How to Fit Tubeless Tires on the Tractor Mower

Clean the rim of the tire with a wire brush, paying particular attention to the perimeter of the rim, both inside and outside, where the bead of the tire will seat. It needs to be clean of all dirt and rust to ensure the tire will seal completely and not leak.

Make a 50/50 mixture of dish-washing liquid and water inside a spray bottle.

Spritz the bead of the tire on both the front and back side with the soapy water to lubricate the rubber.

Push the bead of the tire on the backside over the front side of the tire rim. Start with the tire at an angle to the rim and push it on a little at a time working it around the perimeter of the rim. Tools are not usually needed to push the back side of the tire onto the rim. If needed, you can insert the blade of a flat screwdriver over the rim, under the tire and lever the final few inches of the bead over the rim.

Clamp a pair of vise grips securely on the top edge of the rim.

Start pushing the top bead over the top of the rim close to the vise grips, working it onto the rim around the perimeter away from the vise grips. The vise grips will prevent the bead from slipping back off the rim as you proceed. Once you get about a third of the way around the rim, the bead will stretch tight enough that you will no longer be able to push the bead over the edge of the rim by hand.

Insert a flat-head screwdriver under the tire's bead an over the edge of the rim and use it as a lever to stretch another inch or two of the tire's bead over the rim.

Hold that screwdriver in place while you insert a second screwdriver under the tire's bead an over the rim about three inches past the first screwdriver.

Lever the next bit of tire onto the rim, pull out the first screwdriver and reinsert it 3 inches past the second one.

Keep the second screwdriver in place while you lever more of the tire on with the screwdriver you just inserted and keep leapfrogging one screwdriver over the other and working the rubber bead onto the rim until the tire is in place.

Remove the vice grips and screwdrivers.

Add air to the tire, allowing the air pressure to swell the tire and seat the beads of the tire onto the rim.

Fill the tires with air to the recommended pressure.