Guidance needed - Breaking Tire Bead without Specialty Tools

[CharlieS]

you can compress those grandtreks with a clamp pretty easily. That's how I was making enough space to uninstall and install the TPMS.

i was using a large irwin quick clamp and two screw type bar clamps

I'll try clamps on the next one (not grandtreks but some bargain basement p-metric tires). I didn't even think of that! Thanks!

 

[OSS]

The Hi-lift bead breaker attachment is the way to go if you've got a hi-lift jack. I used it many times.
There's no way any of my tires' beads could be let loose by swinging any sized hammer at it. Impossible.

 

[KLF]

Yes, you could, but then you have to figure out how to fish it out.

But, can't you just reach inside the tire after the bead is broken free and grab it? Again, never done this, I'm asking. Maybe this is a "gotta be there" sort of thing, to see how that might not be possible, or very difficult.

 

[grinchy]

But, can't you just reach inside the tire after the bead is broken free and grab it? Again, never done this, I'm asking. Maybe this is a "gotta be there" sort of thing, to see how that might not be possible, or very difficult.

yeah, even with the bead broken all the way around it is still not possible to get the tpms sensor out. you need to compress the tire across the tread block/sidewall at the TPMS location to get space for your hand. I used stout pipe and bar clamps I had around for cabinet making. Easy to swap with the tire 'squished'.

 

[TimCFJ40]

I use a long (8') piece of heavy lumber. Then I put a shorter (6-12") piece about 1/6th of the way from one end and screw it perpendicular to the first piece. Place the tire on the ground (I prefer on a sheet of plywood just in case your rim touches the ground) under your trailer hitch (with a ball mount in it). Place your lever such that the shorter end is under your hitch, the fulcrum (the 6-12" piece of wood) is on the tire bead, and push down on the long end like a lever. You may have to work your way around the tire a few spots before the bead breaks, but it will. Also I'm not sure if you did this or not, but make sure to remove the valve cores. The residual air in the tire at zero pressure will fight you if it can't escape an open valve stem.

 

[TimCFJ40]

Also, specifically to work on TPMS sensors, I use a few blocks of 2x4 to hold the bead down between the bead and the rim, one on either side of the valve stem. So, break the bead with your lever, hold the bead down, put a block in, then let go with the lever. A block on either side of the sensor should let you sneak them out.

 

[CharlieS]

But, can't you just reach inside the tire after the bead is broken free and grab it? Again, never done this, I'm asking. Maybe this is a "gotta be there" sort of thing, to see how that might not be possible, or very difficult.

Nah, you need to roll the bead off to get into the tire.

Adding for clarification: if you have a sensor loose inside the tire, like if you break it off or if you drop it.

 

[TimCFJ40]

Nah, you need to roll the bead off to get into the tire.
View attachment 2532153

I have just pushed the tirebead towards the center of the rim, blocked it, and accessed the sensors without taking the bead off. I'll see if I took pics last time.

 

[CharlieS]

I have just pushed the tirebead towards the center of the rim, blocked it, and accessed the sensors without taking the bead off. I'll see if I took pics last time.

Yes, if the sensor stays intact you can remove it by just pushing the sidewall in. My sensor snapped off, that was why I needed to roll the bead off - to retrieve the broken off part rolling around inside the tire.

My response to KLF was related to his idea of unscrewing the TPMS and letting it drop into the tire to get it out of the way so it doesn't get broken. Once it is floating around loose, the other technique of just blocking the sidewalk in won't work , since you need to be able to reach inside the tire to fish out the sensor that is rolling around loose.

 

[TimCFJ40]

Yes, if the sensor stays intact you can remove it by just pushing the sidewalk in. My sensor snapped off, that was why I needed to roll the bead off - to retrieve the broken off part rolling around inside the tire.

10-4, yeah that makes sense. I’ll post this here for future searchers that it might help.

 

[afgman786]

10-4, yeah that makes sense. I’ll post this here for future searchers that it might help. View attachment 2532539

Nice 40! Digging the color too..

 

[CharlieS]

Just adding to this thread, if you have a hydraulic floor jack and a ratchet strap, there is another way that worked well for me. Another member posted a video of it. You basically lash the tire/rim securely to the jack with the jack pad on the tire rubber close to the edge of the rim. When you pump the jack up it presses against the tire and eventually pops the bead.

Also, I've never owned a hi-lift jack, since I've read all of the scary stories, but that bead breaker almost has me convinced to buy one now.

 

[bloc]

Just adding to this thread, if you have a hydraulic floor jack and a ratchet strap, there is another way that worked well for me. Another member posted a video of it. You basically lash the tire/rim securely to the jack with the jack pad on the tire rubber close to the edge of the rim. When you pump the jack up it presses against the tire and eventually pops the bead.

Also, I've never owned a hi-lift jack, since I've read all of the scary stories, but that bead breaker almost has me convinced to buy one now.

Did you find the bead breaker somewhere? I did a quick search and had trouble. Already have the hi-lift, but haven’t touched it since I did the v8 swap in my 80 so long ago.
I’m thinking the strap and floor jack idea is solid.

 

[CharlieS]

Did you find the bead breaker somewhere? I did a quick search and had trouble. Already have the hi-lift, but haven’t touched it since I did the v8 swap in my 80 so long ago.
I’m thinking the strap and floor jack idea is solid.

BeadBuster Package Deal | Extreme Outback

www.extremeoutback.com

. Maybe a good on trail option. The jack and ratchet strap worked well, and felt relatively safe.

Seems like it'd be easy to make in the garage out of the scrap pile.

This picture shows doing it without a special tool - Receiver hitch tire bead breaker. - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/receiver-hitch-tire-bead-breaker.1171475/post-12693624

 

[bloc]

BeadBuster Package Deal | Extreme Outback

www.extremeoutback.com

Thanks

 

[Ian Rogers]

Just drive over them they pop right off