Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Defective tire or inexperienced installer?

Metalmoto

Metalmoto

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Original poster
Joined
Oct 1, 2021
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67
Location
Philadelphia
Hi, I just bought 5 new 30X9.5R15 General Grabber A/TX tires from Tire Rack. The installer said he had a difficult time, trying to get one of the tires to seat on bead. Said he spent 40 minutes on it. As the result, I still have the old spare anyway.
My thought is to take the tire someplace else first, and see if they have a problem mounting it?

Or should I contact Tire Rack for a replacement?

Has anyone had this issue before?

Thanks in advance,

Dave
 
Bad tire, bad rim or bad installer. Most likely is the installer followed by the tire. I'd talk to a manager at the tire shop first and ask them to show you the defect in the tire.
 
NskLJ said:
Do you know if he used a air tank bead seater or just the tire machine?
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Sorry, I do not know.
pagrey said:
Bad tire, bad rim or bad installer. Most likely is the installer followed by the tire. I'd talk to a manager at the tire shop first and ask them to show you the defect in the tire.
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Don't think it's a bad rim. As it appears they didn't even remove the spare.
The installer didn't suggest it's a bad tire. Only said the tire has a very stiff sidewall.
I have contacted Tire Rack, and explained the issue. Waiting for a reply.
 
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Never heard of such a thing. I bet it's the installer.

The dead giveaway is that he spent 40 minutes trying to get it on lol. Seems like someone who knew what they were doing would be able to get the tire seated on the rim eventually or know better than to waste 40 mins without success.
 
What's the width on these rims? If they're over the width specified by the tire manufacturer, they can be very difficult to seat. Unlike car tires, stretching truck/SUV tires to a wider rim can sometimes be quite difficult. 9.5 is a relatively narrow tire, but should seat on an 8" wide or narrower rim without too much trouble. A 10" wide rim would be quite difficult, though.
 
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The rims are original to the Jeep. Tires are the recommended size on the door sticker.
I contacted Tire Rack, and they shipped me out a replacement tire. Assuming the first one was defective.
This Saturday, I will take the replacement tire to a nearby shop, to be mounted.
I will post the outcome ASAP. Also, Tire Rack didn't request request me to ship back the defective tire for inspection.
 
Metalmoto said:
Took the replacement tire to be installed. And they still can't get it to seat. I give up!
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I've had problems installing Goodyear Integrity tires. You drop it on the rim and it just collapses. It's virtually impossible to get them to bead up.
Next step.... Out comes the "bead blaster"
You need to ask the shop if they have a "bead blaster," if not go someplace else.
There is absolutely no reason the shop shouldn't be able to mount that tire on a stock rim.
 
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Metalmoto said:
Took the replacement tire to be installed. And they still can't get it to seat. I give up!
Click to expand...

I don't know what option remains but to question the rim. Maybe bent and letting air escape fast enough that it can't build enough pressure to seat the bead?
 
Very strange that there was a problem with just that wheel. I would just monitor the psi compared to the other tires. We all should fo that more often. As other members have stated: not unusual to use a compression to force the bead up on the wheel. The stiffer the sidewall, the more that is necessary.
 
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freedom_in_4low said:
I don't know what option remains but to question the rim. Maybe bent and letting air escape fast enough that it can't build enough pressure to seat the bead?
Click to expand...

I say this because you've had (presumably) the same tech successfully mount the other tires, and two different tires have not seated on this rim. Possibly even a different tech making the attempt with the new tire? The rim is the only remaining constant.
 
Take it to a different shop that won't make up excuses on why they are too incompetent to seat a stock size tire on a stock size rim.

This whole situation is completely ridiculous
 
did they change the valve stem ? it's possible you have a defective one ! might not be letting enough air go in fast enough. I had a tractor tire that would go flat every other night and it would take for ever to pump it up just took air really slow, i mean really slow, ended up being a bad stem. just a thought
 
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williambmac said:
I've had problems installing Goodyear Integrity tires. You drop it on the rim and it just collapses. It's virtually impossible to get them to bead up.
Next step.... Out comes the "bead blaster"
You need to ask the shop if they have a "bead blaster," if not go someplace else.
There is absolutely no reason the shop shouldn't be able to mount that tire on a stock rim.
Click to expand...
While researching this problem, I came across videos using a bead blaster. This sounds like it would do the trick!
They seemed to have no problems installing 4 of the tires. Only the spare is the problem.
 
tr21triton said:
did they change the valve stem ? it's possible you have a defective one ! might not be letting enough air go in fast enough. I had a tractor tire that would go flat every other night and it would take for ever to pump it up just took air really slow, i mean really slow, ended up being a bad stem. just a thought
Click to expand...
Yes, the valve stem was replaced already.
 
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