Mounting a T-6 tire

[goaly]

Hello, I just picked up an old (but unused since it was recapped) 27” SC tire for the T-6 wheel that I am turning into a table for the garage.

The gentleman that gave me the tire informed me that they are a bear to mount… Considering the thickness of the bead I can believe it! He said that a shop that is familiar with mag wheels should be able to do it.

I’m planning to have them use an automotive inner tube. I understand the need to inform them about how soft the metal is. Anything else I should consider?

[The Inspector]

Rather than an inner tube, if you're never going to use it for anything except a table, ask the guy @ the tire store for a can of the type of self expanding foam that guys doing serious off roading use. squirt it in a tire, leave the valve stem pointing up and trim off the excess. The stuff is used by desert racers who can run over a cactus @ 130 MPH and not worry about the tire deflating.
Who said racing doesn't improve the breed?

[bdk]

The WW2 tire kit has some large blunt spoon type pry bars. I'd go to the local tire dealer as The Inspector suggests, but make sure you are clear it is for a coffee table otherwise they may not do it.

[snj-5]

I've heard that if you take that tire/wheel combo to a place that does Tractor maintenance (i.e., John Deer?), they'll
have the equipment + know how to mount it without screwing it up.

Bela P. Havasreti

[The Inspector]

For a few months many years ago I worked a Summer as a semi trailer maintenance mechanic for a leasing outfit. If you want a work out, dismount and remount an 11X22.5 steering axle tubeless tire using three or four tire bars (4 footers) and just the floor as leverage. It'll have you sweating like a hooker in a confessional.

[Matt Gunsch]

I take the to a semi truck tire shop or someplace like Discount tire. If they ask what it is off of, just tell them it is a off road vehicle.....

[JDK]

Rather than an inner tube, if you're never going to use it for anything except a table, ask the guy @ the tire store for a can of the type of self expanding foam that guys doing serious off roading use. squirt it in a tire, leave the valve stem pointing up and trim off the excess.

I wouldn't advise that - similar expanding foams have been used in a number of museum aircraft tyres in the 1980s(?) and 1990s and it was found that they cause / have all sorts of nasty decays and accelerated aging of the rubber and other materials. While the Inspector's quite right that it's remarkable stuff for short-term use, most makers don't provide data or guarantees on its longer term viability even in a static, no-load environment. Be very cautious.

Regards,

[Stoney]

To bad they don't have a Les Schwab where you are, they did mine with no problem. I would use a car inner tube as they hold air very good.