Busting a bead
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 234
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From: Gloucester, Virginia
Busting a bead
'03 PSD Crew 4x4 shortbed
Anyone gone up from the stock 265's to say 285 or 295 and aired down to around 20 psi and busted a bead. The reason I ask is, we always go to Hatteras for a week every summer and I'd like to go with a bigger tire--but not a bigger rim (at this time). I know a lot of you guys have gone up in size.
We went to Hatteras this summer and aired down to 20 psi and did OK but I am really leery of taking this heavy beast into that deep sand on the size tire that the Ford has giveth.
Father forgive me but when attempting to pull my sister's Expedition out we got stuck. Along came some young bucks in a really high, really large tire'd DODGE RAM and they pullled us out. Obviously, the RAM's large tires were what saved us.
Anyway, I'd like a wider footprint this coming summer and want to check with you guys as to your experience or knowledge. I'm sure the larger tires are OK at full inflation--it is the aired-down state that concerns me. Of course, since the Ford does not recommend airing down, I know that I am really own my own here. Just looking for insight.
Thanks, guys.
Reid
Anyone gone up from the stock 265's to say 285 or 295 and aired down to around 20 psi and busted a bead. The reason I ask is, we always go to Hatteras for a week every summer and I'd like to go with a bigger tire--but not a bigger rim (at this time). I know a lot of you guys have gone up in size.
We went to Hatteras this summer and aired down to 20 psi and did OK but I am really leery of taking this heavy beast into that deep sand on the size tire that the Ford has giveth.
Father forgive me but when attempting to pull my sister's Expedition out we got stuck. Along came some young bucks in a really high, really large tire'd DODGE RAM and they pullled us out. Obviously, the RAM's large tires were what saved us.
Anyway, I'd like a wider footprint this coming summer and want to check with you guys as to your experience or knowledge. I'm sure the larger tires are OK at full inflation--it is the aired-down state that concerns me. Of course, since the Ford does not recommend airing down, I know that I am really own my own here. Just looking for insight.
Thanks, guys.
Reid
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, Colorado
I've got a `01 F250 PSD SC SWB 4x4 with 305/70/16 BFG AT's on the stock
wheels. I've aired down several times to 22 lbs. So far no problems at all, but thats not on sand. Sand can be a totally different monster. However, you can use an old trick that works great to seat the tire back on the rim if you do bust a bead. Take your tire and wheel off and lay it flat. Then squirt charcoal lighter fluid " I've had great luck with Coleman white fuel " between the rim and the unseated tire. Throw a lit match on it and jump back! The rapidly expanding air from the fire heat will pop that bead back on perfectly.
I know it sounds a little spooky, but if you use common sense and the lighter fluid "SPARINGLY" you'll be surprised how well and safely it works.
Austin
wheels. I've aired down several times to 22 lbs. So far no problems at all, but thats not on sand. Sand can be a totally different monster. However, you can use an old trick that works great to seat the tire back on the rim if you do bust a bead. Take your tire and wheel off and lay it flat. Then squirt charcoal lighter fluid " I've had great luck with Coleman white fuel " between the rim and the unseated tire. Throw a lit match on it and jump back! The rapidly expanding air from the fire heat will pop that bead back on perfectly.
I know it sounds a little spooky, but if you use common sense and the lighter fluid "SPARINGLY" you'll be surprised how well and safely it works.
Austin
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Cabot, Arkansas
Originally Posted by AustinS
Throw a lit match on it and jump back! The rapidly expanding air from the fire heat will pop that bead back on perfectly.
I know it sounds a little spooky, but if you use common sense and the lighter fluid "SPARINGLY" you'll be surprised how well and safely it works.
Austin
I know it sounds a little spooky, but if you use common sense and the lighter fluid "SPARINGLY" you'll be surprised how well and safely it works.
Austin
Just have a fire extingusher handy...
Edmo
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, Colorado
Honestly though, one of my cousins was a part of a Polar Expedition Team and that's where I learned this trick. They have been doing it in Iceland and Norway for years. There was even a show on TLC or Discovery where they showed it. I've done it twice and it worked like a charm both times.
If someone did it in the middle of a dry grass field now that would be a problem wouldn't it? On a beach with nothing but sand that's a different story isn't it?
