OpenTube

DIY Tire Bead Breaker (Almost Free) Tool Tip #27

mars1952

103,323 views

In this video I make a tire bead breaker out of tools and material I already had on hand. I broke down several more tires later today and it was very fast as long as I stood on the tire to stop the bounce.

The yellow lab is Summer. She is very companionable and follows me everywhere. She is almost 13 years old.

Not everyone has a tractor. I usually use my backhoe attachment but I had this idea and I thought it would be a good video, especially helpful to the many folks around the world that do not have access to tractors or tire machines. I have viewers from all around the world, almost every country on earth. When I was much younger I had to scrounge around for used tires and I could not afford to pay for the tires to be mounted. I wish I had thought of this idea back then.

20 Comments

@leftyoverton4347 4 years ago

The spring is softening the hammer impact. A solid slide hammer with no spring would likely be more effective in my opinion.

@philoso377 4 years ago

This idea could work perfectly when the rim isn’t resting on rubber but something solid. Tailor a rim size 2x4 to suspend the rim and stand on the rim while pounding.

@ramonlopeziii217 9 years ago

I remember breaking the bead by driving the car over the tire, the weight of the car over the tire usually broke the bead.

@Ryanpant8 6 years ago

I would shorten the pole up, so instead of pounding at a 45 degree angle it would be a 90 degree angle and have someone else stand on the tire. Thanks for posting.

@johnkirk6255 3 years ago

The tire sidewall is cushioning your blows. Stand on the wheel so it compresses to a solid surface, take the bounce out. Cut more off the post so your post driver is at a comfortable height.

@chubbsblox7284 11 years ago

Knock-Off Tyre Pliers for $50 works miracles... It broke all 4 of my Blazer's tire beads in just seconds... 2 different positions in one occasion , but it usually does it in a single press. Try it out... You'll never try any other manual technique :)

@daveschuetrum576 10 years ago

I am a little late to the game, since I just discovered Ole' Mars' videos. It's good to see someone else trying things that may not work for the sport of it. My dog also enjoys watching the entertainment I provide, as yours do. I learned through the school of hard knocks to roll my tires under my truck bumper and use a hydraulic jack and 4x4 block under the bumper to pop beads. I realize I need to get one of those fence pounders instead of using a sledge hammer on posts around the place. I think I will get the one without the spring...

@ericwalker7368 6 years ago

Everybody talking about breaking it with your front end loader I've never had much luck at that, always sounded like a good idea but I never could get it to work

@Kcrunchymunch 5 years ago

Thanks for the video, you made me cheer for you to make the bead break. I never seen it done with a t post hammer before.

@terramung 7 years ago

A hydraulic jack under the tow bar with edge of jack base on the tyre near wheel rim edge. Make sure valve removed from tyre. That should pop your tyre from the bead.

@moorefab8192 6 years ago

I actually really like this idea so thank you for making the video. I got a set of tires to break down. I’m gonna try using my T-post pounder with no spring, I think it’ll speed it up. Awesome idea though.

@jameskrivitsky9715 10 years ago

Hi MARS, I have used a scissor jack and a couple of wood blocks to break the bead on some tires. A bumper jack with foot plate works also. Use the weight of the vehicle at a solid frame or bumper location. Lube the area around the rim. Place the tire / rim under the vehicle with the block on top of the rubber next to the rim and extend the scissor jack till the bead pops. Beats a coronary ! Thanks for the vid....JK

@patrickhoyle8357 3 years ago

Great job well done. I love changing tyres, a weird hobby I know but I love the satisfaction I get from it. Try this next time, instead of concentrating in one spot, try and move it round say a third of the circumference, back and forth 3 " a time, back and forth the same segment a little at a time, dont bang so hard that it gets trapped between tyre and rim - overall less effort is required

@YT-User1013 2 years ago

Nice tool. Yes, I was watching the rim bounce as you were striking it due to the other side of the tire.
A 2x4 under the rim will fix that OR stand on it as you did!! 👍🏼

@j.r.thompson5950 5 years ago

I would not be able to do it the way you did. There are many less physical ways to break the bead. thank you for your time and effort..work smarter..

@donvoll2580 4 years ago

Good day from Ontario. Interesting, but I have serious asthma. I use handyman jack under truck, but if rust I have to change 2 - 3 times, but with hot hot weather we are having I think I will stay with my way.
But spring in post pounder, I see it jumps up quicker . Anyways thanks for showing.

@ggordon4127 8 years ago

Putting soapy water around rim or better varsol really helps.

@GNiessen 11 years ago

I had an old Gator tire I wanted to put an inner tube in and tried a few things to get it off. I had not thought of the post driver. I had the most success with a 20ton jack and putting the tire between two 6x6 fence posts in an H-brace. I used a small pusher block to spread the load and and a short piece of 6x6 to make up the gap. It broke the bead loose with much less effort. But I decided it was going to be too hard to get the tire off and back on. So had the local tire shop do it. $10/tire was worth it.