TETSU

Bent Knee Lying Twist vs Tire Flip

The Bent Knee Lying Twist and the Tire Flip both train the glutes as their primary muscle. The Bent Knee Lying Twist is bodyweight-only while the Tire Flip uses a tire. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.

Head to head

Side-by-side comparison

Bent Knee Lying TwistTire Flip
Primary muscleglutesglutes
Body partupper legsupper legs
Supporting musclesobliques and hip flexorshamstrings, quadriceps and core
Equipmentbodyweighttire
Steps in our guide67
Setup

How each one starts

Bent Knee Lying Twist — first steps

  1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
  2. Extend your arms out to the sides, perpendicular to your body.

Tire Flip — first steps

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, facing the tire.
  2. Bend your knees and hinge at the hips, lowering into a squat position.

Full step-by-step guides are linked below.

Decision

Which should you choose?

The Bent Knee Lying Twist needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps. If your gym has both options, neither is a wrong choice: pick the one that feels strongest through a full range, and swap after 6 to 8 weeks to keep the glutes adapting.

Guides

Full form guides

Answers

Common questions

Is the Bent Knee Lying Twist better than the Tire Flip?

Neither is universally better — both train the glutes as the primary mover. The Bent Knee Lying Twist needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps, while the Tire Flip offers a different stimulus. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.

Can I do both the Bent Knee Lying Twist and the Tire Flip in the same program?

Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the glutes. A common setup is one as your main movement and the other on a second training day, or alternating them block by block.

Do the Bent Knee Lying Twist and the Tire Flip work the same muscles?

The primary muscle is the same: the glutes. Supporting muscles differ slightly — obliques and hip flexors for the Bent Knee Lying Twist versus hamstrings, quadriceps and core for the Tire Flip.

Track it in Tetsu

Tetsu tracks both movements separately, keeps your PRs per exercise, and tells you which one is actually progressing. Free to start.