How to Put a Tire Back on the Rim

Do you look at putting your tire back in the rim with apprehension? It’s not that difficult, you know. You need the right tools and the willingness to do it. So, I will show you how to put a tire back on the rim.

To install your tire back on its rim, you have to follow this simple procedure:

Choose a flat ground to work in and place the tire’s rim there. The front side of the rim should be facing up.
Use dish detergent and spray it to the bottom or back tire bead to lubricate it and then put the tire on top of the rim.
Now, stand on the tire wall and push it down so that the back bead will go into the rim. You now have the back or bottom bead inside the rim.
Now, spray the dish detergent on the front bead. Slide a pry bar or a screwdriver between the rim and the tire bead, and then pull back by sliding the tire bead over the rim. Be sure to do this in small increments of two to three inches until the whole back bead of the tire is inside the rim.

By installing the tire yourself, you can save money. But you need to be sure that you are installing the right tire size to the size of the tire rim. That means you should install a 15-inch tire to a 15-inch tire rim.

Read on to learn more about how you can install a tire on your own, the steps you should follow, and other relevant information about this topic that you should know.

You don’t need to go to the tire service shop to get your brand new tire installed on a tire rim. Prepare a screwdriver or a pry bar and your readiness to do it. Putting the tire back on the rim yourself can save money that you otherwise have to pay to a technician in the car shop.

Steps to Follow When Installing a Tire to a Tire Rim

Installing a tire to a tire rim is just a matter of following this procedure.

Choose a flat and solid ground where you could do the work and place the rim and the tire there. Put the tire above the rim with its front side facing up.
Get some dish detergent and spray it to the back bead to lubricate it.
Open the bottom or back bead of the tire by pushing or standing on the side or tire wall until the back bead is inserted into the rim.
Now, spray dish detergent to the front bead and slide a screwdriver or a pry bar between the tire bead and the rim. Then pull back by sliding the tire bead over the rim. Do this in small increments of two to three inches at a time until the entire front bead is inside the lip of the rim. You have now successfully put the tire back into the rim.

As you can see, you can do it yourself without the help of a tire mechanic. It takes some effort, though. But if you are ready to do it, it can be done. And you will save some money. Be sure that the tire you are installing is suited for the size of the tire rim of your vehicle.

This short video will show you how you can easily do it in your garage. If you practice doing it several times, you will be able to install a tire inside a tire rim in just a matter of a few minutes:

Manual Tire Mounting Step-by-Step Process

how to put a tire back on the rim at home

The above procedure is simple enough to follow if you put back a regular tire on its rim. A complete method that tire mechanics follow ensures that the tires installed on rims will hold. They call it mounting a tire manually.

Here are the steps:

1. Insert the Valve Stem

The valve stem is where the air is introduced when inflating the car. It is pressed into its designated hole in the inner part of the tire rim. The tire will cover it later:

Lubricate the valve stem before pressing it into its hole.
Use a pair of pliers to pull the valve stem out of the hole. Make sure that the valve stem is seated snugly into its hole.

2. Lubricate the Tire Bead and Tire Rim

Apply a generous amount of lubricant to the insides of the bottom tire bead and the outer edge of the tire rim.

3. Mount the Tire on the Rim

Place the tire rim with its front on a flat and solid surface, and then put the tire on top of it with the bottom bead of the tire touching the front side of the rim. If the ground is rough, use cardboard to protect the rim from scratches.

4. Push the Tire’s Back Bead into the Rim

Step on the tire with both feet and press its bottom bead onto the lip of the tire rim. Force the entire bottom bead to go inside the tire rim. You can hop on the tire to force it to go inside the lip of the rim. Be careful as you do this, and always keep your balance.

5. Apply Lubricant on the Front Bead

The next step is to insert the front bead of the tire into the rim. To make it easier, lubricate the front bead and the tire rim.

6. Press the Front Bead of the Tire Down Into the Rim

To insert the tire’s front bead or upper lip into the rim:

Press it onto one side of the rim.
Push the tire at a certain angle to put one section of the bead under the rim’s lip.
Press down the lower part of the tire if it does not make it past the lip or edge of the rim on its own. You can use a pry bar or a screwdriver to do this.

7. Use a Pry Bar to Insert the Entire Bead Inside the Rim

Use a pry bar or a screwdriver and insert it between the bead and the rim. Now start inserting the bead into the entire rim by sliding the pry bar over the rim. Do it in small increments of two to three inches until you have inserted the entire bead on the lip of the tire rim.

