Bead Buster

[The Critic]

https://beadbuster.com/help-me-choose/



I need to replace TPMS sensors in 16 passenger car/CUV tires. The XB-452 looks promising for this task; supposedly all I need to do is break the bead, then wedge in a 2x4 to hold the tire down while the sensor is swapped.

Does anyone have experience with this tool or something equivalent? Thanks.

 

[Elkins45]

"valve guts" LOL

I use a jack under my trailer hitch. Put the jack base on the tire and jack up against the trailer hitch.

 

[skyactiv]

I can't comment on the tool, but pushing or wedging a tire to allow room to swap sensors might not be as easy as you think depending what you're working on.

I had a tire on a wheel with the bead already broken. There was no valve stem or sensor on the wheel because of a wheel change over. I wanted to add a valve stem. I used a 2X4 and lowered the weight of the front end of a car directly on the tire and it didn't depress the tire enough. Even when I rotated the 2X4 90 degrees it made little difference.

I couldn't use a string to fish it through, spin a valve stem tool on and pop the valve stem in place. The tire was too stiff with a low profile sidewall. It was a 225/40R18 Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate with a 2 ply sidewall.

If I had access to do what Elkins45 described it may have worked.

 

[Kira]

Who you gonna call.....

 

[18LateModelFan]

I have the Beadbuster tool, originally had the smaller one, as I bought it for ATV use, but have used it exactly how you intend to for TPMS changes.

My original one stripped the threads from the tool on the foot bolt, but Beadbuster righted the situation, have the next size up now.

Great for ATV tires, and stuff that doesn't need to balanced.

 

[atikovi]

I need to replace TPMS sensors in 16 passenger car/CUV tires.

I thought you had a shop, or worked in one.

 

[eljefino]

I use the one built into the $50 HF tire changer. And yes TPMS changeouts are a reason. If you have the room the HF changer comes in handy, imagine being able to peel a tire off to clean the rims to fix a slow leak for example.

 

[Skid]

I use the small BeadBuster XB-450 (I don't know remember I bought the smaller ones) on the backside of alloys, but it doesn't work well unless you use two of them at a time. They just doesn't push down enough of the sidewall if the tire is glued onto the rim. On the frontside, I use an older Harbor Freight tool (the current one is different), but it would scratch the front of an alloy rim if I tried breaking the backside bead.

I've been meaning to try this:

 

[The Critic]

XB-452 worked great on 19” Toyota wheels. No complaints.

 

[Trav]

IMO some things are just not worth doing unless you have the tools to do the job. I do not have a tire machine, road force balancer, alignment rack or a frame straightening machine so for that work it goes to a trusted shop. I believe in working smarter not harder and without the machines tires are a PITA.
I have done a few split rims the hard way over the years and bubble balanced them simply because no one would touch them.

Anyone in Southern NH Carson City Tire in Amherst is the place to go, it is 25 miles from me but well worth the drive.

 

[wpod]

I would change the semis tires and grader sized tractors using the bead breaking wedge and tire irons . None of this fancy tire stuff.

 

[JHZR2]

Any updates or pictures on what kind of damage it may do to the wheel?

 

[Sumboodie]

IMO some things are just not worth doing unless you have the tools to do the job. I do not have a tire machine, road force balancer, alignment rack or a frame straightening machine so for that work it goes to a trusted shop. I believe in working smarter not harder and without the machines tires are a PITA.
I have done a few split rims the hard way over the years and bubble balanced them simply because no one would touch them.

Anyone in Southern NH Carson City Tire in Amherst is the place to go, it is 25 miles from me but well worth the drive.

Split rim like a Firestone RH-5 or split ring?

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Either get a tire machine or pay someone else to mess with the tire.

 

[D60]

Either get a tire machine or pay someone else to mess with the tire.

Again, for just swapping a TPMS valve, some form of a bead breaker makes sense.

Tire shops see TPMS as a real gravy train, and most people think it's super complicated so they accept exorbitant pricing on both sensors and labor.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Would that TPMS light make you not pass an inspection in states that do them?

 

[Leo99]

I just had a TPMS sensor go on my Camry. DIYing looks too difficult and not worth it especially since I have no specialized tools. It will be about 2 years until my tires are due for replacement.

 

[JHZR2]

I just had a TPMS sensor go on my Camry. DIYing looks too difficult and not worth it especially since I have no specialized tools. It will be about 2 years until my tires are due for replacement.

That’s the question. One or two it’s probably worth just paying. And if you can plan it out right, just do the. Next tire change.

We are nowhere near needing a tire change, so I can foresee needing to do four over the next year or two. At that point, at $85 each for generics at the Indy… it seems like it may be worth getting the stuff.

But if a bead breaker is going to damage my wheel, I have little interest. I also don’t have much interest in changing my own tires.

 

[Trav]

Split rim like a Firestone RH-5 or split ring?

 

[Sumboodie]

View attachment 253626

That's a split ring wheel.