tire iron

noun

plural tire irons

1

: a lever used to pry the edge of a tire away from the rim of a wheel (as on a bicycle or motorcycle)

Be prepared for two flats. Carry a pump, two spare tubes, tire irons and a patch kit.

—Suzanne Schlosberg

2

: lug wrench

Make sure you've got a basic lug wrench—either the tire iron that came with your vehicle or the classic and handy universal four-sided variety that makes spinning off lug nuts a bit quicker.

—Zach Hein

… began walking back to the truck after purchasing a jack and four-way tire iron …

—Kaitlin Cordes

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1