8. Inflate the Tire

Once you are sure that the whole tire is seated snugly inside the rim, you can now inflate it. Attach an air hose from an air compressor to the valve stem and inflate the tire. Make sure that the front and back beads of the tire are free from any obstructions before inflating the tire.

How to Mount Tires Using a Tire Mounting Machine

how to put a tire back on the rim with a tire machine

Most tire shops mount tires by using tire mounting machines. This method is safer, more accurate, faster, and more convenient. Knowing how they do it with a machine will help you see if it’s more practical for you to do it this way and not the other way:

1. Lubricate the Tire Beads and the Lip of the Rim

Apply or spray tire lubricant generously onto the front and back beads of the tire and the outer edge or lip of the tire rim. This will make it easier to seat the tire on the rim. They don’t use dish detergents in tire shops because of insufficient lubrication.

2. Mount the Valve Stem

A valve stem is required to inflate the tire. So, it should be installed on the wheel if it has none. Insert it in the hole on the rim’s interior, which passes through the outside. The valve stem should poke out of the tire rim when properly mounted. Use a pair of pliers to pull it through until it stays firm in its place.

3. Mount the Rim on the Machine

Put the tire onto the machine with its rim facing up. The machine is designed to accept the rim in this way. Press the pedal beneath the machine. This engages the hydraulic press to secure the rim in place. Most machines have two pedals: one for engaging the press and another for rotating the rim.

4. Slide the Tire Over the Rim

At an angle, start sliding the tire over the rim. Do it so that the tire’s bottom edge is lower than the top edge of the rim on one side. If you do this right, the tire should be at a 45° angle. The tire should not fall and should be able to sit on its own.

5. Swing the Mounting Arm Into Position

Now, swing the machine’s mounting arm down to the edge of the rim. This arm should contact the outer edge of the rim in the exact spot where you have angled the tire. If it’s difficult to squeeze the arm in that spot, you have to modify the placement of the tire so there will be enough room for it to get in.

The mounting arm serves the same function as the pry bar or screwdriver used in manually inserting a tire on a rim.

6. Angle the Tire to the Mounting Arm

Angle the tire so its lower bead is pointed at the mounting arm. Adjust the tire’s position to contact the arm as the wheel and tire rotate. Make sure that they are at the correct angle, and the arm is pressing the lip down past the rim’s lip as it is rotating. If the tire falls off, it is not at the correct angle.

7. Rotate the Tire and Rim

Rotate the tire and the rim by pressing the corresponding pedal of the tire mounting machine. As the wheel and the tire rotate, the arm will force the tire’s bottom or back bead over the top edge of the tire rim.

Continue rotating the machine until the bottom bead of the tire has completely passed the top edge of the rim.

8. Shift the Position of the Mounting Arm

Shift the mounting arm’s position to guide the upper lip of the tire onto the rim. To do this, press one side of the tire down using your hands until it goes under the rim’s upper edge. Then lower down the mounting arm onto the edge of the rim in the space you have formed with your hands.

9. Rotate the Tire and Rim

Press the pedal again to rotate the tire and the rim. As the rim and tire rotate, the arm will force the upper bead of the tire down to the rim’s edge. Perform a full circle so that the upper and lower beads of the tire go completely past the upper lip of the rim. The tire is now ready to be inflated.

10. Inflate the Tire

Get the air hose from the air compressor and connect it to the valve stem installed on the wheel. Ensure no dirt or other obstructions on the tire and the rim. Turn on the compressor, and the tire will quickly inflate. Be sure it is inflated at the right psi (pounds per square inch).

Conclusion: How to Put a Tire Back on the Rim

It’s not that difficult to install a tire on a tire rim. Here’s a simple procedure that you can easily follow:

Place the tire rim on a flat and solid surface. The front side of the rim should be facing up.
Get some dish detergent and spray it on the back bead to lubricate it, and then put the tire on top of the rim.
Now, start putting the bottom (or back) bead of the tire into the rim by standing or pushing on the sides of the tire until the back bead settles inside the rim.
Now, spray dish detergent on the front bead of the tire. Get a screwdriver or a pry bar and use it to slide the tire bead over the rim. Do this in small increments of two to three inches until the entire front bead of the tire is inside the rim. You have successfully put the tire back on the rim if you did it right.