Skip to content
PRICE DEMOLITION SALE: Hundreds of Job-Crushing Deals. Shop Now >
Northern Tool Equipment Logo TextNorthern Tool Equipment Logo text link to Home.

Free Gift Card on All Orders Over $100 See Details

Extended - Last Chance!

Free Gift Card Details

$100 Order

$10
gift card

$250 Order

$25
gift card

$500 Order

$50
gift card

$1000 Order

$100
gift card
  • The promotion will be automatically applied on the Shopping Cart page.
  • To qualify for this offer, your order subtotal must equal $100 or more. Excludes gift cards, free item offers, warranties, Advantage memberships, tax and shipping.
  • Free gift cards will be issued in the form of e-gift cards only, not physical gift cards.
  • E-gift cards will be sent to the email address used in your billing address when your order ships or is picked up.
  • Free e-gift cards expire 11/01/26.
  • Promo code not valid on prior purchases or on Honda and STIHL products and cannot be combined with other promotional offers.
  • Valid online and in participating retail stores.
  • Limited-time offer. Subject to change without notice.
Print

TSI Cheetah 5-Gallon Tire Air Bead Seater, Steel Tank, Model# CH-5

Item# 121488
TSI Cheetah 5-Gallon Tire Air Bead Seater, Steel Tank, Model# CH-5

This is a carousel with one large zoomable image and a track of thumbnails on the left. Select any of the thumbnail buttons to change the zoomable image on the right. If a thumbnail is a video or 360 degree image thumbnail, or the last thumbnail in the list, the button will open the product media modal.

TSI Cheetah 5-Gallon Tire Air Bead Seater, Steel Tank, Model# CH-5

Click or Tap image to Zoom

  • 5-gallon ASME-certified steel tank with powder coat finish for durability
  • Seats beads on all tires, from small 4in. tires to 24 1/2in. truck tires
  • Includes easy carry handle for portability
  • Included mounting feet makes storing the unit easy and helps protect the barrel assembly from damage
  • Operates on standard shop air; Max 120 PSI

  • Prop 65 Warning: See Details

See full description

  • Description

  • Key Specs

  • Reviews

  • Q & A

  • Accessories

  • Warranty

  • Compare

Product Summary

This TSI Cheetah 5-Gallon Tire Air Bead Seater provides a simple, fast, safe and economical way to seat even the most difficult beads. Works on all tires, from small 4in. tires to large 24 1/2in. truck tires, all in one compact unit. Quickly seats the tire by supplying a high volume of air into the tire, expanding the tire sidewalls to set the bead onto the wheel rim; air can then be added through the valve stem to complete the full inflation of the tire. Safe for use with TPMS sensors.

What's Included

    (1) Bead seater (1) 1/4in. fill valve (1) Pressure gauge (1) Pop-off valve (1) Nipple & Discharge Valve (1) Threaded barrel with lip and lock nut

Downloads

Product Manual
The Sleek, Powerful Tire Seater That's Built for Speed

The Sleek, Powerful Tire Seater That's Built for Speed

Seats a Wide Range of Tires

From small 4in. trailer tires all the way up to 24 1/2in. truck tires, this handy compact unit can quickly, easily and effectively seat a bead to help get the tire road-ready.

Easily Seat Like a Pro

The Cheetah operates on standard shop air with a maximum of 120 PSI and utilizes a variety of features for easy operation. The 1/4in. air inlet shutoff valve matches the amount of air dispersed to the size of the tire being seated, and a pneumatic gauge makes it easy to check for the correct fill pressure. A specially designed lip keeps the threaded barrel at the perfect angle for air insertion during bead seating, while the quick-release 1 1/2in. butterfly valve spreads the air to deliver a full impact of air discharge into the tire.

Easy to Transport, Easy to Store

A carrying handle is built right into the Cheetah Bead Seater for easy portability. The unit also includes mounting feet to help protect the barrel assembly from damage and aid in storage.

Safe and Durable Construction

The 5-gallon steel tank is ASME certified as it conforms to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes, offering peace of mind for safe operation. The tank also features a tough powder-coat finish for added durability and rust resistance.

Seat Tires with Confidence

Expert Answers Are Available

Northern Tool + Equipment is here to help you succeed. Our field-trained, dedicated team of welding experts is ready to help — call or email and you'll get a prompt response.

The TSI Advantage

This TSI Cheetah Bead Seater is built to last and perform. But to give you extra peace of mind, TSI stands behind this product with a 1-year limited warranty.

Guaranteed Satisfaction

Shop in complete confidence, knowing that Northern Tool + Equipment protects your investment and is ready to provide you with the assistance and helpful resources you need.

Features + Benefits

  • 5-gallon ASME-certified steel tank with powder coat finish for durability
  • Seats beads on all tires, from small 4in. tires to 24 1/2in. truck tires
  • Includes easy carry handle for portability
  • Included mounting feet makes storing the unit easy and helps protect the barrel assembly from damage
  • Operates on standard shop air; Max 120 PSI
  • 1/4in. Air inlet shutoff valve allows for filling the correct amount of air for the size of tire being seated
  • Pneumatic gauge makes it easy to fill the correct amount of air for the size of tire being seated
  • Lip on threaded barrel allows for proper angle for air insertion for correct bead seating
  • Quick-release 1 1/2 butterfly valve allows for full impact of air discharge into tire

Key Specs

AttributeSpecification

item#

121488

Brand

TSI

Manufacturer's Warranty

1 year limited warranty

Ship Weight

31.0 LB

Max. PSI

120

Tank Size

5 Gal
AttributeSpecification

Product Type

Bead Seater

Hose Included

No

Gauge Included

Yes

Tank Material

Steel

Product Weight

lb

Dimensions L x W x H (in.)

