Piston rings are installed on the piston using which of the following?

Piston rings are typically installed on the piston using a ring compressor. This tool is designed to compress the piston rings into a smaller diameter, allowing them to fit into the engine cylinder easily during installation. When the piston is inserted into the cylinder, the compression ensures the rings expand back to their proper diameter to ensure a good seal against the cylinder wall.

Using a ring expander would be counterproductive, as it is intended to help remove sufficient tension from the rings while they are being taken off the piston rather than for installation. Relying solely on hand placement without any tools increases the risk of damaging the rings or improperly seating them, which could lead to performance issues. A bearing tool is not applicable in this situation, as it is designed for handling bearings rather than piston rings. Hence, the use of a ring compressor is the correct method to properly install piston rings.