.

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: cyclistca
Yes it is. I've seen standard car jacks fall down if left for long periods. If you need to leave your car like that your better off getting some jack stands and putting it on them.

Arghh.. I'll just put on the wheel with the original flat tire..

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Is it bad for the suspension and such for the car to sit there with 3 inflated tires and one flat?

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

hdeck and I carried the spare to a gas station a mile away and inflated it. Now that is a workout.

Evadman · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
hdeck and I carried the spare to a gas station a mile away and inflated it. Now that is a workout.

It honestly might have been easier if you took off 2 tires and rolled one on top of the other that distance. (hard to explain, and takes good balance, but can be done) expecialy if they are small. Just for future reference.

I assume you are good to go?

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
hdeck and I carried the spare to a gas station a mile away and inflated it. Now that is a workout.

Click to expand...

It honestly might have been easier if you took off 2 tires and rolled one on top of the other that distance. (hard to explain, and takes good balance, but can be done) expecialy if they are small. Just for future reference.

I assume you are good to go?

Yeah. I just need to order some tires from tirerack.com. Will a mechanic mount the tires and balance the wheels?

Edit: I'm trying to figure out if 225/50-16 tires are too wide for 6.5" rims... Dunlop FM901s, supposedly bigger than their rated size. Are they big enough to negatively affect handling?

Evadman · May 4, 2003

discount Tire is the least expensive place with the best service. They can get tires from anywhere, and mount them for less than you would pay just for the tires from tirerack.com

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: Evadman
discount Tire is the least expensive place with the best service. They can get tires from anywhere, and mount them for less than you would pay just for the tires from tirerack.com

They have the Dunlop FM901s for $115 or something, while TireRack has them for $81. Shipping is $25 or so. How much is the mounting cost?
Another thing is that DTC has to order them from Dallas.

I want to get the FM901s because I read good things about them on the freshalloy.com forum.... and the tread pattern looks cool

. Not sure about the width though. I want to keep the diameter close to stock (205/55-16), and 215s aren't available in any size that does that. I don't want to end up with small tires that fill out even less of my wheel wells!

Btw, is it bad for the chassis or "frame" (or whatever you call it in a unibody car) to be sitting on 3 tires for a few days? I assume it wouldnt' do any good for the anti roll bars...

Cyberian · May 4, 2003

As an asside, you can not see rubber on an X-ray.

I really would prefer not to know how you know this

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Btw, here is a pic of the flat tire. http://www.tortoisehead.com/tiresm.jpg
That happened in only a few thousand miles, if I checked the tires when I think I did.

The other side is just as bad. Guys on freshalloy say it's toe out, so I'll have to get an alignment too.

Evadman · May 4, 2003

umm, generaly if you can see the steel coards, you are in trouble. Your camber is set incorrectly (not toe in or out) it looks like it is set way to far negitive.

mounting and balancing can run $20-$40 a tire. Discount tire charges $30 IIRC. That $115 price is most likely mounted and balanced with free lifetime rotation and such. So you would actually pay $15-20 more if you bought the $81 tire.

Soybomb · May 4, 2003

I pay $7 a tire for mounting and balancing so call around

WinkOsmosis · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: Evadman
umm, generaly if you can see the steel coards, you are in trouble. Your camber is set incorrectly (not toe in or out) it looks like it is set way to far negitive.

mounting and balancing can run $20-$40 a tire. Discount tire charges $30 IIRC. That $115 price is most likely mounted and balanced with free lifetime rotation and such. So you would actually pay $15-20 more if you bought the $81 tire.

I figured it was camber, but they say it's the toe on Freshalloy.

Does Discount Tire do alignments by any chance?

Evadman · May 4, 2003

Originally posted by: Soybomb
I pay $7 a tire for mounting and balancing so call around

That is what costco charges IIRC.

YACT: Is it possible to inflate a tire with 0 pressure?

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