Tyre Changers

There are several types of tyre changing machines:

• Manual Tyre Changer - small, portable and ideal for home tyre repair enthusiasts and DIY mechanics. The manual tyre changer usually has a manual bead breaker and tyre iron. This is a very cost-effective machine for occasional users.
• Mobile tyre changer - This automated tyre changer is usually used by a mobile tyre repair business. They are run from a 12-volt power source and can be mounted in the back of a mobile tyre repair van or truck.
• Semi-automatic Tyre Changer - These semi-automatic tyre changers utilise a combination of manual and automatic controls. On this kind of tyre fitting machine, the mounting head is held in place using a manual locking screw and handle. The mounting head is then pushed down on the hex bar into position by hand and locked in place with a lever
• Fully automatic Tyre Changer - this type of fully-automated tyre changer is similar to a semi-automatic tyre changer, but the setup of the mounting head is more automated and the rear column is operated using a hydraulic piston tilting the rear column backwards and upwards to clear the tyre when not in use. When mounting the tyre, the mounting head is moved into position and locked into place automatically

There are many different types of tyre changers available. Some tyre changing machines are designed for professional use while others are made for smaller applications including domestic use. It all depends on how often you need to do a tyre change and what type of vehicle you are changing the tyres for.

Types of Tyre Changing Machines

The different types of tyre changers are manual tyre changers, mobile tyre changers, there are semi-automatic tyre changing machines and then fully-automatic tyre changers.

The manual tyre changer is the simplest type of changer to use and is the most common for smaller applications and car enthusiasts but still is much better than using simple tyre levers or tyre irons to change a tyre, as the tyre changer turns a very labour-intensive process into a relatively simple one, with less potential damage to both the tyre and the wheel rim or alloys.

The tyre changing machine that is best for you depends on what type of vehicles you plan to work on, the number of tyres you intend to be changing, whether you have a commercial garage, or high-street car MOT Bay or simply tyre sales as well as what both your budget and your personal preferences are.

For home use by the car enthusiast we would recommend a manual tyre changer, as this type of machine is simple to use, takes up very little space, and can be used for various tyres, both car and motorcycle tyre fitting for example, but at a very low cost.

If you are a small independent local garage doing a few tyre changes a day then a semi-automatic tyre changing machine may be the best option for you, as it will make light work of the tyres you need to change, but still has a small footprint, is simple to use, and is very cost-effective.

Mobile tyre fitting operators would need to invest in a mobile tyre changing machine in order to do tyre fitting on the move, as these are specially adapted 12-volt machines that can be used on a variety of tyres and the machines are small and lightweight making them easy to mount in the back of a van or lorry.

Motorcycle tyre fitting equipment can come in all of the above flavours, some tyre changers are specifically made for motorcycle tyre fitting, whereas many are actually car tyre changing machines that can optionally be fitted with additional motorcycle adapters to allow them to hold the motorcycle wheel rim correctly and change the smaller and differently shaped tyre that is used on a motorcycle.

For larger garages, MOT Bays, and tyre sales places we would recommend a fully-automatic tyre changer, as this will deal with the volumes of tyres you need to change with ease, and will last for many years of continuous service.

There are also commercial tyre changing machines that can be used for larger vehicles such as buses, trucks and lorries, due to the size of the tyres and wheel rims, the standard car and van tyre changer will not be able to be used for these sizes of tyres.

Read our Blog article on What is the Best Tyre Changing Machine

To change a car tyre using a tyre-changing machine these are the basic steps you must follow:

Removing the tyre:

• Remove any weights attached to a steel wheel rim
• Remove the valve core to remove all air from the tyre
• Break the bead using the bead breaker on the tyre changer
• Lubricate the tyre wall close to the wheel rim prior to removing the tyre
• Clamp the wheel into position on the tyre changer turntable
• Position and use the Tyre Changer Demount Duck Head and Tyre Irons to remove the upper bead of the tyre, whilst rotating the turntable
• Use the Tyre Changer Demount Duck Head and Tyre Irons to remove the lower bead of the tyre, rotating the turntable

Prep work to re-mount the tyre:

• Inspect the tyre and wheel rim to ensure they are clean and free from damage before mounting the tyre onto the rim.
• Replace the valve and/or valve core as necessary, and check or replace the TPMS valve, TPMS valve core or TPMS sensor if these were damaged during tyre removal or the batteries have expired.

Mounting the tyre onto the wheel rim:

• Lubricate the tyre bead on both sides to aid the mounting of the tyre
• Check that the wheel rim is still securely clamped in place on the tyre changer turntable
• Position and use the Tyre Changer Demount Duck Head and Tyre Irons to mount the lower bead of the tyre, whilst rotating the turntable
• Use the Tyre Changer Demount Duck Head and Tyre Irons to mount the upper bead of the tyre, rotating the turntable
• Inflate the tyre using compressed air to re-seat the tyre bead
• Use a valve core tool to screw a new valve core into the valve on the wheel rim
• Fully inflate the tyre to the recommended tyre pressure

There are 2 main types of automated tyre machines for changing car tyres.

• Semi-automatic Tyre Changer
• Fully automatic Tyre Changer

The process for changing tyres on each of these machines is similar but does differ slightly, read our full article on How to Change a Car Tyre using a Tyre Changing Machine for more information and safety guidance.

Read our Blog article on How to Change a Car Tyre using a Tyre Changing Machine