Many folks believe that a long-lasting, trouble free set of tires ends with selecting a quality brand. Actually selecting a quality tire is only the beginning. Shockingly, a new high quality tire can be quickly ruined by improper installation.

Replacing the tire on a wheel is known as mounting. It can also be a source of problems. While it may seem quite straight forward, things can go wrong. An untrained person can quickly destroy a new tire by improper mounting. Just a few of the problems that can occur include:

• Bending or distorting the bead



• Not fully seating the bead to the wheel



• Damaging cords in the tire



• Tearing the bead

Bending or distorting the bead 

The outer edge of a wheel is larger in diameter than its tire. This help keep the tire on the wheel. For instance in this illustration, "a" represents the diameter of the wheel and "b" the size of the tire opening. Mounting the tire involves a bit of knowledge.

Wheels are built with a smaller diameter "drop" in the center. Dimension "c" is smaller than dimension "b" allowing a tire to be mounted.

Great care must be taken to keep the tire in the dropped area while mounting. The width of the tire tends to push the bead out of the dropped area, toward the mounting surface of the wheel. When this happens the tire will be stretched over the wheel. Using force in an attempt to do so can bend and distort the steel belts in the tire's bead. A tire can be twisted out of round and even permanently distorted by such an error.

Not fully seating the bead to the wheel

Once mounted, the tire bead must "travel" from the dropped opening to the edge of the wheel. This happens when the tire is filled with air. Air expands the sidewalls and forces the tire to seat at the edge of the wheel. This too is an area of great concern.

Rubber is a high friction material. The tire will resist sliding on a dry or improperly lubricated wheel. Special lubricant must be carefully applied to the tire and the wheel surface. If only the tire is lubricated, the lubricant will be rubbed off as the tire moves across the wheel surface. When this happens the tire binds. The result could be an improperly seated tire and possibly a distorted tire carcass.

Damaging cords in the tire

Adding more air pressure to seat the tire is NOT the answer. The loud pop as the tire slams against the edge of the wheel may be the sound of a new tire being destroyed. Tires are designed to hold no more than the specified amount of pressure. Over inflating in order to seat it can permanently destroy a new tire.

Tearing the bead

Lack of lubrication and/or skill can also cause a tear in the bead of the tire.  A torn bead may not seat to the wheel.  This can result in loss of air or even tire failure.  A torn bead is non-repairable.  With so many things that can go wrong, great care should be taken in selecting a shop for tires.  Buying a quality tire may not be enough.  Even great tires can quickly be ruined by improper mounting.  Choose a shop known for quality in everything they do.  For quality Michelin tires, mounted properly choose AGCO, its the place to go.