Tyre machine

[Kram]

Having anonther nail in tyre and a spare to be swapped I am after a tyre machine. A cheapy should do, one that can break beads, remove and refit tyres to normal car wheels.

What to get?
Thanks

 

[sickpup]

Manual or air? New or used? Budget?

 

[premmington]

I upgraded my workshop one last year.

Bought a Corghi - as the last one was a Corghi and it lasted well - gearbox went in the end.

I bought a single phase 24" full auto one with three way helper arms for doing run flats this time. Plus I bought the full set of motorcycle wheel clamp adapters/pads as well.

I did have a bit of deal on it - but it was still big money... I don't actually sell that many tyres to be honest - I don't stock any now - mostly I buy them trade at local indie tyre bay and they fit them (even thou I got a brand new shiny tyre machine) - if it was not for the fact I got a decent wheel balancer with a good motorcycle adapter - I was thinking not to bother replacing my tyre machine when it pooped itself.

But I do change a few motorcycle tyres for myself and a lot for other people - as all local tyre bays won't touch bike wheels. If you bring me the wheels out of the bike and a tyres you got off the internet - I charge £22.50 a rim to fit including tyre disposal (plus valves/tubes/weights). Most bike shops wanna supply and fit - not just fit (who could blame them?)

I don't remove bike wheels here - well I will if you a kid on a moped/scooter/125cc learner bike and you pushed it into the yard with a puncture. But mostly these need tyres and I end up getting stuck with bikes in the workshop - till the parents of said teenager fund a new tyre. I do stock a few tubes for this job.

I also sell allot of sets of four tyre valve pressure sensors (mostly Fords) - and have the TPMS kit to live them up on other makes - program them. Without a tyre machine - I would be begging the local tyre bays to push the beads back to fit these. So I do need a tyre machine.

Buying in and stocking tyres and selling them fitted is low margin work - you gotta do allot of them to earn your money. Plus people will order expensive tyres and never come back to get them fitted. It is one of them jobs where it only works if you doing a big volume.

There was a time when 21" and 22" tyre changers were big machines - now they sell 25" 26" ones for cars and vans.

If you not gonna do too many tyres - a semi auto one will do - bigger inch wise you buy the better. Helper arms are must for run flats.

I am tight/mean - and I like secondhand stuff (because it is cheaper). But tyre machines get worked like a Blackpool Donkey on a hot summers day in tyre bays. Chances of finding one that is any good - is slim to remote.

I can get tyres off anything and change them with levers - but it is hard work and you gonna mark the rims for sure.... That is the downside of manual tyre changers - marking the rims.

 

[zzr1200]

I you have a compressor (I currently used a small V2 Aldi unit), I purchased this style of tyre changer years ago second hand off Ebay, the only thing that can really go wrong is a piston seal or control valve or if it's not bolted down correctly chemical fixings for mine...

Also buy the extra optional bar for alloy wheels.

A brilliant bit of kit. Cheap even when new.

Sealey TC962 Tyre Changer Pneumatic/Manual Operation

Product Details Heavy steel construction. Pneumatic bead breaker. Suitable for use on most automotive/light commercial open centred wheels. Features additional air line coupling for tyre inflator. Supplied with standard tyre bar and PCL couplings. To prevent damage to the rims of the alloy...

www.mccormicktools.co.uk

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13555152...id=10001&customid=eb:g:vms:eb:p:135551520829;{GCLID}&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1557785751&gbraid=0AAAAADmMgijTaLqfEisCDSq8aSCDNJdyS&gclid=CjwKCAjw6ZTCBhBOEiwAqfwJdx5CPnE3P9CnBOjzxXmYWAl7MhfRTllPizX4NxAgm5HKul8Teg3W8RoCsBsQAvD_BwE

 

[Bravheart]

I you have a compressor (I currently used a small V2 Aldi unit), I purchased this style of tyre changer years ago second hand off Ebay, the only thing that can really go wrong is a piston seal or control valve or if it's not bolted down correctly chemical fixings for mine...

Also buy the extra optional bar for alloy wheels.

A brilliant bit of kit. Cheap even when new.

Sealey TC962 Tyre Changer Pneumatic/Manual Operation

Product Details Heavy steel construction. Pneumatic bead breaker. Suitable for use on most automotive/light commercial open centred wheels. Features additional air line coupling for tyre inflator. Supplied with standard tyre bar and PCL couplings. To prevent damage to the rims of the alloy...

www.mccormicktools.co.uk

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135551520829?_ul=GB&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338990947&toolid=10001&customid=eb:g:vms:eb:135551520829;{GCLID}&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1557785751&gbraid=0AAAAADmMgijTaLqfEisCDSq8aSCDNJdyS&gclid=CjwKCAjw6ZTCBhBOEiwAqfwJdx5CPnE3P9CnBOjzxXmYWAl7MhfRTllPizX4NxAgm5HKul8Teg3W8RoCsBsQAvD_BwE

Bought something similar for well under 3 figures not that long ago. Hadn't been used much and the bead breaker ram was siezed. Squirted plenty air line oil up the hose and it eventually came back to life. As good as new now Labour intensive if your a tyre fitting business but fine for me.
Car tyres will still need balanced though

 

[Kram]

I'm not after a pro machine - "a cheapy should do", Chinas finest manual type. There was another thread recently but I cant find it..

