How to Cut Tires From Rims

A tire's combination of steel and rubber makes it difficult to cut through.

Cutting tires from rims is a cheap way of removing the tires in order to install new ones. Professional tire shops use large and expensive machinery to separate a tire from a rim, and can charge a hefty price for the job. To avoid these costs you can use common household tools to cut the tire in half, and then simply pull it off of the rim. However, this job can be somewhat difficult if you are not experienced using these tools.

Things You'll Need

• Work bench
• Clamp
• Reciprocating saw
• Metal cutting blade
• Box cutter
• Heavy-duty wire cutters

Instructions

1. Fully deflate the tire. Air in the tire could cause damage or potential injury when cutting through the rubber.

2. Clamp the tire to a work bench. Securing the tire in place will make it much easier to cut through and remove the risk of slipping with a power tool.

3. Cut through the tread of the tire using a reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade. The tread has two steel belts running through it, which can cause your blade to heat up quickly. If this happens, stop sawing for a moment or run cold water over the blade.

4. Slice through the sidewall with a sharp box cutter.

5. Cut through the wires on the bead of the tire using a set of heavy-duty wire cutters.

References

• "Import Car Repair Manul 1998-2002"; Chilton; 2003.
• Cutting Apart a Tire