How to Mount Tires to Wheels by Hand

Mounting tires requires quite a bit of physical strength.

Mounting tires requires a certain amount of physical strength. Tires may pop up or not seat properly on the wheel. If you wish to mount tires without professional help, consider the steps involved and learn how to avoid possible injury.

Things You'll Need

• Fluid (oil, water, or soap)
• Crowbar
• Compressed air pump

Instructions

Mounting

1. Place the wheel on a flat and stable surface.

2. Coat the tire bead with lubricant. The bead is the edge that sits on the wheel.

3. Place the tire on top of the wheel.

4. Grip the top of the tire firmly with both hands. Straddle the wheel by crouching with your knees close to the bottom of the tire.

5. Push down on the tire while also applying pressure with your knees in a rocking motion. Continue doing this until the tire eventually pops down onto the wheel. Half the tire should now be on the wheel.

6. Pry the entire tire onto the wheel using the crowbar. Do this by placing the flat part of the crowbar over the lip of the wheel, and pulling the crowbar back toward yourself. This should force the bead of the tire over the edge of the wheel.

7. Work your way around the tire this way, with your other hand pushing down against the tire at the same time to get it fully onto the rim of the wheel. Apply force with your foot if necessary.

Inflating

1. Remove the cap from the valve stem of the tire. Attach the nozzle of the compressed air pump on the stem.

2. Inject air into the tire in short spurts.

3. Continue inflating the tire until about three-fourths of the tire bead is seated. "Seating" a tire refers to inflating it until the bead is at the same level around the rim of the wheel.

4. Pause every few minutes to allow the unseated part of the tire to seat. Inflating the tire too quickly may force the entire thing to pop up.

5. Continue this process until the entire tire is seated.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a safe distance when inflating the tire. Pressure may force the tire and wheel to pop off in the air. To be safe, strap the tire and wheel down inflating it.

References

• Used Tires & Wheels: Tire Mounting Without A Machine