Video: Seating Beads with Flames

Sharing this video is a Catch-22- on the one hand it’s pretty impressive to witness the laws of physics work so harmoniously to achieve an end result.. Especially when said end result can be frustratingly difficult.

On the other hand, playing with flammable liquids, open flames (in the case a cannon fuse) can lead to all sorts of trouble. A quick browse of Youtube reveals just as many clips where it goes terribly wrong as it does successes.

However- this is one of those instances where the rules of the world around us can be used to our advantage and there’s no denying that it is impressive to behold.

Science Lesson- Why It Works:

The rapid expansion of burning gases (also known as an explosion to you and I) momentarily spreads the tire carcass’ sidewalls enough to reach around the metallic form of the rim and thus reseats the beads on the rim’s surface. Because of the thickness of the tire carcass, the explosion is contained within though it isn’t uncommon for the fluid of choice to continue burning until it exhausts itself of oxygen.

Remember never to attempt this technique on an inner-tube-equipped tire or if you are particularly fond of your eyebrows.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o60TD_mFFwY&w=710&h=450]