I fit around a tyre or two a month or so, on average, using a basic tyre machine (pneumatic bead breaker and wheel clamp, I heave on the tyre bar).
I see a range of substances to ease the process and/or help the bead to seal: tyre mounting paste, tyre mounting wax, or "tyre lube". I'm prepared to spend the time wire brushing and painting rims when they're too corroded, so may not need any very magic properties.
What are the pros and cons of these various gunges? Any particular recommendations?
You can of course do without it and for years I used washing up liguid (watered down a bit) but for ease of fitting, convenience, a reduction in bead leaks use the right stuff. A big tub lasts me years and like you tyre fitting is irregular. I keep a basic tyre fitting paste which is like soft soap, and a bead sealer glue for awkward occasions. I have bought from harvies, tyrebaydirect.com and most recently from bealuk
i have always used ordinary tyre soap and never had a problem with it and this is on my own small fleet of assorted vehicles, never had a leak from a bead on a tyre that i have fitted. (yet) ;(
-Mark gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:
Likewise. Just whatever's in the tub next to the tyre machine I've blagged a go on. That's the easy bit.
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