A method of preparing a tire for mounting includes providing a tire having a central axis and at least two bead portions, including a first bead portion and a second bead portion. The method also includes providing a plurality of members and moving the plurality of members outward until each of the plurality of members engages the first bead portion of the tire and causes the first bead portion to deflect outwards at a plurality of locations. The method further includes rotating at least one of the tire and the plurality of members about the central axis of the tire while the plurality of members engages the first bead portion of the tire.

The present invention regards a device for assembling and/or disassembling a support ring (SR) within or from a tyre (T), such device including a base, a column or pillar rising from said base and a grip and release group and/or an extraction group.

A tire spreader has a pair of tire engaging members pivotally interconnected at a coupling location, each supporting a tire engaging element for contacting a sidewall of a tire. The tire engaging members can be pivotally actuated relative to one another from a neutral position, in which the sidewalls are spaced apart at a regular spacing, to a self-retaining spreading position in which the tire engaging elements are spaced further apart than in the neutral position so as to spread the sidewalls further apart from their regular spacing. First and second pivotally interconnected links are provided, with one of the links connected to the first tire engaging member between the coupling location and the tire engaging element of this first member, while the other one of the links is connected to the second engaging member spaced from the coupling location in a direction distal to the tire engaging element thereof.

A tire spreader has a pair of tire engaging members pivotally interconnected at a coupling location, each supporting a tire engaging element for contacting a sidewall of a tire. The tire engaging members can be pivotally actuated relative to one another from a neutral position, in which the sidewalls are spaced apart at a regular spacing, to a self-retaining spreading position in which the tire engaging elements are spaced further apart than in the neutral position so as to spread the sidewalls further apart from their regular spacing. First and second pivotally interconnected links are provided, with one of the links connected to the first tire engaging member between the coupling location and the tire engaging element of this first member, while the other one of the links is connected to the second engaging member spaced from the coupling location in a direction distal to the tire engaging element thereof.

The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for spreading beads in a tire. Particular embodiments of such methods include securing at least a portion of a first bead of the tire and positioning a tire spreader within the central opening of the tire, the tire spreader having a bead engaging portion for engaging a portion of a second bead generally opposite the secured portion of the first bead. Such methods may further include automatically translating the bead engaging portion of the tire spreader generally in an axial direction of the tire to displace the engaged portion of the second bead a desired distance to increase the distance between the opposing beads to form a widened interior cavity opening.

A method, device, and installation for mounting a motor vehicle tire on a rim of a wheel, characterized in that at least one tire bead of the motor vehicle tire is prestretched in a targeted manner before the tire is pulled onto the rim, in particular before the tire beads are pulled over the rim flanges of the rim.

The present invention regards a device for assembling and/or disassembling a support ring (SR) within or from a tyre (T), such device including a base, a column or pillar rising from said base and a grip and release group and/or an extraction group.