Tire mounting is a professional’s business. This is not the same as changing a wheel, but mounting a new tire on a rim.

The mounting of a tire must be carried out by a professional equipped with the specific equipment. It is also advisable to have a specific rim in the case of mounting with an inner tube (very rare, vintage vehicles).

Here are the main steps:

– Lubricate the edges of the rim as well as the tire beads.

– Install the rim on the tire machine and block it on the outside on the hooks provided for this purpose (use protections to avoid damaging the rims).

– Fit a new valve in the appropriate position.

– Turn the wheel from the front so that the valve is in the “5 o’clock” position.

– Position the bottom tire bead on the rim flange and rotate the plate with the rim to position the entire tire on this side.

– Repeat the same operation to fit the other bead “into the rim” using the mounting arm provided.

– Inflate the tire to 3.5 bar, above the recommended pressure to position the tire on the rim, then deflate the tire to the recommended reference pressure. Remember to plug the valve with the cap provided for this purpose.

Mounting is not quite finished since the tire still needs to be balanced before the wheel is mounted on the vehicle. For more information, please read Understanding wheel alignment and wheel balancing and Automotive Equipment: What Is the Wheel Balancer Used For.

Fitting Your New Tires at the Rear

The trick

When new tires have been fitted to their rims and only 2 out of 4 tires are changed, it is advisable to fit the new tires at the rear, contrary to a preconceived idea.

Why is this?

The front axle is directly connected to the engine in the most common front-wheel drive vehicles.

It is also connected to the steering since it is the front wheels that react to the driver’s steering input.

Steering and engine braking: these are two solutions available to correct a loss of grip on the front axle.

The rear axle, on the other hand, is a “follower” axle.

In the event of a loss of grip, you have no means of directly influencing the ground connection at this point, hence the advantage of having the tires in better condition at the rear.

Moreover, as the front tires wear faster than the rear, we mechanically get used to driving with better grip at the rear and an imbalance of these marks can cause driving discomfort.

Your tire dealer should normally suggest a tire rotation on the vehicle when the front tires are worn.

Good to know: If you are looking for a well-known tire dealer in Kissimmee, Center State Auto will find the best reliable tires and mount them on your vehicle.

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