What are you guys using for a tire bead breaker? For years I used the 'place assembly on the floor and jump up and down on it' method. However, I recently ran into a really stubborn tire. I don't want to invest in a really expensive unit for something I use only every few years. I did run across this:

https://antisplataero.com/product/tire-bead-breaker/

Anyone have any experience with it?

Looks like it would work better than my small bottle jack which I use against the underside of the work bench. I just ordered one. Looking forward to trying it.

First you got to ask yourself

I use one of these clamped into the hangar vise:

https://www.harborfreight.com/mini-tire ... 58920.html

That antisplat-aero tool looks like it would work great for a small tire & wheel,
but unless you've got a pretty darn big drill press I'm not sure it'd work with bigger tires.

My local mechanic had an awesome old beadbreaker which I used to borrow.
Old, meaning hell-for-stout, made of iron.

I wanted my own, discovered that Meyer & Bogert both make bead breakers for aviation use, but they're kinda spendy.
So I found a cheaper one:



Pretty inexpensive, about $50, but it's set up for a smaller, thinner tire & wheel.
I modified it to work with my 850x6 tires--
it's still not the greatest set-up but it works OK, esp since it's pretty much a once-a-year tool.

The cheap bead breaker I bought at my local Chinese hardware store has served well for years.

Hotrod180 - where did you buy that? Looks nice.

use your trailer jack. I use my camper jack. Also used my backhoe digger bucket.

Use #4859 for a Handyman jack.

C180_guy wrote:Hotrod180 - where did you buy that? Looks nice.

I'll check for make / model info at the hangar later today.
BUT FWIW I think this is the one I bought:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pxp- ... qcQAvD_BwE

I had to modify it for a fatter (thicker) tire,
also made a longer handle for more leverage.
I don't know if I'd have bought it, if I'd known that,
so I don't know that I'd recommend it to someone else.

Harbor Freight sells bead breakers, if you've got a HF store nearby maybe you could check one out in person.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... kkey=26215
This tool works great. I’ve used mine on aircraft, ATV and my H1 with 37.5” diameter tires on Dick Cepek wheels..

hotrod180 wrote:

C180_guy wrote:Hotrod180 - where did you buy that? Looks nice.

I'll check for make / model info at the hangar later today.
BUT FWIW I think this is the one I bought:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pxp- ... qcQAvD_BwE
.......

Yes, the summit racing bead breaker is what I bought, and modified.



Here's a pic of my mechanic's old school bead breaker, cast iron & sturdy as hell. Works great.
Made by Cam Tool Co of Oakland CA probably 50 or more years ago.



FWIW I checked out my drill press, turns out it has just (barely) enough swing that this would work with an 850x6.

https://antisplataero.com/product/tire-bead-breaker/

hotrod180 wrote:Here's a pic of my mechanic's old school bead breaker, cast iron & sturdy as hell. Works great.
Made by Cam Tool Co of Oakland CA probably 50 or more years ago.

I love older tools like this and I will really go out of my way to find made in America. And guess what, I found one online!

On The Fly wrote:Looks like it would work better than my small bottle jack which I use against the underside of the work bench.

I use a cheapo scissor jack from Walmart that has an hourglass shaped base. I put the base on the tire and squeeze against the underside of the workbench. Works amazingly well.

https://meyerhydraulics.com/ab-1-aircraft-tire-bead-breaker/

I use this one and it is very well built and has worked great for me so far.

RC5280 wrote:https://meyerhydraulics.com/ab-1-aircraft-tire-bead-breaker/

I use this one and it is very well built and has worked great for me so far.

Nice, looks very sturdy.
$310-- a bit much for me for a once-a-year tool,
but very reasonable if you'd use it a lot.