Tire Changing Tools, Bead Breakers and Patch Kits

Breaking, mounting and seating: the tool for each step

Changing a tire by hand takes three steps, each with its own tool. A bead breaker, hydraulic or manual, separates the tire from the rim. Tire irons or spoons lever the bead over the rim. A bead seater or high-flow inflator then seats the bead against the rim. Match the tool to the wheel: a car rim, a lawn tractor wheel and a truck wheel need different sizes and strength.

Patch kits, sealants, lug wrenches and the limits of a repair

Repair items come in several types. Patch-plug kits fix small tread punctures in tubeless tires from the inside; sealant is a temporary measure and can coat pressure sensors. Sidewall damage cannot be repaired. Lug wrenches come as 4-way tools with common socket sizes or single sockets; check the nut size on your wheels. Inflators and chucks need a rated pressure above what the tire needs, and when seating a bead never exceed the bead-seating limit, typically 40 psi for car and light-truck tires, even if the sidewall maximum is higher.

Questions about Tire Changing Tools, Bead Breakers and Patch Kits

How much air can I use to seat a bead?

Use the lowest pressure that seats the bead and never exceed the bead-seating limit, typically 40 psi for car and light-truck tires, even if the sidewall maximum is higher. Use a clip-on chuck so you can stand back, and stop and deflate if the bead does not seat. Over-pressure can burst a tire or rim.

Can tire sealant fix a puncture permanently?

Sealant is a temporary fix for small tread punctures. It cannot repair sidewall damage, large holes or cuts, and it can coat a pressure sensor and complicate later repairs. Have the tire inspected, and repair it with a proper plug-patch if it is suitable.

What is the difference between a tire plug and a patch?

A plug fills the puncture channel from the outside; a patch seals the inner liner from the inside. A combined plug-patch applied with the tire off the rim is the more durable repair for small tread punctures. Punctures in the sidewall should not be repaired.