What is with tire companies putting bar code labels right on the sealing surface of the beads? After I had Rivals mounted, 3 of 4 leaked where the technician left them on. Naturally, I had them break the 4th and remove the stickers from it as well.

Today I received Federals and they have the same stickers. I tried to take one off and it did not want to come.



What's the deal?
What is the best way to remove the labels?
Did the Rivals leak because they were a year old before we mounted them, and I should not be concerned with the Federals?

DNM

 

Better title would have been... "Who else has had leaks with barcodes on tire beads?"

Because, I know why manufacturers use them.

Mostly, I want to know if I should try to leave them on the Federals before having them mounted onto wheels. Tires are 225's. Wheels are 8" 6UL.

Probably the labels will cause the wheel spokes to fracture.

 

I've installed thousands of tires, and never had one leak at the bar code for more than a few seconds. I've seen bubbles around the sticker in the mounting lube but I've seen them all around. The rubber should seat into wheel pretty quickly, if not, a touch of scotch bright to scuff it up should handle it quickly.