Mounting and Demounting Truck Tires

Proper mounting procedures must be followed or sudden tire destruction, personal injury or death may result. Tire mounting must be done only by personnel trained, supervised and equipped according to Federal OSHA regulations.

Demounting Truck Tires

Completely deflate the tire by removing the valve core prior to removing the tire and wheel assembly from the truck.

Remove the tire and wheel assembly from the vehicle and demount the tire from the wheel in the following manner:

Tubetype

• Insure that the tire is completely deflated before removing from the rim. Place the tire on the floor, side ring side up.
• Pry the bead loose from the lock ring using the proper tools.
• Disassemble the rim parts carefully to avoid damage to the tire, tube, flap or rim parts.
• Turn the wheel over and unseat the second bead from the wheel.
• Remove rim from the tire.

Tubeless

• Insure that the tire is completely deflated before removing from the rim.
• Break the beads loose on both sides of the tire using a bead breaking tool.
• Lubricate both beads of the tire using a vegetable-based lubricant only.
• Place the tire and rim on the floor with the wide side of the rim down.
• Progressively work the tire off the rim using the proper tire irons.

Prior to Mounting

Clean and prepare the rim or wheel. Inspect the rim or wheel for damage. Cracked, broken, bent, or otherwise damaged rim components and wheels must not be reworked, welded, brazed or otherwise heated. Never weld a rim with a tire mounted on it.

Proper size tube and flaps (if applicable) must be installed in the tire. New Bridgestone tubes and flaps must be used when mounting new Bridgestone tube type tires. Never use undersized, oversized, or used tubes or flaps. Insure that rim components are properly matched and that the proper size rim is being used (size, bead taper, etc.).

New valves, cores, caps, and O-rings should be installed with new tires. Never mount a damaged tire.

Mounting

Tubetype

• Remove the tube and flap from the tire (if installed). Clean and dry the inside of the tire to insure that all moisture, dirt and foreign material is removed prior to mounting.
• Install the proper size tube and flap. Always install new Bridgestone radial tubes and radial flaps in new Bridgestone radial tires. Be sure tubes marked "radial" are used in radial tires. Place the tube inside the tire and install the flap, insuring that the flap is centered. Slightly inflate the tube enough to shape it out.
• Lubricate the beads, rim side of the flap and the tube base with a vegetable-based lubricant. Do not overlubricate (inside of tire must stay dry).
• Mount the tire, tube and flap assembly on the rim.
• Assemble the rim parts making sure proper components are used and a proper fit is established.
• When inflating, always place the tire in an approved safety cage or equivalent restraining device and use an extension hose and clip-on chuck.
• Never stand over a tire while inflating. Do not attempt to seat rim components by tapping them with a mallet when the tire is inflated.

Tubeless

• Clean and prepare the rim or wheel.
• Replace valve seals and stem.
• Lubricate both beads and the rim flange.
• Work the tire over the rim flanges using proper tubeless tire tools.
• Mount the tire over the valve side.
• Inflate the tire in a safety cage to seat beads.
• Do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure shown on the sidewall of the tire and/or rim.

WARNING: When mounting truck tires, never use pressures above 40 psi to seat tire beads. If beads have not seated by the time pressure reaches 40 psi, deflate the assembly, reposition the tire on the rim, relubricate tire beads, rim humps, bead seat, and reinflate.

Cautions

Always inflate the tire and rim assembly in an approved safety cage or equivalent restraining device, use a remove controlled clip-on air hose, and inflate to pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Always insure that the rim components fit properly before inflating.

Never tap component parts with a mallet while the tire is inflated.

Never attempt to disassemble multipiece rims while inflated.

Do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure on the sidewall of the tire. If beads do not seat at 40 psi, deflate, relubricate and reinflate.

WARNING: Never pour or spray any flammable substance into or onto a tire or wheel for any purpose whatsoever. The residue left by the substance could result in a fire or explosion which could cause an accident.

WARNING: Never pour or spray a flammable substance such as gasoline or ethyl ether into a tire. Lighting a flammable substance with a match so that the resulting explosion seats the beads of a tubeless tire is reckless. This practice is extremely dangerous and can result in a severe explosion or undetected damage to the tire or rim which can cause severe injury or death.

WARNING: Always replace a tire on a rim with another tire of exactly the same bead diameter as the diameter of the rim on which it will be mounted.

WARNING: Make sure no butane or propane tire inflators have been used. Aerosol tire inflators that contain butane or propane may cause an explosion during the repair of the tire. Any spark can ignite the gas, even a spark from pulling out a nail or other foreign object against the steel belts of the tire. If you have any doubt, always contact the tire manufacturer or their representative. Do not take chances with your safety of that of others.

Correct Rim Selection

Bridgestone tires are designed to be used on wheels and rims that conform to the dimensions and contours shown in the Tire and Rim Association Yearbook for the year in which the tire is manufactured and that are designed as approved wheels and rims for each particular tire size and type.

Usage of other wheels and rims must be expressly approved by Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. for the particular application involved.

The load and cold inflation pressure stamped on the rim and/or wheel must not exceed the rim and wheel manufacturer’s recommendations even though the tire may be approved for a higher load or inflation.

Rims and wheels may be identified (stamped) with a maximum load and maximum cold inflation rating. For rims and wheels not so identified or for service conditions exceeding the rated capacities, consult the rim and wheel manufacturer to determine rim and wheel capacities for the intended service.

Tire and Rim Matching Importance

Remember the importance of properly matching tires and rims. In particular, special care must be used in mounting any 16" diameter tires, 15.5" diameter tires and 17.5" diameter tires. A 16" size tire must be mounted on approved 16" rims and not mistakenly mounted on a 15.5" or a 16.5" rim. Likewise, a 15" tire must be mounted on an approved 15" rim, not a 15.5" rim. 17" tires must be mounted on approved 17" rims and never on a 17.5" rim.

WARNING: There is a danger in installing a tire of one rim diameter on a rim of a different rim diameter. If attempts are made to mount and inflate a 15" diameter tire on a 15.5" rim, a 16" tire on a 16.5" rim, or a 17" tire on a 17.5" rim, serious injury or death may result.

Rims of different diameters and tapers cannot be interchanged. The beads should never be forced out against the rim flanges by using more air pressure, because this will break the beads and the tire will explode. Never exceed 40 psi when seating the beads on the rims.

Use of Lubricants in Mounting and Demounting Truck and Bus Tires

Bridgestone does not recommend the use of petroleum products as a lubricant in tire mounting or demounting operations.

Only a vegetable oil lubricant should be used. Do not use solvents or petroleum products as a lubricant in conjunction with tire mounting or demounting.

In those cases where a tire submitted for adjustment consideration for bead related damages shows evidence of having been contaminated by petroleum lubricants or other non-recommended material, the adjustment will be disallowed by Bridgestone. The use of nonrecommended products or materials may result in the deterioration of rubber and eventual failure of the tire.

Acceptable lubricants such as Murphy’s Soap, Ru-Glyde, Bishmans, etc. are recommended for mounting and demounting passenger, truck and bus tires.

WARNING: If you have any doubt about whether some practice is 100% safe or not, then stop and ask another professional and contact the tire manufacturer or their representative for help. Do not take chances with your safety or that of others. For more tire safety information visit: www.rma.org.

Tire Defects - Serious Accident and Injury Legal Help

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured, or a loved one has been killed, as the result of a tire defect, tire failure, tread separation, tire blowout, rollover accident, or any other serious injury accident, then please call us to discuss your legal rights to a potential product liability lawsuit. Please fill out our online form by following the link below or call us right now: Toll Free 1-800-883-9858.

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