What is the BeadBuster?

The BeadBuster Portable ATV Tire Bead Breaker is a small but powerful tool for breaking loose tire beads from rims.  It is especially well suited for ATV/UTV rims which have large bead retainers.  BeadBuster has models that will work on any 1-pc wheel application, large and small.  It is portable and can be operated with hand tools.  The manual bead breaker tool applies a reaction force directly against the lip of the rim and won’t bend lightweight aluminum rims from high compression forces. The BeadBusters are competitively priced, starting at $149.00.

Why are ATV tires so hard to get off the rim?

ATV and UTV rims have a bead retainer (‘safety ridge’) that basically acts as a speed bump, which helps keep the tire in place even after complete loss of air pressure.  This is an especially good feature for trail riding, but makes it almost impossible to change for the average DIY mechanic without specialized, expensive tire changing equipment.
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Whats wrong with other so-called 'Bead Breakers' on the market?

The BeadBuster XB-450i is the Premium Small Tire Bead Breaker…There is no Question

BeadBuster is the only USA based bead breaker brand that makes our products in the USA. The other bead breakers of this size are all basically the same copied design, and come from China.

THE MAIN ADVANTAGES TO THE BEADBUSTER DESIGN ARE:

  • CLAMP & RAM MECHANISM – The BeadBuster style mechanism is SUPERIOR to any other bead breaker mechanisms, such as the “Shoe & Lever” and “Plier Style” bead breakers. The “Clamp & Ram” is the only style that effectively applies force directly to the Bead Bundle (aka. the steel cord in the tire bead). The other tools don’t work well because they apply force to the sidewall of the tire, and if the tire is stubborn that flexible sidewall will not transfer force to where its stuck at the tire bead. There are some other “Clamp & Ram” tools, but the XB-450i is the only one specifically designed for use with SMALL wheels found on motorcycles, ATV’s, Cars, Trucks and Lawn Mowers, etc.
  • PATENTED CLAMP BOLT DIRECTION – is perpendicular to the clamping surface. All of the force from the clamp bolt acts to pull the tool into place. The “Other” Clamp & Ram tool design has the clamp bolt oriented almost parallel to the clamping surface. The result is the clamp bolt loses almost all the mechanical advantage turning the corner, and it is very difficult to get the tool mounted in place, especially on old, stubborn tires. This is why that design has a “Hammer Strike Pad” because its expected that you’ll need to hammer the tool in place. The BeadBuster will not need to be hammered, the powerful mechanical advantage of the bolt threads does all of the work.
  • CONSTRUCTION – The BeadBuster is made from single piece Investment Casting, from Hardened 4140 Chrome-Moly Steel. The Other designs are made from mild steel and cast iron parts, and vary in build quality but all fall far short from the BeadBuster premium build quality. BeadBuster material strength is at least 4x greater than the others.
  • RAM DRIVE – The BeadBuster Ram Drive is a custom Grade-8 Bolt. The other Clamp & Ram design is a Hex Nut coupled to some All-Thread with a Spring Pin. The pin has relatively low shear strength and can easily break from the shock loads of an impact wrench. This design is NOT compatible with an impact wrench. The BeadBuster CAN and SHOULD be used with an impact wrench.
  • SIZE – The other Clamp & Ram tool is not in the same size class as the XB-450i. Its ram foot is far too long to be PROPERLY used on small wheels. The BeadBuster more compact and lighter (3 lbs) than the other portable style bead breakers (5-12 lbs). The XB-450i is the only bead breaker that can easily be stashed in a glove box, tool box or trail box.
  • WHEEL PROTECTION – The BeadBuster comes with a padded clamp arm to protect Aluminum wheels. The other tools will certainly scratch nicely finished wheels.
  • PRICE – BeadBuster is not the cheapest. We are more expensive than some of the other tools from overseas. But the BeadBuster XB-450i is PROUDLY MADE-IN-USA, and BeadBuster is a USA Small Business in Pennsylvania, owned and operated by 2 partners who invented the product in 2013. The quality of the BeadBuster is unquestionably superior. With BeadBuster, it is not a cliche: you get what you pay for!

Do I need anything else to change my own tires?

You will need a 3/4” hand or socket wrench to drive the clamp and ram bolts on the XB-450i, and 15/16″ for the XB-550i.  A small cordless impact works beautifully for this.  You will also need BeadBuster Tire Mount Lubricant to lube the tire up.  After breaking the bead on a rim, you will need Tire Irons to complete the job of removing the tire from the rim. Beers are optional.

What can you tell me about the Quality?

The creators of the BeadBuster are professional Mechanical Engineers, with over 50 yrs of collective tool design experience.  When we set out to make this manual bead breaker tool, we did it right. Over a year of product development, several prototypes were tested and tweaked, resulting in the (original) XB-450.  It has been field-trialed by countless riders and mechanics and put through its paces, and has become a favorite tool of all who have used it.  With over 60,000 bead breakers sold, the BeadBuster design is tried and true.

XB-450i & XB-550i HD

  • The tool body and ram foot are single-piece investment castings, using hardened 4140 chrome-moly steel.
  • The finish is a durable epoxy powder coat.
  • The bolts used are custom Zinc-Plated, Grade 8, with flange heads and crowned tips.
  • The BeadBuster is proudly Designed and Manufactured in the USA (PA).

How does the BeadBuster protect my rims?

We use a heavy duty, polyethylene bumper, which is the only part of the BeadBuster that touches a visible surface on your rim.  The pad is attached to the clamp arm with a screw, not glue, so that it will always stay in place.  Other manual bead breaker tools are designed so that hard metal edges grab onto the rim, which will scratch and dent aluminum…Not Good if you have nice looking wheels.

How do I maintain my BeadBuster?

Lubricate the threads on both bolts, and the ram shaft with light grease.  This will keep the action smooth and reliable for years of use.

Are there any SAFETY PRECAUTIONS I need to know about?

Due to the nature of the tool, there is a potential pinching hazard with any Bead Breaker.  Keep fingers away from the clamp while tightening. Keep fingers out of the gap between the bead and rim.  Common sense is not optional on this one.