It is fine to have some doubt about something that is new or sounds odd, but why is it that most people judge things before they actually understand the proper application of something beyond their knowledge?
Austin
"Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know."
Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)
If someone did it in the middle of a dry grass field now that would be a problem wouldn't it? On a beach with nothing but sand that's a different story isn't it?
It is fine to have some doubt about something that is new or sounds odd, but why is it that most people judge things before they actually understand the proper application of something beyond their knowledge?
Austin
"Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know."
Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Lnd Svyr,
I've gone down to 15psi once while I was buried to my axles in the sand waaaay out on the Padre Island Natl. Seashore. I only had it that low until I dug/rocked myself out. I ran the rest of the trip at 25psi and didn't have any problems. I crossed lots of ruts, blasted through deep sand, and kept the tires churning through all of it. Only drawback was having a dinky Coleman compressor to air back up, talk about agony!
AustinS,
My Grandfather taught me that trick, but I've never had the manhood to try it! He said it was common pratice during his driving trips deep into Mexico.
I've gone down to 15psi once while I was buried to my axles in the sand waaaay out on the Padre Island Natl. Seashore. I only had it that low until I dug/rocked myself out. I ran the rest of the trip at 25psi and didn't have any problems. I crossed lots of ruts, blasted through deep sand, and kept the tires churning through all of it. Only drawback was having a dinky Coleman compressor to air back up, talk about agony!
AustinS,
My Grandfather taught me that trick, but I've never had the manhood to try it! He said it was common pratice during his driving trips deep into Mexico.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Madison USA
I run my rock crawler (86 Toyota 4X4) on 35X12.5X15s at 10 psi all the time in the woods. It works great, and the lower tire pressure really helps. On the road, its a terrible handful with the tires at that pressure, so I added on-board air compressor to refill the tires to street pressure.
Setting a bead with explosives is awfully dangerous.
CO2 tank is another alternative that works well.
Setting a bead with explosives is awfully dangerous.
CO2 tank is another alternative that works well.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Greensboro, NC
ether (spelling) starting fluid, is used by large turck tire mounting shops when they don't have correct equiptment out in the field. Although you should not have any ether in your PSD cab, it works on tires. "Just a little will do you" and you know it all will burn away leaving no traces.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Newhall,CA
We put the stock 265 firestones from our Excursion on our f150 for a while. I go out to Glamis (imperial sand dunes) here in California all the time. I had them down to 8 psi in the dunes. They worked good. I drove around for 2 or 3 days with the tires low like this. I wouldn't recommend doing high speed donuts or cutting really hard in turns though.. I've had our Excusion down to 10 pounds with good results too, with 35 inch bfg a/t's.
Last edited by AirSmitty; Dec 17, 2004 at 02:40 PM.
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More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 535
Likes: 10
From: Evans, West Virginia
Hey I have tried that coleman fuel,starting fluid,lighter fluid ,laquer thinner, tryin to seat a bead and unless there is a trick to it my buddies and I just about roasted a motorcycle tire i would not try it again of course we had been drinkin a lil bit
Last edited by wvabeer; Dec 17, 2004 at 08:26 PM.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 40
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"Just a little will do you" and you know it all will burn away leaving no traces."
Wrong! Ask a DOT offical if he can tell if you used starting fluid to seat the bead. They have a little device they put on the valve stim to check. Automatic ticket if found in semi steer tires.
Wrong! Ask a DOT offical if he can tell if you used starting fluid to seat the bead. They have a little device they put on the valve stim to check. Automatic ticket if found in semi steer tires.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,773
Likes: 7
From: On the road in Ohio
I've done the light fluid trick, only i left the wheel on the truck, i just jacked up the axle , squirted a little lighter fluid spun the wheel ... then lite it..
spoof ...
tire remounted....but be sure to let the service tech that has to dismount the tire that this was done....and anytime you use fix-flat...
spoof ...
tire remounted....but be sure to let the service tech that has to dismount the tire that this was done....and anytime you use fix-flat...
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Supernatural BC
I've used the either trick on gravel truck tires. It's a little un-nerving. I will also say that when the gasses in the tire cool the bead will pop off again. You need to put air in the tire immediately. A safer trick is a chain or strap around the center of the tire and cinch tight. That will force the bead out so you can add air. Just remember to undo it before you put to much air or you wont get your strap off.