OP
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
I can see this becoming a social event worth some of my buddies. One already asked if I got it yet, lol, but he did offer to help set it up.Thank god my brother in law owns a tire shop![]()
I can see this becoming a social event worth some of my buddies. One already asked if I got it yet, lol, but he did offer to help set it up.Thank god my brother in law owns a tire shop![]()
Once friends find out you have the machines it will be a social event. Everyone was asking me if I could help them out with tires. I don't mind helping friends out, especially if they have helped me out in the past. But guys that don't ever help I had to start charging for things. I have too much in consumables laying around, plus the cost of the machines. I used to do things for free all the time but one day woke up and realized that I chose to spend my money on new tools and shop stuff while friends were spending their money on vacations and other things. Then asking to borrow tools or asking me to help fix there cars so they didn't have to pay someone. Not really fair. Especially when you start getting into these big boy toys that cost as much as a used car after you add up everything you need. Felt taken advantage of by some of my friends so those ones I started charging for helping them. Some still appreciated my help for half what a shop would charge but some must have got offended and just took their stuff to shops, which is fine with me. Yep I can patch a nail puncture on a Sunday night for you, for 20 bucks or a case of beer.I can see this becoming a social event worth some of my buddies. One already asked if I got it yet, lol, but he did offer to help set it up.
Personally I think road force is a gimmick.
I originally bought a balancer because I got a bad balance every time from tire stores. If you have one that does a good job, that's gold.
I haven't found one that takes the time to get it right. They spend a couple minutes a tire, and you can't do a good job that fast. Plus they let their equipment get out of spec and they have really low rate help changing tires - so my guess is the roadforce balancer is just expensive/complicated equipment that still doesn't get used correctly. Not saying the machine isn't capable of doing a good job, but they don't do a good job with the simple equipment so I don't expect them to do better with the complex stuff.
About 5 years ago I bought a Lexus that had brand new tires from a dealership on it - they were purchased a few days before I bought the car. I didn't like the way they were balanced. I rebalanced them and they were perfect. I could tell whoever balanced them before didn't know what they were doing. I have never liked those tires all that well, but they now have 55,000 miles on them and could go another 20.
I bought another used car a couple months ago. It came with a bunch of receipts. The owner bought new tires a year ago - a month later was in the tire store complaining that the tires weren't balanced correctly. Tire store response is "the wheels are bent - recommend new wheels". I notice immediately the tires are out of balance. I put them on my balancer expecting to find bent wheels - wheels are perfect. Every tire is out of balance the exact same 1/2 ounce. That means the tire store had out of spec balancing equipment and it ***** to drive a car like that - the vibration constantly changes better to worse as the out of balance wheels align with each other while you are driving.
It takes me a few minutes, but I can get a set of tires so smooth that you cannot feel a thing - with my cheap chinese balancer - I doubt anybody at a shop can do better.
Exact copy of a Cheetah brand bead blaster. I use one of those because my machine does not have a bead blaster.
Great post.I've had a Hunter balancer for over 25 years. I bought it back when I figured it's the last one I will ever have to buy.
Having 11 vehicles, 3 trailers and a bobcat, I buy a ton of tires. Many these days have been out of round brand new (but still
balanced out).
About 1.5 years ago, I got used RF machine. Only paid $2600, so it's not impossible to find one "cheap". Needed new cooling fan, new bearings in force roller, some clean up, and I had my "Hunter Rep" recalibrate/check out the machine. Clean bill of health after that. He claims those machines are good for 40K or more balances, before they need work. You can look in the stats on the machine and see how many balances it has done over it's life, before you buy. Mine had close to 14K
Anyway, I've proved to myself that if done correctly, it definitely works. BUT, the largest benefit to me has been brand new tires. If a new perf tire RF's over 15, it goes back. If a truck tire RF's over 25, it goes back. Tire sellers have been pretty good about taking tires back, when I explain why I want an exchange. Many times, bad RF #'s go in hand with high balance weights, but not always.
Anyway. I've had a Chinese tire machine for over 20 years. I've added many items to help with low profile and nicer rims, like both side rams, tire bead "puller upper", and even a center mount kit.
Had to build my own mount for that one above
This thing allows you to not have to use pry bar to pull up bead. It mounts where std head goes.
I've dinged up plenty of nice rims with just trying to pry low profile beads over the edge .
And this thing really helps keep rim from spinning. Even using plastic inserts and gripping out edge of lower rim, sometimes the rim will spin, again trying to get a super low profile bead on.
Even with all that, picked up a GT500 for track use last year with CF wheels. I'm now looking for Hunter TC39 machine, as those wheels are 7 grand each.
So I would have no issue with the Chinese tire machine's. I'm not really sold on any of the Chinese balancers, mainly due to the electronics, long term. I guess if you are considering a Chinese balancer, I would take a known good balanced tire with you, put it on the machine and it should balance out first shot with MAYBE it looking for .25 ounce extra on one side. Also, balance a tire on the machine. Take tire off and put it back on in a different spot (machine hub vs wheel hub, rotationally). Should balance out to zero in any position. If both of those things check out, then it is only durability that might be an issue.
Exact copy of a Cheetah brand bead blaster. I use one of those because my machine does not have a bead blaster.
Wow, that's interesting. I've never seen anything like that.If money and garage floorspace are important, this at least looks useful (no experience myself)
Spoons work of course, and efficiently, but no way do I swing a bead-breaking sledge. A regular manual bead-breaker would be much lighter to carry around and much much safer. He's really good at that, I admit it.There is a video some where on YouTube showing a guy changing truck tires. 4 laying flat on the ground. Bead breaking sledge. Couple of long tire pry bars, lube. He unmounted and mounted all 4 (no inflation) in less than 10 minutes.
ERROR ! 3:43 !!
