February 15, 2000

The Tyrepliers kit includes the Tyrepliers, a carrying case, two tire irons, an instructional video and the most complete tire repair kit we've ever seen.

Everything you need to repair a tire is included in the repair kit: tire plug tools, a razor, an abrasion tool, patches of all sizes, spare valve cores, a valve stem, a valve stem tool, plugs, and plug adhesive.

Ok, here's the situation: you're way out in the middle of the bush with your SECOND flat tire. Not just any kind of flat, mind you, but a torn sidewall. You've already used your spare tire when you ripped open a sidewall on that rocky trail yesterday, near the start of your journey. Your two buddies can't help you because their Toyotas don't use the same wheel bolt pattern as your Jeep. Now what?

One of your buddies is really eager to try this trick he read about where you stitch the sidewall with bailing wire, a handful of tire plugs and a prayer. "Not today," you say to him as a cunning smile crosses your face and you whip out your...Tyrepliers!

The scenario may seem contrived but it's not. Expedition style off-roading is alive and well in British Columbia, particularly in the middle and northern parts of the province. There are trails where you can drive for days without seeing another soul. In those situations, you are are on your own. If your group can't get your vehicle mobile, no one else is going to be able to help you. This is the kind of situation that Tyrepliers were designed for.

This Australian-designed tool can break the bead on any tire that fits on rim sizes from 4" to 22". Once the bead is broken, you can use the tire irons to peel the tire away from the wheel and either insert a patch or a tube. Re-inflate the tire and you're on your way again. Yes, I've heard that you can use a Hi-Lift jack to break the bead but that doesn't always work. The jack can't exert the same localized pressure against the bead that the Tyrepliers can. The Tyrepliers work so well that they have been adopted by the Australian army.

I ordered a set of Tyrepliers from their North American distributor, Extreme Outback Products. After admiring the quality workmanship of the pliers, I plunked the instructional video into the VCR and ten minutes later, I was ready to play with the pliers. I had a 33x12.5 tire on a rusty rim that I couldn't dispose of during last year's Spring Clean-up garbage collection because tires had to be separated from the wheels. It was a perfect guinea pig for trying out the Tyrepliers.

The first step is to adjust the Tyrepliers so they match the wheel diameter.	The tool's length is adjusted with this wing nut and bolt.	Next, push one of the claws into the tire so it catches on the rim. This tire was bulged around the lip of the wheel so I had so use my body weight to push it in.
Then push the other claw into the rim. Pull both levers toward the outside of the tire so the pliers' claws firmly grasp the wheel's rim.	With both claws firmly gripping the rim, the bead breaker lever is pulled outwards. The other lever only needs enough pressure to keep it gripping the wheel. The bead breaker focuses its force right against the bead of the tire where it has the most effect. Breaking the bead takes very little effort.	The Tyrepliers were then loosened and re-positioned to break the bead on another section of the tire. Four more repeats of this action and the entire bead was freed.
I flipped the tire over and broke the bead on the back side.	Next, the tire irons were used to lever the tire over the rim.	A small hammer came in handy here to force the irons around the rim. Liberal application of some soapy water made the job easier.
Once I got half the tire over the rim, it was easy to pry from the other side to pull the rest of it over.	There! One side of the tire is completely off the wheel. Now I just have to do the other side.	Almost done.
Elapsed time: 15 minutes. Most of the time was taken futzing with the tire irons and posing for pictures. I should be able to get the time down to 5 minutes next time.

As you can see, the Tyrepliers made it very easy to pull the tire off the rim. Keep in mind that for most repairs, you don't even need to remove the tire completely. Pulling one side of the tire over the rim is all that's needed to apply a patch or insert a tube.

Tyrepliers aren't one of those "sexy" add-ons like lift kits or off-road lights but when you need them, you REALLY NEED THEM. With a stowed length of about 24", they'll easily fit in any 4x4. I can't think of a reason why any group of serious fourwheelers would venture into the bush without this fantastic tool.

 
...lars