Originally Posted by DiabloScott

This thread is for tubular tips and advice so I won't engage in any more hypothesizing.

But I do contend that pressurizing a tire OFF a rim will be more damaging than pressurizing a tire ON a rim. And I do have some anecdotal evidence - I once did an experiment where I pressed up a tire off rim to see how high I could get it and it exploded (casing failure) at 120 psi. I had had that same tire pressed up to well above 120 psi on a rim without explosive results.

Anyone attempting to replicate this experiment is advised to wear hearing protection.