Yeah, they can be a problem. The basic reason is that the beads of the tire are collapsing in away from the wheel and so there is too big of a gap so all the air just rushes out as you mention. Coates auto tire machines address this problem with a ring that surrounds the wheel and has a lot of holes in it that are drilled at an angle; a big blast of air is dumped into the bottom of the wheel / tire gap and it cannot get out the top before the tire expands and grabs both edges of the wheel and then it will begin to build pressure. That is tough to duplicate at home though.
What has always worked for me is to stand the wheel / tire up on the floor, attach the air fill hose and fully open the fill valve (with the valve core in place) and gently pick up the wheel and drop is about 2 inches; after a couple of times the tire will make a sufficient seal to start the filling process. I cannot say it will always work but it always has worked for me.... so far.
Brian
I failed again today. I've found myself in this position before, and it's frigging shameful. I spent the day doing everything I've ever read about to set the bead on a new motorcycle tire. Never had a problem breaking a bead or mounting a new tire on a rim, but I just cannot get the darned thing to set. Tried the ratchet strap. Tried dishwashing soap lubing the thing up. Tried bouncing the tire on the ground. Even pounded on the thing with a rubber mallet. Tried popping 80-100 psi into the tire and the air just whistles out the side. -No go. Won't do the starter fluid and a match thing because, well, I have too much $ invested in the bike and the new tire and it sounds crazy. Tomorrow I will swallow my pride and take it to the local Cycle Gear, where they will set it for free in about ten seconds. Same thing I did last time. Have no idea what I'm NOT doing. Maybe I don't know enough profanity. (...and I know a XXXX of a lot)
chip