Torn rally gravel tire bead, what are my options?

Just got back from the local shop and they were only able to mount (3) of my used rally gravels. The fourth has a tear in the rubber of the bead (not the wire/cord) and won't hold air. I'm leaving Friday for the divisional in Ohio and would really like to run the whole set of course.

Anyone have any luck repairing something like this (pics below) with glue or something? What about a tube?

Thanks.

Better off with a tube.

I had problems popping the beads off my wheels in rallyx and did some research on using tubes. Based on my research, tubes don't work well in rally / rallyx situations though. Sand can work its way between the tire and tube due to your compromised bead, and abrade through the tube. That results in pretty much instant deflation.

If you decide to tube it, have the tire shop put bead sealant on the bead to help prevent sand or dirt from working its way into the tire. The sealant may also help prevent the tire from spinning on the rim, which would shear off the valve stem from the tube.

RTV the crap out of it? Use beadlocks? Kick Roberto's ass and steal a better tire from him?

There are some rallycross guys that use tubes with good results. I would tube it and slather a lot of sealer around the bead.

I've had some luck with green slime. It won't always completely seal it, but it will keep enough air in the tire to get a heat completed and then I can air it back up right before I head off in the afternoon heat.

What size is it? If it's a 14" with a 5x100 lug, I can probably lend you a steelie with a gravel tire attached.

2 gravels in the front and donut spares on the rear and have the backend out all weekend

I'm bringing my two extras with me Josh (the two non-destroyed ones from my old set), so you can use them if you want to. They still have decent tread if not great.

IDK if that much torn up bead will ever really hold without a tube.

I have used vulcanizing compound and a heat gun to stick the broken-off piece back on. I continued to use that tire for another four years with no leakage issues.

Oddly enough it was a Michelin ZEL and it looked exactly like what yours looked like damage-wise.

captdownshift wrote: 2 gravels in the front and donut spares on the rear and have the backend out all weekend

My car is a turbo e30, that happens rallycrossing regardless

Knurled wrote: Oddly enough it was a Michelin ZEL and it looked exactly like what yours looked like damage-wise.

With the way the inner rubber edge of the bead comes to a point (in section view), I can see how it would be pretty easy to tear the rubber being somewhat aggressive with the tire spoon/lever to pop a stiff rally sidewall off.

I spoke with a tire shop recommended by my regular mount/alignment shop and they're on board with trying a tube. Going to run over tomorrow at lunch.

These are the "Soft" compound so I'm kind of expecting to have to replace them sooner rather than later, anyways. Running this weekend and then the NE divisional at our home site in September will probably do it.

What's most likely to spin the tire on the wheel? Fronts under a braking impact or rears under a spinning wheel acceleration impact?

Josh, two of those firestone's I picked up from Pat are still in good shape, so I'm bringing them as backups, but I appreciate the offer.

you gonna be able to fit all this stuff in your car? Too bad you don't have a hitch, I'd loan you the tire trailer!.

btw, I'll have a floor jack, jackstands, etc with me - so if you don't want to lug that stuff in your car, you can just use mine. I hopefully won't need to use them at all.

irish44j wrote: you gonna be able to fit all this stuff in your car? Too bad you don't have a hitch, I'd loan you the tire trailer!. btw, I'll have a floor jack, jackstands, etc with me - so if you don't want to lug that stuff in your car, you can just use mine. I hopefully won't need to use them at all.

I'll probably take you up on the jack/stands offer, thanks! It'll be packed, but I'll make it all fit.

You will not spin a tire on the rim. That said, braking loads on the front are generally going to be stronger than acceleration loads. But when do you ever use the brakes on a rear drive rallycross car? So in short, it doesn't matter I don't think.