One of the things we’re always asked at FC is: “where can I have skinny tyres stretched over wide rims?” Well, unless you happen to live within close to proximity Westbury Tyre and MoT Centre, where we get ours done, we don’t really know.
You see, it takes a specialist to do the job. Go into most normal tyre fitting centres and they won’t have a clue what you’re on about, not know how to do it or just won’t want to attempt such a thing. But what about having the tyre fitted to the rim, then doing the stretchy inflating part at home?
There’s various ways to ‘stretch-on’ a tyre – we’ve seen everything from ratchet straps to hairspray and a lighter used over the years – but the people in the know tend to equip themselves a purpose-built bead seater like this awesome bit of kit from Sealey.
DO I NEED A BEAD BLASTER?
Now, obviously, you’ll have to be somewhere between a pro-tyre monkey and a mentalist wheel whore to actually buy one – we’re not suggesting everyone will need one stashed away in their garage.
That said, it’s still relevant because we’ve lost count of the amount of late night workshop sessions where we’ve said we wish we’d had access to one.
If your local fitters can’t do the job or, if you and your mates stretch a lot of tyres and it’s costing you a few extra quid a pop, it just might make having your own one a very viable option.
Priced from £235
For more info see Sealey
