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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 3,431
Bikes: 1984 Miyata 310, 1986 Schwinn Sierra, 2011 Jamis Quest, 1980 Peugeot TH8 Tandem, 1992 Performance Parabola, 1987 Ross Mt. Hood, 1988 Schwinn LeTour, 1988 Trek 400T, 1981 Fuji S12-S LTD, 197? FW Evans
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Mostly, the outward pressure of the bead against the rim keeps it together. You would think that the wire bead is needed to keep the tire from stretching over the rim, but I saw a report a couple years ago where a guy cut the bead in several places around the tire, then mounted and carefully inflated it to normal pressure. The tire stayed together just as if it had not been modified.