Snowblower ( snow thrower?) tires

[Vulnavia]

Last year I noticed the tires on my snowblower (White 28") were showing some cracking( it's 15+ years old). Bought some carlise x-trac tires during last summer on amazon.
This week I went to mount them and after trying everything I know, from putting pieces of wood to spread the beads apart and putting them in the house to warm up, ratchet straps (up to 3 at one time),
Pounding with a plastic hammer. Even the plastic bag trick. I think I spent about two hours trying. Can't get them to seat. I tried, failed, walked away and tried again and again. I gave up. Took a few minutes
and put the old tires back on the rims. I measured the new tires and they are the same size. I did notice when looking through the new tires the beads don't line up. They were $120 for the pair. Are they junk?
Any Thoughts?

Thanks,
Will

 

[StarTech]

This just might be that they were shipped in a compressed condition.

Have you tried installing an inner tube in the tire airing it up to push beads out while the tires are heated up in a very low oven temp or at least my goes down to 125F? After a couple hours take it out and let them cool overnight with the tube still inflated. Basically you are softening the tire from it preset condition with heat and setting in the new condition as it cools back down. This should set beads apart enough to seal as you mount the tire. Of course remove the tube before installation of the tire. And sometimes even applying some bead sealer helps.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Last year I noticed the tires on my snowblower (White 28") were showing some cracking( it's 15+ years old). Bought some carlise x-trac tires during last summer on amazon.
This week I went to mount them and after trying everything I know, from putting pieces of wood to spread the beads apart and putting them in the house to warm up, ratchet straps (up to 3 at one time),
Pounding with a plastic hammer. Even the plastic bag trick. I think I spent about two hours trying. Can't get them to seat. I tried, failed, walked away and tried again and again. I gave up. Took a few minutes
and put the old tires back on the rims. I measured the new tires and they are the same size. I did notice when looking through the new tires the beads don't line up. They were $120 for the pair. Are they junk?
Any Thoughts?

Thanks,
Will

Take it to a tire shop and have them installed. When tires are brand new they are next to impossible to install yourself.

 

[Vulnavia]

This just might be that they were shipped in a compressed condition.

Have you tried installing an inner tube in the tire airing it up to push beads out while the tires are heated up in a very low oven temp or at least my goes down to 125F? After a couple hours take it out and let them cool overnight with the tube still inflated. Basically you are softening the tire from it preset condition with heat and setting in the new condition as it cools back down. This should set beads apart enough to seal as you mount the tire. Of course remove the tube before installation of the tire. And sometimes even applying some bead sealer helps.

They were strapped/shipped really tight and I knew they would be difficult. I thought about trying to use a inner tube but as with my luck they are out of stock. I tried wedging some 2x4 and small pcs of plywood to spread out the beads and leaving them over the heat ducts in for several days. I will try more boards and heating them with a portable garage heater and some sort of box. Have mounted many tires in my lifetime, some a bit less cooperative than others and used wood to "widen" the tire bead width with great success.(usually need a ratchet strap too), But I never came this close to heaving them into the scrap pile. I would except I'm too cheap and could never forgive myself for giving up. Plus my son would make fun of me. Forever.
I will let you know.

Take it to a tire shop and have them installed. When tires are brand new they are next to impossible to install yourself.

I am not ready to give up... yet. But I have thought about it though.

 

[Vulnavia]

I did buy and try some bead sealer. ($15.99!). I can't imagine I will ever come close to using it all. If anyone local needs some, I have plenty!