What You Should Know About Seating a Bead on an ATV Tire

Owning an ATV for work or as a recreational vehicle means that you’ll have to understand a bit about how the machine works. Having some knowledge about how to take care of your ATV can help you ensure it is maintained well and prevent repairs. One of the components of an ATV that many people would like to learn how to work on themselves is ATV tires.

At Kalinowski Power, we know that a well-maintained ATV is one that will last longer and save you money in the long run. In this article, we break down what you should know about DIY bead seating of an ATV tire. Though this can be a tricky task, you might find yourself up for the challenge. If not, we are always here to assist you with regular maintenance and ATV service for your vehicles.

What Is a Tire Bead?

Have you ever wondered how a tire stays on its wheel? The bead of the tire is what allows the tire to seal to the wheel, keeping it tight and stable as you operate the vehicle. When a tire bead isn’t seated you can see a gap but unless the tire is off its wheel, you won’t be able to see the bead. ATV tires are smaller than tires for other vehicles and can be tricky to work on but it is not impossible to change your ATV tires on your own.

How to Seat a Bead on an ATV Tire

Seating a new ATV tire can be tricky if you do not have the right equipment and it may be a smart, and sanity-saving move to simply bring your tires to a service department to have them do it for you. If you would like to try to do it yourself, you’ll have to first align the tire properly. You will want to use a chain or strap to keep the tire in place. Once that is complete, you will add air to the tire. You will be able to see if the bead is not seated correctly and it can take trial and error to get this right.

Though this task sounds simple in theory, it can often be challenging to do on your own. ATV tires are not always easy to work with and it can take many trials to get it right. Once you have gotten the hang of it you should be ok, but it may not be worth it to DIY without professional equipment.

How to Break a Bead on an ATV Tire

Breaking the bead on an ATV tire sounds like it should be simple but is often a challenging task. Like seating the bead on your tire, there are endless videos and tips online to help you do this task on your own. Some methods are more dangerous than others, while others require equipment that you may or may not have.

Breaking the bead on your ATV tire essentially requires you to wedge between the seal and allow the bead to be broken. In some cases, ATV owners damage their wheels and tires when trying to do this on their own. Consider having your tires changed professionally to avoid injury and damage to your tires.