Some more insight into bead sealing:
Typically, the bead diameter is SMALLER than the wheel diameter in that area of the tire.
Further, the bead is designed with an angle GREATER than the bead flat of the wheel. That's 2 ways the sealing is supposed to take place.
What that means is IF someone were to grind off some of the wheel in that area (like if you were to remove ALL the corrosion down to bare metal!) the tire might not seal. Remember the bead is a circle and grinding in that area means the rubber has to fill the gap.
On top of that, the radius of that "corner" (where the flat of the bead meets the flange) is LARGER in the tire than the wheel - meaning it CAN'T seal there. They do that to make sure the bead doesn't hang up there and not fully seat on the wheel.
Now allow me to address bar codes:
First, it isn't the bar code that is causing the leak. It's that the leak is occurring somewhere else and finds the barcode the easiest place to escape - making it look like the bar code is leaking. Moving the bar code isn't going to prevent the leak.
Why do they put it there? Because if they put it inside it will be covered up by the lube they spray inside, and if they put it on the outside, it will be covered by the lube that is sprayed on the outside. The bead area is the only area where lube is NOT sprayed.
So why do they spray lube on the inside and outside? To help the tire release from the mold and because the lube is slightly textured, it helps prevent molding flaws and trapped air.
Typically, the bead diameter is SMALLER than the wheel diameter in that area of the tire.
Further, the bead is designed with an angle GREATER than the bead flat of the wheel. That's 2 ways the sealing is supposed to take place.
What that means is IF someone were to grind off some of the wheel in that area (like if you were to remove ALL the corrosion down to bare metal!) the tire might not seal. Remember the bead is a circle and grinding in that area means the rubber has to fill the gap.
On top of that, the radius of that "corner" (where the flat of the bead meets the flange) is LARGER in the tire than the wheel - meaning it CAN'T seal there. They do that to make sure the bead doesn't hang up there and not fully seat on the wheel.
Now allow me to address bar codes:
First, it isn't the bar code that is causing the leak. It's that the leak is occurring somewhere else and finds the barcode the easiest place to escape - making it look like the bar code is leaking. Moving the bar code isn't going to prevent the leak.
Why do they put it there? Because if they put it inside it will be covered up by the lube they spray inside, and if they put it on the outside, it will be covered by the lube that is sprayed on the outside. The bead area is the only area where lube is NOT sprayed.
So why do they spray lube on the inside and outside? To help the tire release from the mold and because the lube is slightly textured, it helps prevent molding flaws and trapped air.