A portable bead breaking apparatus useful for breaking the bead of an ATV-type, low-pressure, balloon tire away from a safety rim upon which the tire is mounted. The apparatus applies carefully directed downward and inward pressure at opposing sides of the tire bead. By applying pressure in this manner against the bead, the bead is broken without injury to the tire and the tire may then be removed from the rim. The apparatus is portable and collapsible into a convenient storage pouch so that an ATV operator may readily carry the device with him or herself when operating the vehicle in regions remote from a tire service facility. Using the apparatus, an operator may readily remove a tire and repair damage thereto. The tire may then be remounted and reinflated.