Buyer’s Guide To Tire Changers

Tire changers are one of the most fundamental pieces of equipment any shop or garage owner can have and there are many accessories that you may need to consider when shopping for one. Roller or shovel-type bead separators, integrated tire inflation systems, air surge pulse for faster inflation speed and improved bead seating, low speed drive systems with increased torque for servicing tough combinations, and last but not least, leverless mounting/demounting. These are just specifications that may come with the tire changer but you must first keep in mind the type of vehicle that will be serviced.  All of these added bells and whistles may come at an elevated cost so it is important to remember what is best for your shop/garage and your wallet.

Types of Tire Changers

Swing Arm Tire Changers

Swing arm tire changers are engineered especially to handle today’s toughest tires. They feature an easy to use adjustable tabletop providing wider clamping range. These tire changers have four tabletop jaws that adjust simultaneously for mistake free clamping and their hi-grip jaw covers add mounting torque which will protect your wheels. Swing arm tire changers require unscrewing the head in order to fit different size tires hence it takes up a little more time but are equally as efficient. Swing arm tire changers are easier to use and are more affordable but might not be as convenient as tilt back tire changers.

Tilt Back Tire Changers

Tilt back tire changers are known for being a bit more practical as well as easier to use but are more expensive than their swing arm relatives. They allow you to fit tires in an easier manner because the towers tilt back allowing you to fit bigger tires there. When you’re ready the towers move back into place.

Leverless Tire Changers

Leverless (also known as touchless) tire changers makes it easier to change a low profile, run flat tire on a 22” rim but these machines require a little training to use. But a little training is a small price to pay for all of the efficiency improvement and adaptability in the future. Leverless tire changers lift and set up heavy rims on their own and don’t require the operator frequently bending down.

This all sounds good but not so fast, you need to know that these specs come at a cost. Touchless tire changers are currently top of the line and can be a pretty big investment.

Manual Tire Changers

Manual tire changers as the name implies requires a lot more effort but are perfect for a small garage just looking to occasionally service tires. They are purchased mostly by amateurs as well as garage owners and are a more economical alternative to the current tire changers in the industry today.

Heavy Duty Tire Changers

As you might already know, heavy duty tire changers require larger equipment due to the size of the vehicles they service. These tire changers can work with wheels up to 56 inches (142 cm) in diameter and tires up to 90.5 inches (229 cm) in diameter and 43 inches wide. They are used mainly for agricultural off-road and construction vehicles but there are now bigger versions designed to mount and dismount tires up to 95 inches and feature a hydraulically operated self-centering four jaw chuck with clamping jaws that can clamp 14 to 58 inches from either the wheel’s inside or from the center bore.

Motorcycle Tire Changers

Motorcycle tire changers aren’t as sophisticated as passenger cars, light truck or heavy duty tire changers mainly because the wheels they deal with are smaller and lighter. They provide a simple bead loosening system and rim clamps are powered manually. Many of them can also accommodate wheel diameters as small as 10” and wheels 1-1/2” wide. You can also service small atv wheels and tires as well.

Voltage

When we say voltage more specifically we mean whether the tire changer you need will be 110V or 220V. Tire changerscome with either 110V or 220V but there is not really a huge difference between the two. Both types consume the same wattage but keep in mind that a 220V machine will run at half the amperage.

To put it simply, half the voltage is available to a 110V machine which means the amperage is doubled. Most technicians will use a machine with a capacity of 110V because it will prevent them from having to call the electrician as often but just because it saves you a visit from the electrician doesn’t mean it is the best option and it really all depends on usage.

A major advantage when it comes to selecting voltage is (according to Mr. Jeff Kritzer senior VP of marketing for Bendpak Products) when servicing heavy wall truck tires or performance tires, the turntable tends to stall and a machine that runs on 220V will have a better chance of restarting and continuing after said stall. This is why owning a 220V machine are becoming more and more important as the years go by. Light duty vehicles mostly come with aluminum rims, they all come with TPMS sensors and many of them come with run-flat tires.

When placing the tire (even when the rim is properly secured and the tire has enough lube on the bead) the turntable might stop turning if the technician takes his foot off the pedal. He will sometimes need to do this if the tension from the bead pulls the mount head into the rim (this causes damage) and other times, he might stop to adjust his tire bar to avoid tearing the bead. This is when 220V machines prove to be most useful. 220V tire changers with the appropriate assist arms help prevent damage to the rim because it allows the user to move the turntable even as the bead gets tighter. This enables said technician to be able to make adjustments without having to worry about the turntable not rotating afterwards. This also eliminates the need to have another technician help spin the tire as the turntable struggles to rotate.

What we’re trying to say here is if your garage or shops’ electrical supply is up to the task, you should go with a 220V machine. 110V tire changers do save electricity but in the long run the capacity of a 220V machine makes them more efficient.

Why Features/Specs/Accessories are Important

Accessories and features can sometimes either make or break a final decision because they can reduce the amount of time a technician spends on each tire and even the number of technicians needed to service them.

Fuel economy as well as requirements in the past years and vehicle users looking more for large rims with low profile tires has greatly affected the kind of work fleets require. You will want a tire changer with a large turntable and tilt-mechanism in order to accommodate the types of tires out right now whilst being able to adapt to the larger and thinner tires as well. The best advice we can give you is study up on your specific requirements before you choose a machine that may or not be appropriate.

We all know of the wide array of vehicles out right now and that they all have different tires as well as requirements for those tires. Electric vehicles for instance are being equipped with low rolling resistance tires which increase fuel efficiency (at a cost). These tires have stiffer sidewalls and are made of a harder rubber compound which makes them harder to change.

Having tire changerswith power operated assist tools will prove to be quite helpful because they ensure that these low rolling resistance tires are serviced in the best way possible. If you run a modern tire service department, having a tire changer with assist tools is pivotal because these machines have a bundle of devices which improve efficiency, safety and the damage to your high quality wheels will be minimal.

Big fleets are not as picky with the care of their rims compared to regular consumers but it’s becoming increasingly necessary to have accessories to get more jobs done simultaneously. It all depends on the size of your shop, budget and what kind of vehicles you service on a regular basis.

Added Features

There are a few other things to keep in mind before purchasing a tire changer. One being many technicians are having trouble breaking beads on tires with the tire changer’s shovel. This problem will only increase as sidewalls become stiffer. Technicians blame the machine for this but it is possible that your shop’s air compressor isn’t potent enough. Your average tire changer requires that you have an air compressor capable of at least 150 psi.

Conclusion

The tire changer you purchase for your garage or shop will need to be able to work on all of the vehicles you service but also keep in mind that you don’t want a primitive machine that will limit itself to just old vehicle types. We’re not saying you have to spend thousands of dollars but do think a little ahead. You also want to make sure that the warranty offered by the company you purchase from includes parts and labor on the machine as well as offer responsive technical service in between.