On Wed, 04 May 2005 14:31:55 -0500, Jim Smith
wrote:

I have heard that using a tire with an aramid bead on an old non-hook
rim is a bad idea. Is this true? If so, could someone explain to me
how the aramid bead behaves differantly than a steel bead?

It's not the bead's material, it's the sidwall design at the bead's
location that is important. Many aramid-bead tires have a flat
sidewall, whiile in my experience more wire-bead tires have a sidewall
that has a bit of a ridge along the area where the bead wire runs.
This ridge grips better against a hooked rim than a flat sidewall
will.

Also, what exactly is the purpose of the "hook?" Is this documented
somewhere?

See above.

A google search of the group only turns up some vague references to
not use kevlar beads on non hook rims, but no explanation.

Look at the tire, not the box, to see if it has a ridge, and bear in
mind that the lack of a ridge does not mean that the tire *won't*
work, though it may indicate that there is an increased chance of the
tire bead lifting past the top of the flange in some cases. Remember;
the rim's hook adds safety with a tire that has the ability to engage
it, but either type of tire may work in either type of rim if it fits
properly otherwise.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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