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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Tire Mounting lube?

March 3, 2010 1:08 p.m. Carson Dork

I've used soapy water in the past and that worked well but I've only mounted tires on steel rims. I'm mounting on aluminum this time and I've read that dish soap plus aluminum can equal bad news bears.

NAPA sells the proper stuff in a gallon jug but I don't think I'll mount enough tires in my life to go through that amount. I just wanted to see if there was a household product that worked as well and is cheaper.

What's the GRM answer for tire mounting lubrication? Soapy water anyway? Just get the proper stuff? Astroglide?
March 3, 2010 1:16 p.m. daytonaer Reader

Tire Shine
March 3, 2010 1:21 p.m. Carson Dork

Will that dry not slippery? I've heard about that or ArmorAll but I don't want to step on the brakes, the rim stop, and the tire keep going.
March 3, 2010 1:38 p.m. 914Driver UltraDork

I mounted tires part-time at my buddy's garage for a while, there's a waxy like substance that goes on with a stiff parts cleaning brush.

Dan
March 3, 2010 1:40 p.m. daytonaer Reader

Carson wrote:

Will that dry not slippery? I've heard about that or ArmorAll but I don't want to step on the brakes, the rim stop, and the tire keep going.

No idea.

I was putting the wrong size tire on my stock '89 corvette rims (tires were free, had to do it).

I have the mounting lube, couldn't get them on, soap and water no dice, sprayed the bead with tire shine and I crammed the stinkers on. I drove the car with those crappy tires for 2 or 3 autocrosses with no beads popping off or any issue I was aware of. Usually run about 40 psi. My experience was with I think 255 50 17's or something that size, came off a "sport" truck. the wheels are designed for 275 40 (or so?) 17's. Somehow I'm still alive...
March 3, 2010 2:35 p.m. shadetree30 Dork

914Driver wrote:

I mounted tires part-time at my buddy's garage for a while, there's a waxy like substance that goes on with a stiff parts cleaning brush.

There's a product that's sold by Hunter distributors but it's (a) pricey and (b) more than you'll need in a lifetime, etc....
March 3, 2010 2:45 p.m. Kendall_Jones Reader

if you can work quick, rubbing alcohol makes a great tire lube. Makes the rubber REALLY slippery & then tacky when it drys.

Also, gojo hand cleaner works good too (non pumice of course). I've see the hoosier guys using that stuff.

KJ
March 3, 2010 3:29 p.m. skruffy Dork

I use diluted car wash soap in a spray bottle. Never had any problems with aluminum rim corrosion or anything. I've mounted a LOT of tires this way, I think the soapy water myth was started by companies that make expensive rim lube.
March 3, 2010 4:19 p.m. Carson Dork

Cool, I like the rubbing alcohol idea as well as the car wash soap. I think the car wash stuff doesn't have as aggressive cleaning agents as dish stuff. Either way, when I've used soap before it was really, really diluted like one drop to a quart of water. Doubt that will cause any extensive corrosion, if any.
March 3, 2010 4:19 p.m. rob_lewis Dork

Kart shops will usually carry tire snot in smaller batches.

For example: http://www.cometkartsales.com/store/tires/tiretool.htm

Scroll down to the Tire Snot section.

-Rob
March 3, 2010 5:38 p.m. zomby woof HalfDork

I do a lot of motorcycle tires, and Windex works perfect for me. It has to be Windex, not the no-name window cleaner stuff.
March 3, 2010 6:20 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

I read an article in (I think) Hot Rod deluxe magazine where they used beeswax to mount tires on some magnesium wheels.
March 3, 2010 6:28 p.m. motomoron Reader

When I was racing sprint karts the trend was to use ~really~ wide rear rims so the tires would have a very round profile and subsequently break loose and slide easily and predictably. As a result they were a bitch to seat. A karting veteran revealed the secret: KY Jelly. Next time I had tires to do I bought a tube and it was a revelation. Psssssssh...BANG-BANG!!!. Seated in seconds. I've used it on motorcycle and scooter tires as well, both tube and tubeless and it's better than Windex, soapy water or Armor-all, all of which I'd used many times before.

I suggest picking up the largest available package and boasting to everyone in earshot at the drugstore about all the strenuous mounting you need to do and how "this really makes it painless...Can you believe I used to use Armor-all?"
March 3, 2010 9:11 p.m. Carson Dork

Haha really, so my suggestion/question in the original post of Astroglide wasn't too far off, huh?
March 3, 2010 9:40 p.m. M2Pilot Reader

I always keep KY jelly in my tool box.
March 3, 2010 11:09 p.m. modernbeat HalfDork

Kendall_Jones wrote:

if you can work quick, rubbing alcohol makes a great tire lube. Makes the rubber REALLY slippery & then tacky when it drys.

The cheapest Aqua-Net hairspray is mostly alcohol. It's also useful for installing bike or motorcycle grips and the convenient spray can makes it a cinch to get enough on the tires.

I've use glycerin for window rubber installation. It doesn't corrode like soap and it's cheaper than Astro or KY, which are mostly glycerin.
March 3, 2010 11:45 p.m. Opus Dork

When I worked at a garage, we used a substance sold as Gorilla Snot. About what it looked like too.
March 3, 2010 11:48 p.m. Lesley SuperDork

M2Pilot wrote:

I always keep KY jelly in my tool box.

I like a guy who's always prepared
March 4, 2010 8:33 a.m. dinger New Reader

I wasn't going to be the first one to admit it, but I use KY jelly to mount my shifter kart tires.
March 8, 2010 11:59 a.m. 44Dwarf HalfDork

Aqua-Net hair spray! or what ever is cheap and in a huge can at the rite aid on the opposite side of town. Goes on slick and drys to an epoxy type hold.
March 8, 2010 2:06 p.m. mrwillie Reader

What 'cha doing Carson? Getting ready for AutoX season??
March 8, 2010 4:16 p.m. Carson Dork

In reply to mrwillie:

Rallycross!

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