Abstract: An apparatus and method for detaching a bead of a tire, has a tire bead separation shoe (1), which has a wedge portion (12) which engages a rim edge (WR) of a wheel (W) having a tire (T). The rim is mounted on a turntable (R). The wedge portion (12) is between the rim edge and the tire bead (TB) and the tire bead fold-back portion (11), and is arranged above the turntable such that it moves up and down. A thrusting rod (4) having a claw (41) provided at its tip end portion is operated when the said wedge portion (12) is shoved between the tire bead (TB) and the rim edge (WR) of the wheel. The claw (41) is shoved between the tire bead and the rim edge. A part of the tire bead is squeezed out of the wheel by the claw onto the bead fold back portion (11). The turntable is revolved so as to smoothly detach the whole circumference of the tire bead (TB) from the rim edge of the tire (W).