I'm installing a set of tires on my motorcycle and was wondering what psi I should set the compressor on when trying to seat the beads. I know you want to put a lot of air in the tires as quickly as possible in order to do this. I'm using a IR Garage Mate compressor.
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What psi to set air compressor when changing tires.
- Thread starter jgelack
- Start date
kd3pc
Well-known member
you are looking for volume not pressure..to seat the beads, then enough pressure to push the beads in to the rim and seat, then pressure for the now-seated tire.
But you don't want to over pressure the tire/rim either.
But you don't want to over pressure the tire/rim either.
gdocktor3
Well-known member
Not trying to be that guy, but I've set beads using carb cleaner and a blow torch on everything from motorcycles, to cars/trucks, to farm tractors.
Motorcycle tires can sometimes be a pain, especially if the sidewalls are stiff. The best thing I can advise is that you use a ratchet strap if you are having an issue getting them to hold air. You can wrap it around the tire to draw the sides closer towards the rim. Once they start holding air most tires have a maximum pressure and you just don't want to exceed that. You can leave your compressor at whatever the max pressure is but what you want to do is remove the valve core from the valve stem and use your air chuck to compress the tire as quickly as possible. Make sure and use a lot of lube around the edge of both beads, then blast the tire up to the max pressure or until it seats the bead, whichever comes first. Once it's at either and holding air pull the air chuck off and put the valve stem core back in. If the tire bead has not set let it sit for a bit and it will probably pop suddenly, but if it sets and doesn't pop then leave it sitting at max pressure, stand the tire up and use a rubber mallet to gently hit along the top of the tread and it should give enough pressure and vibration to pop the bead all the way on. Once it pops reduce the air pressure to something around 32 to 36 PSI or whatever the bike manual recomends.
The 52 Ford
Active member
I'm installing a set of tires on my motorcycle and was wondering what psi I should set the compressor on when trying to seat the beads. I know you want to put a lot of air in the tires as quickly as possible in order to do this. I'm using a IR Garage Mate compressor.
Take the center pin (can't think of what it's called right now) out of the valve stem. They make a tool for it, it's cheap. If it was me, I'd turn the regulator all the way up. You want high line pressure so that you can get as much air volume into the tire as quickly as possible. Just give it a quick burst. I'm sure you can find a video on YouTube on how to seat a car tire bead, that might be more helpful than text. Last time I changed a tire, I forgot if we used a blow gun or an air chuck, the blow gun might work better, you might have more control.
Edit: do what rpcraft said. When I started to type this his post wasn't there.
Last edited:
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
Not trying to be that guy, but I've set beads using carb cleaner and a blow torch on everything from motorcycles, to cars/trucks, to farm tractors.
We used to use starting fluid, and toss a match at it. Same theory
Saw that for the first time on Myth Busters. I think it would be a last resort. There has to be some "Don't try this at home, kids" factor in there. I see myself in the hospiral, bandaged from head to toe and the doctor saying "You did what?".Not trying to be that guy, but I've set beads using carb cleaner and a blow torch on everything from motorcycles, to cars/trucks, to farm tractors.
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gdocktor3
Well-known member
Saw that for the first time on Myth Busters. I think it would be a last resort. There has to be some "Don't try this at home, kids" factor in there. I see myself in the hospiral, bandaged from head to toe and the doctor saying "You did what?".
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I was nervous the first time. Instead of filling the tire with half a can of fluid and hoping for the best, I just started small and worked my way up until it finally had enough ooomph behind it to set the bead. I also do it with the tire standing upright, (not sure if it makes a difference) and use more air to set the bead vs all fluid. Two people makes it easier as well so you're not fumbling around with things and rushing. I use a locking air chuck so it's secured on the valve, light a propane torch and stand it up with it lit, spray the fluid in, apply air pressure and put the torch tip to it. This way all my hands are far away from the "blast" vs trying to use a lighter or match. Do it once and it's no big deal. Honestly, the way I do it there really isn't a big explosion or anything.
Saw that for the first time on Myth Busters. I think it would be a last resort. There has to be some "Don't try this at home, kids" factor in there. I see myself in the hospiral, bandaged from head to toe and the doctor saying "You did what?".
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people do get hurt doing that,
I bought a air blaster so I did not have to cause a small explosion in my shop.
ovilla
Well-known member
The key is to use good tire lube around the bead area of the tire. You can also lube up the edges of the rim. As long as things are slippery all the way around, you should be able to just add air to the shrader valve and do a regular inflate. Don't exceed 40 PSI if you can avoid it. Lots of time, if you simply stand the tire up and drop it from say a foot or so off the ground, the bead should pop into place. At least that's been my experience with car and motorcycle tires.