Challenging, tough 4WDing can be seriously addictive, right? There’s something that just gets under your skin about pointing your 4WD at a big hill or a monster mud hole and seeing if you and your machine has the ability to get out the other side unscathed.

If you’re into hardcore low-range 4WDing then chances are you’re well aware that dropping your tyre pressures will give you massive increases in traction. However, at lower tyre pressures you increase the risk of the tyre coming off the wheel, which is known as ‘rolling a tyre bead’. Thankfully, this doesn’t automatically mean a trip to the tyre shop, not if you know how to deal with the situation and you’re carrying the right gear. It usually doesn’t mean the tyre is damaged either. Here’s how to properly reseat a tyre back onto a wheel if it rolls off the bead while you’re out bush. The most important tool you’ll use here is your 12v portable air compressor, but there are also some specific techniques and tricks to be aware of as well.

WARNING: This is an advanced technique and there is the potential for lots to go wrong here. Safety MUST always be the number one priority. Take it slow, breathe deep and assess the situation from all angles at all times.

REMOVE THE TYRE FROM THE VEHICLE:

Technically, this process can be done with the wheel still on the vehicle but it’s way safer and easier to do off the vehicle. Undo the wheel nuts before you lift the tyre off the ground, then use your highlift jack and hi lift jack base plate to raise that corner of the vehicle. If you have a vehicle with long travel suspension like a Land Cruiser or Patrol then consider using a ratchet strap to strap the diff to the chassis before you start to raise the vehicle. This will prevent the suspension from having to bottom all the way out before the wheel comes off the ground. With the tyre off the diff, use a large rock under the diff housing to support the weight of the vehicle. Never leave the vehicle sitting purely on any type of jack, and never get under a vehicle supported by any type of jack.

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN:

All good mechanics know that removing broken parts and refitting new ones is only half the equation. The work area has to be spotlessly clean, or the repair fails. In this case, there’s a good chance that the inside of the tyre is filled with mud, dirt or rocks. Get a bottle of water and a rag and methodically work your way around the wheel, cleaning it as much as possible. Don’t worry if dirt and debris fall into the wheel – it’s probably not enough to cause any issues, and if there really are excessive amounts, take it into the tyre shop next week and have them strip the tyre and clean the rim completely. Keep going until the inside lip of the wheel is completely clean. If the dirt is dry you’ll possibly need to use a screwdriver to scrape it out.

THE TRICK EVERY 4WDER NEEDS TO KNOW:

To reseat the bead isn’t just a case of using your 12v air compressor. The problem is the tyre needs to be forced to make hard, full contact with the wheel otherwise it’s never going to build any air pressure. To do this, grab a spare ratchet strap and run it around the circumference of the tyre, right around the tread face and back to itself. Tighten it a couple of clicks of the ratchet mechanism at a time until the tyre starts to make proper contact. If you have big off-road 4WD tyres you might still need to physically manipulate the tyre to make sure it stays in contact with the rim.

ADD AIR TO THE TYRE:

First give the entire inside lip of the wheel a really good squirt of WD40 or similar spray. You want to make it as easy as possible for the tyre to reseat onto the wheel and the WD40 will lessen the chances of it binding as it inflates. Start the car, connect your 12v air compressor to the battery and to the tyre valve. The first bit is the trickiest – manipulating the wheel so no air comes out. As soon as the tyre ‘takes’, get well out of the way and whatever you do, keep your fingers completely away from the wheel. It’ll increase in pressure and you’ll know the job’s done when the tyre makes an audible ‘pop’ noise, it being the tyre bead completely sealing against the wheel. Refit the tyre back onto the vehicle, adjust to the appropriate pressure and you’re set!