damn tires
 

im trying to strech 215s on a set of jeep grand cherokee rims.
i HAVE put 205s on them but i know they fit because theyve been on another cars rims and the sidewalls are stretched i guess.

i bought 5 new tires at tirerack, 215 75 15 and i cannot get the sidewalls wide enough apart. this is because these are new tires. i crammed lawn edging in between and they only stretch a wee bit after 4 days.

there is a huge gap between the beads, id say at least 1.5inches. any ideas?
i tried rope and stick to torniquet it, and doesnt help. i tried brake cleaner and just caught my hand on fire.

What size rims are you trying to put the tires on?

According to my book, Grand Cherokee's with 15" rims were 7" wide. A P215/75R15 has an allowable rim width of 5 1/2" to 7". That should mean the tire would be at the limit of its stretching ability.

Try a 2 X4 wedged sideways about 3 around the circumference ought to do it. BTW, you want to store these where it is warm while the 2X4's are in there.

I'd say those are too narrow to run on the ZJ rims. Another way is to get a ratcheting tie down strap around it and squish the tire down to bow it out. Can you get atleast one bead set?

i got one to fit.
they stretch fine, its just when they come from tirerack, they're \ / way too much to get a seal. not to mention im just storing them in my garage, which doesn't help expand the sidewalls. I hope me mashing on one of the tires wont cause tire failure down the line, ill probably use that one as a spare.
i got one tire on and had to call it quits because i cant get it all done in time where i wont be disturbing the neighbors.

what i did was went out and got 2 12.5inch bike inner tubes and did it that way. i just hope these inner tubes don't pop when my face is a few inches away.


edit: oh yea, heres an example of how bald my tires are haha :-X
the 5th rim i got mounted with the 215s. i rolled it next to my wheels and its the exact same size, height wise.

This is one of those times where it just might be worth it to pay the guys with the right equiptment to do it. Your time has to worth the cost--not to mention keeping your hand.

I agree. One trip to the doc or the emergency room blows all the money you saved by buying from tirerack.

Won't you need someone to balance them anyways? Make one trip and be done with it.

Or you could just buy some narrower (and lighter?) rims...

im a cheap guy, i wont wanna get 5 rims. thats gonna be 500 bucks
and im trying out the dynabeads.

i use to be a tire tech / still sorta am i guess... so i take this you are doing it at home and you do not have a tire machine ? okay heres a redneck way i guess you could call it. what ill tell you is what will basicly work for you because you do not have the equipment.

1. stretch both beads. you said the tires from tirerack the beads are probably close together. get some pieces of 2X4 or whatever else you have like large thick books and put them inbetween the two beads to stretch them out. let them sit like that for a day

2. try to expose them to heat if you could because rubber stretches out if given heat.

3. remove the valve core inside the valve stem. there a is a little tab and if you do not have the tool ( you can get it at k-mart for like 2 bucks) use a small pair of needle nose pliers to take the core out, the core comes out by turning it counter clockwise. with the valve core out it will allow more air to enter the tire quicker. (NOTICE: SOME air chucks wont let air come out unless there is a valve core on the stem)

4. Lube both beads up with soapy water.

5. compress both sides of the tread of the tire and blast away at the air.

6. if the beads still wont catch the air get a ratchet tie strap and start ratcheting away. note that when the air flow is going into the tire its pushing down on the bottom bead before the top. you want to get air to hit both of the beads at the same time to make it easier. most tire machines have a bead blaster equipped to them so it gives an additional air shot toward the top bead when you give it air. so if you hear where the air is coming out just push in on that side and give it your best shot.

good luck, keep an eye on your fingers. i couldnt imagine how painful it would be if your finger got caught while a bead popped.

got them mounted. heating them up helped a boat load. dropped in 3oz of BB pellets each. At 65mph, smooth. no other weights on the rims otherwise.