13.0 x 18.0 x 27.0 in

Reviews

Questions & Answers

45 Reviews This action will navigate to reviews.

Questions

1–10 of 11 Questions  
Sort by:

  1. How does it work? Just supplies a high volume of air?

    1. That's all it does...dumps 5 gallons of compressed air almost instantly into a deflate tubeless tire and voila! The beads pop onto the seat allowing the tire to fill. Far better and safer than ether, straps, chain binders, etc.

      Helpful?

    2. yep, just a high volume of air. you put a specific amount of air in the cheetah (a chart shows the recommended amount), hook up your air compressor line to the tire and blast at the rim by ripping open the valve. it really does work!!

      Helpful?

    3. Exactly It supplies all of the air stored in the tank in one quick release. Be sure to match pressure to use.

      Helpful?

    4. Supplies a high volume in a sudden rush into the tire, so quickly that the air does not have a chance to escape around the edges, but expands the tire sidewalls to set the bead onto the wheel rim. You have to then quickly fill the tire through the valve stem to more permanently seat the bead or the tire may shrink back and lose the seat.

      Helpful?

    5. This unit jolts air into a tire to seat it on the rim with a high volume of air.

      Helpful?

  2. How big of a tire will this work on?

    1. I use it on 11R 22.5 truck tires.

      Helpful?

    2. Semi tires up to 22.5 and 24.5 tires

      Helpful?

    3. I used it on 11R24.5 Semi Tires and had no problems

      Helpful?

    4. I have used it on both 22.5 and 24.5 truck tires

      Helpful?

    5. The Cheetah Bead Seater will work on tires up to 24-1/2 inches.

      Helpful?

  3. What is the capacity (gals) of this and what is the maximum PSI before the relief valve activates

    1. 5 gallon. I am not taking past recommended pressures so I can't tell you on the relief, but it is over 110 I can tell you. That is as far as I have gone.

      Helpful?

    2. 5 gallon capacity, up to 165 psi.

      Helpful?

    3. This bead seater has a 5 gallon ASME certified steel tank, and the maximum pressure is 165 PSI.

      Helpful?

  4. Does this product have an expiration date?

    Due to internal corrosion, portable tanks have an end of life date. Does this product have a end of life date?

    1. Yes. I think the instructions suggest replacement after 3 years

      Helpful?

    2. The manufacturer of this product recommends replacing this unit every 3-5 years under normal usage. This product does not have an end of life date, because it is not required to supply one.

      Helpful?

  5. is it safe to use with tpms sensors

    1. yes, just keep the end 180 degrees from the sensor when blasting so you don't accidently hit the sensor with the tip of the cheetah. Use the same precaution you would during bead breaking and mounting/demounting a tire with a tire changer-stay away from the sensor.

      Helpful?

    2. This TSI Cheetah bead seater is safe to use with TPMS sensors.

      Helpful?

  6. Where is it made?

    1 answer

    1. This product is manufactured in China.

      Helpful?

  7. Is it OK to use silicone or similar spray to protect the inside of the tank?

    Or is there something else that should be used?

    1 answer

    1. Per the manufacturer, it would be okay to use silicone or a similar spray to protect the tank; however, whatever is used could be discharged into the tire when the bead seater is operating.

      Helpful?

  8. Aluminum version

    What is the advantage other than lighter wt of the Al version, which costs a lot more from NT and others?

    1 answer

    1. The CH-5AL Cheetah® Bead Seater has a 5 gallon ASME certified aluminum tank which has a 30% weight savings when compared to a traditional steel tank. The capabilities between the steel tank and aluminum tank for the bead seater would be the same so the advantage would just be the lighter weight on the actual bead seater.

      Helpful?

  9. Will this work with tire balance beads?

    Seems like it might blow them all over the shop

    1 answer

    1. This Cheetah Bead Seater is not recommended to use with balance beads.

      Helpful?

  10. Ever used on motorcycle tires? Seems applicable...

    1 answer

    1. This can be used to seat the bead on motorcycle tires.

      Helpful?

Accessories We Recommend

This is a carousel with auto-rotating slides. Activate any of the buttons to disable rotation. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots.

See All Lug Wrenches
Ken-Tool Lug Wrench, Model# R20
4.4 out of 5 stars. 8 reviews

Ken-Tool Lug Wrench, Model# R20

Item # 156453

$49.99
See All Nuts + Sockets
Ingersoll Rand Lug Nut Service Sockets, 3-Pc. Set, Model# SK4C3F
4.9 out of 5 stars. 10 reviews

Ingersoll Rand Lug Nut Service Sockets, 3-Pc. Set, Model# SK4C3F

Item # 154187

$54.99

Warranty

Manufacturer's Warranty

1 year limited warranty

Extend Your Warranty Coverage with a Northern Protection Plan (NPP)

Replacement Plan — 1 Year

A Northern Protection Plan is available after adding the product to your shopping cart.