Beadkeeper®

What is a bead keeper, and what does the Gaither Beadkeeper® do during tire mounting?

A bead keeper is a tire mounting tool that locks onto the wheel flange and holds the tire bead in place while the rest of the tire is worked onto the wheel. The Gaither Beadkeeper® is built to stop the bead from walking around the rim, which helps eliminate standing on the tire or chasing the bead during mounting.

Which Gaither Beadkeeper® version should you choose for aluminum wheels or wider wheel flanges?

Choose the 12894-c when aluminum wheel protection is the priority, since that version adds a coating to help prevent wheel damage. Choose the 12894-cw when you need that same coated protection plus an extra-wide opening.

When should you choose the 12894-p pair instead of a single Beadkeeper®?

Choose the 12894-p when the mounting job benefits from two hold points instead of one. The 12894-p comes as a pair connected by a nylon rope, and paired bead keepers are commonly used when larger agricultural or commercial tire work needs the bead held down in more than one spot during mounting.

How do you use the Gaither Beadkeeper® during tire mounting?

Attach the Gaither Beadkeeper® to the wheel flange at the section of bead you want held down, then continue the mounting process while that part of the bead stays in place. This makes it easier to keep the tire from creeping back up as you work around the wheel.

Is the Gaither Beadkeeper® the same as a tire bead breaker tool?

No. The Gaither Beadkeeper® is a mounting aid that holds the bead on the wheel flange, while a bead breaker is used earlier to separate the tire bead from the wheel. For bead-breaking on tubeless truck tires mounted on aluminum wheels, the BOA Constrictor® is the closer match.