Something like this?

Sealey TC960 Tyre Changer Manual Operation | eBay UK

Steel construction with manual bead breaker. Suitable for use on most open centred wheels. Supplied with tyre bar. TC963 Tyre Bar.Product Specification. Optional Accessories: TC963 - Tyre Bar for Aluminium Wheels.

www.ebay.co.uk

I'm aware it'll need a soft duck head for use with alloys.
Is there a better type for under £200?

 

[8ob]

I'm not after a pro machine - "a cheapy should do", Chinas finest manual type. There was another thread recently but I cant find it..
I'm aware it'll need a soft duck head for use with alloys.
Is there a better type for under £200?

You wouldn’t regret buying a second hand proper tyre changer, some of these rims don’t give up their tyres easily and for the same shiny new money you can pick up a good second unit.

Bob

 

[Kram]

Space, rather than cost, would be the problem.
I dont have fancy low profile tyres, they are plain 205/70/17's if I remember right.

Ebay doesnt throw up much locally. Anything I should search for?

 

[Bravheart]

I'm not after a pro machine - "a cheapy should do", Chinas finest manual type. There was another thread recently but I cant find it..

Something like this?

Sealey TC960 Tyre Changer Manual Operation | eBay UK

Steel construction with manual bead breaker. Suitable for use on most open centred wheels. Supplied with tyre bar. TC963 Tyre Bar.Product Specification. Optional Accessories: TC963 - Tyre Bar for Aluminium Wheels.

www.ebay.co.uk

I'm aware it'll need a soft duck head for use with alloys.
Is there a better type for under £200?

Don't bother been there if the beads on tight that'll slip off rather than break it. They don't get in tight enough and push straight down somehow. Keep looking for the air operated type s/h as above.

 

[MetalMonkey]

I'm not after a pro machine - "a cheapy should do", Chinas finest manual type. There was another thread recently but I cant find it..

Something like this?

Sealey TC960 Tyre Changer Manual Operation | eBay UK

Steel construction with manual bead breaker. Suitable for use on most open centred wheels. Supplied with tyre bar. TC963 Tyre Bar.Product Specification. Optional Accessories: TC963 - Tyre Bar for Aluminium Wheels.

www.ebay.co.uk

I'm aware it'll need a soft duck head for use with alloys.
Is there a better type for under £200?

I have one of those TC960, with the alloymate no mar bars.

I also have an Automotech AS-24XSA tyre machine.

The problem with those manual clamp through the centre style machines are they tend to damage the wheels.
I modified mine with some rubber on the clamping area and made up a plate to clamp it by the wheel studs, but even with the alloy mate plastic coated bar there was still damage to the wheels - despite me being super careful.
It was also a lot of hard work to change four average car tyres. Low profile tyres would be a trauma.
If space is at a premium, and you don't care about the wheels, or your back - they work, eventually.
They won't work on smaller wheels which you can't get the spindle through the centre, so small tyres like mowers are out. The bead breaker is rubbish.

By contrast the proper tyre machine feels like cheating. Its so easy you could do it in your sunday best and not break into a sweat.
If you set the machine up properly with a non marking head, they won't damage the wheels. With the assist arms, low profile isn't a problem
Really not much else to be said, they just work.

It clamps on the rim but they only go down so far, so small tyres like mowers are still out, although I think you could modify it with some extension blocks - which I intend to do at some point.
Other than that the biggest drawback is the price and the amount of space it takes up.

I bought the automotech after i bought the sealey, as I really hoped I'd get away without a full blown tyre machine - but I was wrong.
The sealey is now destined for facebook marketplace, when I get around to it.
The automotech I keep thinking about selling due to the space and the infrequency I use it, but then I'll suddenly need it and remember how incredibly useful the dang thing is.

 

[zzr1200]

Bought something similar for well under 3 figures not that long ago. Hadn't been used much and the bead breaker ram was siezed. Squirted plenty air line oil up the hose and it eventually came back to life. As good as new now Labour intensive if your a tyre fitting business but fine for me.
Car tyres will still need balanced though

I use one of these, not high tech but does the job.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Keithmac]

I upgraded my workshop one last year.

Bought a Corghi - as the last one was a Corghi and it lasted well - gearbox went in the end.

I bought a single phase 24" full auto one with three way helper arms for doing run flats this time. Plus I bought the full set of motorcycle wheel clamp adapters/pads as well.

I did have a bit of deal on it - but it was still big money... I don't actually sell that many tyres to be honest - I don't stock any now - mostly I buy them trade at local indie tyre bay and they fit them (even thou I got a brand new shiny tyre machine) - if it was not for the fact I got a decent wheel balancer with a good motorcycle adapter - I was thinking not to bother replacing my tyre machine when it pooped itself.

