Tubeless Tire and Dirty Rim

I just removed a 20-year old tubeless tire of my rim and have this hard-to-remove crap on it. I'd like to get it off before I install my new tubeless tire, as I assume it needs to be blemish free. Question is - is it OK for me to scrub it off with some cleaner and steel/copper wool? It's really stubborn, yet I am not sure if scratching it up will affect the seal of the new tire...

 

Tubeless Tire and Dirty Rim sounds like a country & western song
Scotchbrite, steel wool, sandpaper, whatever it takes to get some of it off. i don't think you want/can to get it all. seems like there should be something to paint on it

 

I got a dirty rim once... was definitely not at a country bar. Partly right though. Does anyone listen to Hank Williams III? "I put the C*** in Country".

 

Hank Williams SR only

 

where the tire seats is the most important area to get clean.

 

Use a stiff brass wire brush.

 

The most important part is where the bead of the tire contacts and seals on the rim. Clean that part up real good and put some bead sealer on it. Also replace the valve stem if the rubber parts of it look cracked or if it is suspected of leaking. Did mine that way and every time I check them they are spot on

Edit: I recommend inflating the tire while the bead sealer is still wet. It fills in any imperfections in the rim and or tire bead and promotes a seal

 

Thank you!

 

Angle grinder with a wire wheel. That bead sealer goop is a band-aid and only annoys the next tire guy working on that rim. There are stiff wire wheels that do a great job of knocking that stuff down. The wires are twisted into ~1/4" strands, and there's maybe 30 of them around disc. I worked in that industry for too long.

 

I agree on the wire wheel but disagree about bead sealer. I work with alloy rims all day long and without bead sealer they're leaking in months. Yes, I does make a bit of a mess when changing tires but some brake cleaner on a rag and some elbow grease cleans it right up. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I'll never put a new or used tire on a aluminum/aluminum alloy rim without it.

 

I also support the bead sealer especially on aluminum rims. Ive literally mounted Hundreds of tires and its the best insurance against leaks you can get.

 

I've never needed to use a bead sealer on a motorcycle wheel. I have had to use bead sealer on whelbarrow wheels, one alloy car wheel, and the occasional tractor.
The wheels that needed a sealer were pitted, and that's where inspection before installation pays dividends.

 

first thing to know is if that is rubber or pitted from corrosion

 

Upon closer inspection, I see the rim has micro grooves, which I would assume would help with sealing. Wouldn’t a wire wheel destroy the grooves and lessen the sealing capability?

 

I've mounted thousands and always feel as though I've failed at my job if I have to use bead sealer

 

Not looking to get into an argument over bead sealer by any means, but I have found that even when said rim is cleaned up perfectly, the bead sealer keeps it sealed and from corroding considerably longer than without. I'm not knocking anyone who doesn't use it one bit. To each their own. Here in the salt belt it is a must for car/truck tires.

 

i think what your seeing is the machine marks left by the lathe that cut the profile on the wheel. not put there for a reason, just not removed for $ reasons.
if that were my wheel and that was pitted corrosion, i would
wire wheel any rubber that's stuck
get some rubber gloves
get some Easy-off oven cleaner
WIPE it on the pits, don't spray it, it will stain the nice part
let it work awhile, scrub it with a wire toothbrush
clean it all up, let it dry
get some 24hr jb weld and wipe it in the pits
sand it smooth and mount the tire.
there are wheel repair places that can put it on a wheel lathe and make it like new but there are used wheels too

 

I suppose it may depend on the area of the world you live in. Up here in Canada the roads are covered in salt and other corrosive materials to deal with the snow and ice. Those materials remain on the roads well into the summer and cause serious headaches related to rim leaks.
I also most likely underestimated my tire installation quantity. Been installing tires as a proffesional mechanic for about 25 years. Did some quick math and that puts me at about 10,000 tires and counting.

 

Thank you! It doesn’t appear to be pitted - just gunked. Will take your cleaning suggestions and go from there. Worst case scenario, I’ll just run tubes.

 

tubes will make the tire hotter