Damaged bead. Still any good? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Damaged bead. Still any good?

Corsara

Corsara

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Until today I've never changed a tire myself. So, having one spare rear rim, I decided to install the rear tire (from one of the set of slicks I've got lined up for track this summer). The main goal was to determine if the taller profile slick would have enough space to spin on the bike (I've recently installed a brand new chain, also went up a few teeth on the rear sprocket, so I was worried that there won't be enough space).

Anyway, seems like anything I do for the first time on the bike ends up being disaster. Should have watched some youtube videos before I started, but I digress..

After some rough handling of those tire spoons---I got the tire on after some battle, but in the process I damaged the bead on one side in a few places. I didn't take a picture, but there was a little chunk of rubber peeled off in one place; in another place, the bead was kinda torn from the inside..

I'm gonna leave the wheel sitting at 30 psi for a couple of days to see if it's loosing air, but if it isn't---is the tire still good?
 
It depends on the damage.....is this tire really worth saving / taking the risk?

I'd think if it doesn't lose air it would be fine.
 
Bead being torn is a concern....it's a structural part of the tire. If you truly had a cut in the bead - the tire could start taring apart I suppose? But it depends on the damage you have caused.
 
Did the bead seat and the tire holding air?
 
It seated just fine. I'll check tonight if there's any loss in air pressure. Thinking if it lasts, then I'll use it. It's a slick tire in very good condition with just a handful of laps on it. Should be good for at least 2-3 good track days, so if I have to throw it away, my soul will hurt :(
 
Tire beads are pretty damn strong, under the rubber you have cords or steel belting holding it together. I doubt you did enough damage to make the tire unsafe as long as it holds air and has seated properly. If you ever try to cut a tire bead with a saw you will see just how strong the carcass of the tire is under the rubber. Michelin are the softest in my experience because they use cords instead of steel. For this reason they work well for me when I've had to fold tires in half to bring them in my luggage on airplanes.

The worst I have ever seen happen to a bead as far as damage goes from sloppy tire changes is a leaky bead. And even then moving the tire around and popping the bead again usually seals it
 
Folding them in half, lol, never thought of that! Then again, I wish I had such moments where I'd be boarding a plane and needing tires at my destination. Instead, I usually have diapers for the little ones in my bags :|

Anyway, the tire didn't seem to loose any air overnight, so I'll take it off that spare rim and install it on the rims I ride with. That's what I though---if it's sealed on both sides all the way around and holds its air, where's the harm..

Thanks for the help.
 
Corsara said:
Folding them in half, lol, never thought of that! Then again, I wish I had such moments where I'd be boarding a plane and needing tires at my destination. Instead, I usually have diapers for the little ones in my bags :|

Anyway, the tire didn't seem to loose any air overnight, so I'll take it off that spare rim and install it on the rims I ride with. That's what I though---if it's sealed on both sides all the way around and holds its air, where's the harm..

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Mix some soap with water and spray it around the lip in the area that was affected, and look for bubbles
 
Air will always try to escape the weakest point of the tire.

Did you chip the bead down to the bead bundle?

If so my suggestion is to deem out of service. If moisture gets to the belts or bead bundle corrosion begins and the rust can cause separations, which in turns leads to catastrophic failures.

Pics would really help. But if you want take the tire to a reputable tire shop and they'd probably give you their advice.

If you're changing tires often enough. Look for a used tire machine. Easier and saves destroying your rim and tire.
 
When I remove it today or tomorrow, I'll take some pics and post here. On one hand I don't want to throw a great tire, on the other---why compromise my safety...I hate such dilemmas..
 
If you're going to take all that time to take it off. Run it down the road to someone to see in real life then some smartphone pic on GTAM and having a lot of unqualified people comment on it. I'm not in our moto division. But anyone in the industry would want to inspect the tire in person not from a pic.

It's probably worth the little bit of time and peace of mind.
 
I need to take the tire off because I installed it on that rim just for testing purposes and personal training (which we know how it ended). If I am to use it, it should go on the other rim that I ride with.

I found out that while there are a lot of unqualified people on GTAM, I have a few usernames that I don't hesitate listening to when they have what to say. Some I also know in person, and others---I heard about through people I know in person. Also, reputation some have built through other threads, where the advice they give is the same advice I got from talking to pros in person later.
 
Don't get me wrong man. Do what you want. Just some friendly advice.

:)
 
Corsara said:
I need to take the tire off because I installed it on that rim just for testing purposes and personal training
Click to expand...

When you pull it off inspect the bead carefully. If you just chewed it up some but still seats and holds air you should be good. If you have actually cut/ripped through the bead then...time for a new tire.

I feel your pain with rough handling by tire spoons. Last time I put a tire on a spoon slipped and managed to crack me on the forearm. Just me being inattentive for a few seconds. Couldn't hold anything for an hour or so.
 
very hard to tell without looking at it, i would pull the tire and post pics, its not the tire holding air at this moment id worry about, its the extreme heat cycles from track riding, and the tire spending most of its life on the edge of it.
id bet your fine, but ill wait for pics.

every step of your winter build has been a PITA !
also, if you want to bring the bike down on a weekend to my shop, we can have some beers and get that ***** ready to go.
 
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