Don't tell my mother

The fifth and final tire came in today from JEGS to complete the set so it was time to mount it onto the last wheel. It had been a struggle to mount the first four at first, but it had become easier as we went along until it only took a minute or two to seat them to the wheel. That is until this one.

This old center-post Coats tire machine is from 1987, but it's 16 years ahead of its time when it comes to this car from 1971. It has a built-in bead blaster that expands the tire with a powerful blast of air to seal against the beads of the wheel long enought for it to inflate. However, this wasn't working on this tire for one reason or another.

After a long struggle, it was time to bring out the ether and explode it onto the beads and seat the tire. It's not exactly the safest way of doing it, but it became the only way to break the stalemate.

BAM! It's on there now and it looks great.

Once the touchup paint cures to fix where some paint chipped off during installation, this will go onto the car and complete this very expensive but satisfying step and get it on the ground on its wheels.