# What is this bead breaker hand tool used for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 3, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539 "2017-08-03T03:14:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539/1 "2017-08-03T03:14:06Z")
For the initial busting of the bead? I can’t imagine how that would work. Or do you use it to loosen the rest of the tire bead after a small portion of the bead has already been pressed off? [https://www.harborfreight.com/tire-bead-breaker-with-swan-neck-67403.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/tire-bead-breaker-with-swan-neck-67403.html) ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539/2 "2017-08-03T03:45:24Z")
Just guessing here. But for DIY when you don’t have access to pneumatic bed breaker. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539/3 "2017-08-03T03:48:24Z")
It doesn’t seem like it would be that useful if all it did was loosen the rest of the bead after the initial segment had been pressed off. Usually all I have to do at that point is walk on the tire to push the rest of the bead off. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 4:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539/4 "2017-08-03T04:01:44Z")
On my trailer tires I used a hydraulic jack against a steel frame and jacked the bead off the rim. I guess I could have used that tool instead. Don’t remember if once the bead was broken in one place if the rest was easy but don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 4:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539/5 "2017-08-03T04:17:16Z")
Judging by the reviews, a number of people are not exactly enamored with it. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 10:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539/6 "2017-08-03T10:47:29Z")
It’s for the initial busting of the bead, using a hammer to drive the hook end between the tire and the rim, then pushing down on the handle to break the bead ---
**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539/7 "2017-08-03T13:44:58Z")
When I was a kid, pneumatic tire machines were not common and every truck 3/4 ton or heavier used split rims. A tool that looked like this was used to release the ring from the wheel. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539/8 "2017-08-04T23:06:37Z")
> [@Its\_Me](#): > > It’s for the initial busting of the bead, using a hammer to drive the hook end between the tire and the rim, then pushing down on the handle to break the bead You’re probably right, but I can’t envision how that would work. I’ve never had any luck using a hammer to initially push a portion of a tire bead off of its seat. The tire’s rubber just bounces whatever I use to hit it back at me. I either use the jack approach that @bing describes above, or an 8 inch C-clamp. Once a portion of the bead is pushed off I lay the tire on the ground and walk around on top of it to push the rest of the bead off. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 6:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-is-this-bead-breaker-hand-tool-used-for/106539/9 "2017-08-05T06:03:46Z")
Using it is a simple thing that takes all day to work it around the rim. It’s good if you want to lose weight.