But I do change a few motorcycle tyres for myself and a lot for other people - as all local tyre bays won't touch bike wheels. If you bring me the wheels out of the bike and a tyres you got off the internet - I charge £22.50 a rim to fit including tyre disposal (plus valves/tubes/weights). Most bike shops wanna supply and fit - not just fit (who could blame them?)

I don't remove bike wheels here - well I will if you a kid on a moped/scooter/125cc learner bike and you pushed it into the yard with a puncture. But mostly these need tyres and I end up getting stuck with bikes in the workshop - till the parents of said teenager fund a new tyre. I do stock a few tubes for this job.

I also sell allot of sets of four tyre valve pressure sensors (mostly Fords) - and have the TPMS kit to live them up on other makes - program them. Without a tyre machine - I would be begging the local tyre bays to push the beads back to fit these. So I do need a tyre machine.

Buying in and stocking tyres and selling them fitted is low margin work - you gotta do allot of them to earn your money. Plus people will order expensive tyres and never come back to get them fitted. It is one of them jobs where it only works if you doing a big volume.

There was a time when 21" and 22" tyre changers were big machines - now they sell 25" 26" ones for cars and vans.

If you not gonna do too many tyres - a semi auto one will do - bigger inch wise you buy the better. Helper arms are must for run flats.

I am tight/mean - and I like secondhand stuff (because it is cheaper). But tyre machines get worked like a Blackpool Donkey on a hot summers day in tyre bays. Chances of finding one that is any good - is slim to remote.

I can get tyres off anything and change them with levers - but it is hard work and you gonna mark the rims for sure.... That is the downside of manual tyre changers - marking the rims.

We charge £25 to fit customer supplied bike tyre to loose wheel, not worth doing for much cheaper than that.

We also have a disclaimer about damage to paint, as careful as you can be there is still a chance.

Before moving our shop had probably £5,000 + worth of tyres on the shelf. Working out how much we actually made supplying and fitting them it wasn't really making any money at all so it's all order per job now.

Bridgestone are a great tyre but a swine to fit!.

 

[Erie Fred]

Space, rather than cost, would be the problem.
I dont have fancy low profile tyres, they are plain 205/70/17's if I remember right.

Ebay doesnt throw up much locally. Anything I should search for?

That machine needs room all around it for you to walk the tire tool.

Mine looks like a hand dolly, with wheels on the back to roll it into storage (where it takes up little space)
electric driven machines don't need bolted down either like the Armstrong machines do.

 

[Kram]

Seen a used one of the cheapy type reasonably local so trying to get that, seller not responded yet

Wheels all need refinishing when I get time so some scratches wont bother me.

I saw there is an upgrade for this style, something I could weld up myself.

Pardon our interruption...

Pardon our interruption...

 

[brightspark]

I'm not after a pro machine - "a cheapy should do", Chinas finest manual type. There was another thread recently but I cant find it..

Something like this?

Sealey TC960 Tyre Changer Manual Operation | eBay UK

Steel construction with manual bead breaker. Suitable for use on most open centred wheels. Supplied with tyre bar. TC963 Tyre Bar.Product Specification. Optional Accessories: TC963 - Tyre Bar for Aluminium Wheels.

www.ebay.co.uk

I'm aware it'll need a soft duck head for use with alloys.
Is there a better type for under £200?

there prety sh.it and flimsy i copied one and beefed it up and it was ok/ i got a decent proper bar for it as there sh,ite

 

[Melvyn Best]

You will also need a decent air supply especially if you are fitting new tyres that have been stacked as even with a good supply of air they can be a mare to get them to inflate

 

[Islander71]

I've been told that if you buy a tyre thats been stacked and squashed, it helps for seating and getting it inflated if, before fitting, you blow up an inner tube in the tyre to expand it and leave like that for a day or two.

 

[premmington]

We charge £25 to fit customer supplied bike tyre to loose wheel, not worth doing for much cheaper than that.

We also have a disclaimer about damage to paint, as careful as you can be there is still a chance.

Before moving our shop had probably £5,000 + worth of tyres on the shelf. Working out how much we actually made supplying and fitting them it wasn't really making any money at all so it's all order per job now.

Bridgestone are a great tyre but a swine to fit!.

Maybe I should up my fitting price - I will have another glass of wine and think about it

Stocking tyres is just a hiding to nothing - unless you a big town centre tyre bay doing large volumes daily.

 

[dobbslc]

I've been told that if you buy a tyre thats been stacked and squashed, it helps for seating and getting it inflated if, before fitting, you blow up an inner tube in the tyre to expand it and leave like that for a day or two.

Filling it with lighter fluid and lighting it up is faster I hear...

 

[Erie Fred]

Filling it with lighter fluid and lighting it up is faster I hear...

ether is quicker