Which Bead Breaker?

[NibbanaBanana]

Any opinions on which bead breaker to buy.
Maddox (Harbor Freight) https://www.harborfreight.com/manual-bead-breaker-58918.html for $90 vs
Vevor https://www.vevor.com/hydraulic-bea...s-trucks-cars-heavy-duty-tires-p_010407666815 for $60

Saw YT demos and reviews on both. Despite origin of manufacture, both appear to work pretty good and are heavy duty enough. The latter is quite a bit cheaper and has a extra padded clamp for aluminum wheels. Also appears to weigh a bit more. Couldn't find any comparison.

Thanks.
Nibbana

 

[Panda87]

I’m sure either will work fine. I used HF’s manual tire changer for my Goldwing rear tire and for my Polaris Ranger that had a bead leak. Breaking the beads was the easy part.

Getting the tire back on though? Pfft. Even old motorcycle mechanics say they refuse to do Goldwing tires without a tire machine. The bead on my Ranger tire tore trying to roll it back in, even with tons of lube. I’m guessing that tire had simply reached EOL.

I pay tire shops to do it because the juice of doing my own tires simply wasn’t worth the squeeze.

 

[FowVay]

For the price I'd get the Vevor. They're sold under many different names so it'd be worth searching to find the best price.

I don't know what you're planning to use it for but manhandling tires is not much fun. I've seen so many wheels damaged and tire beads destroyed by people trying to muscle a stiff sidewall onto a wheel that sometimes it's just worth paying the price to have a shop do the job.

I reflect on my youth and think of the years when I'd change old dirt bike tires with screw drivers. I carry the scars and memories into my geriatric years. These days I own my own tire machines and balancers and actually enjoy helping my friends and neighbors with their hobby cars.

 

[NibbanaBanana]

For the price I'd get the Vevor. They're sold under many different names so it'd be worth searching to find the best price.

I don't know what you're planning to use it for but manhandling tires is not much fun. I've seen so many wheels damaged and tire beads destroyed by people trying to muscle a stiff sidewall onto a wheel that sometimes it's just worth paying the price to have a shop do the job.

I reflect on my youth and think of the years when I'd change old dirt bike tires with screw drivers. I carry the scars and memories into my geriatric years. These days I own my own tire machines and balancers and actually enjoy helping my friends and neighbors with their hobby cars.

Thanks. I'll go with the Vevor.

I've been changing tires for years now. I stopped paying shops to change them not only because the cost was getting insane, but I was tired of having my tires and vehicles damaged by the monkeys working at tire shops. And I don't have to schedule and drive to, and wait to get the work done.

With the exception of breaking the bead, I have got it down to almost completely technique. Two excellent Ken-Tool tire irons and a smaller motorbike spoon if necessary. Those easily remove the top bead. Then one iron to pry down on the bottom bead and a couple strikes with a 3 lb tire hammer in the right spot and the old tire is off. The bottom bead of the new tire can frequently be pressed on. Or worked over with a spoon or Ken-Tool Serpent mount bar. The top bead is easily worked on by standing on the tire as you work it around. The whole key is being aware of and working with the drop center.

Haven't found a technique for breaking the bead. Takes a lot of muscle.

Haven't tried any motorbike tires yet Panda87.