Changing semi truck tires
I think the Chinese that ran out of other ideas to steal so now they’re coming up with their ownWow, that's interesting. I've never seen anything like that.
I've got a Atlas WB-HS and its been great. The key to a good balancer is consistency; you should be able to balance, remove, remount and get the same result, and the atlas is able to do that consistently.
For infrequent, or personal use, you really don't need the motorized models, so save the money there and get a set of these pin plates instead for that premium balancing experience:
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4, 5, 6 & 8 Lug Wheels Pin Flange Plate Lug Centric System for 40mm Shaft Wheel Balancers
Perfect centering of wheels during balancing. This system fits 4, 5, 6 and 8 lug wheels. Our kit includes 4 plates with pins and the reference chart. MT-RSR 4020-40mcbayperformance.com
technomarketinggroup.com
If you ever have a chance to pop the cover off, let is know if the internals look like those on the left or right.Well took a little longer to get but it arrived in good condition, no visible damage to crates. No time to assemble, it's snowmobile season, hopefully next week. I'll do an assembly review and mount some tires.




Convenience and knowing it's done right because you did it is the main reason to have your own. Think in one of my previous posts here I said something about the consumables and accessories will add up quick. That's the down side to doing this as a "hobby" vs a shop making decent money. Still have to have all the stuff just to do your own.A little update, mounted & balanced about 20 tires so far & I have to say I love the convenience of doing it myself, at my leisure. Probably the only pia part was stocking up on tire weights & supplies, after that a few minutes a tire & it's good to go. I will say that regardless of cost, I'm very happy I got them & bonus the color matches my boxes!
This is where I'm at, have the basics in weights and stems. Now I'll add as I go, everything came from Amazon.Convenience and knowing it's done right because you did it is the main reason to have your own. Think in one of my previous posts here I said something about the consumables and accessories will add up quick. That's the down side to doing this as a "hobby" vs a shop making decent money. Still have to have all the stuff just to do your own.
Where did you get all your weights from? I have bought a few assortments of different styles and then bought the stick on weights. Hate not having the right stuff when I need it so one of these days I'd like to get a full assortment of weights put together with all the different styles.
A tire repair stand/spreader comes in really handy, I bought a chinese one off amazon a couple years back. I also bought the autel tpms programmer and use their mx sensors. Napa sells them and so does amazon. One sensor works on most vehicles, all I've ever ran into. Can swap rubber to metal valve stem and vise versa. I've done more TPMS sensors then anything else I think. I use plug/patch combos that I got from napa for tire repairs most of the time. Also bought a low speed buffer made by astro to drill out the hole and buff the inside of tire for a patch/plug. Now milwaukee makes an m12 version and would get that now but I don't do enough to justify getting one when I already have the air version.
And it will only grow. LOL There are a bunch of different style of clip on weights for different style lips on rims. Think it's MC style that I got for now because that is what my vehicles take. I almost forgot about the stem collection. With TPMS on most vehicles now you need special stems for each different vehicle. I replace stems anytime I change a tire, not sure if it's needed but just a practice I adopted from somewhere. Think Eric on south main said one time that if you're pulling a tire off the rim then you replace the valve stem. I started writing down part numbers anytime I replaced a stem on a common vehicle. Then next time I placed a rock auto order I would see if any of the part numbers I needed were shipping from the same warehouse I was already getting parts from. If so I would add 10 to the order to have on hand for next time. Gives me 8 for two sets of tires and then 2 extra to have a part number to reorder or in case I needed one for a leaky stem. In the new shop I want to get a cabinet of some kind with divided bins for all the different stems, patches, weights, etc. That's the only negative part of having these machines, they are convenient and great to have but if I have to buy stems and weights and whatever at a parts store when I run into something I don't have then there is zero cost savings. So I try to "stock" common things I will run into otherwise the convenient part goes out the window when you have to run to store or order something.This is where I'm at, have the basics in weights and stems. Now I'll add as I go, everything came from Amazon.
Find out who your local supplier in the area is for weights, paste, lube, etc. Prema Canada is the primary supplier here,... but most of the local Prema reps also carry other lines since they are all contractors.The cost of weights quickly adds up. Luckily I only really do old steel wheels so I only need one type. I was asked to do some alloys so I did buy a small quantity of stick on weights. My balancer is overflowing with weights so I really need to find a storage solution.
At least once it's stocked up it's not so much of a problem since old clip on weights can be reused.
Where do you order your weights from. I've found for most wheels I've come across they take the mc type.So I've had these machines almost a year and have done 4 sets of tires, a set of s x s tires and a few atv tires. I have to say I'm very happy, machines work great and the convenience really comes in handy. The only tough to balance wheels were on my daully, the offset is a challenge, otherwise the wheels balance well, no vibration up to 80mph. I have a pretty good assortment of weights and stems and most are a day out to order. So a year in and very happy, would definitely recommend to anyone on the fence.
Amazon & ebay plus I save the old weights if they're in good shape. Put together a nice assortment of ck, mc & stick ons.Where do you order your weights from. I've found for most wheels I've come across they take the mc type.

I havent used either... but agree that the balancers are likely the same. I also know that the tire machines will use the same valve bodies/assemblies, pistons, and most components. The only real difference seems to be in the valve locations, and bead depressor wheels/heads.I'm in the market for a new Super China tire machine & balancer combo. Living in the middle of nowhere (Montana), finding a deal on good used name-brand (Coats, Hunter, etc) is not an option. Generally what shows up for sale looks like it sat outdoors in a field for years, is missing parts, no way to test, and they still want $2k for what they think is a gold mine because someone else sold a nice working one on eBay for twice that.
Anyway. I'm torn between the Vevor pair, changer KC-503 with assist arms and balancer KC-9803, $2565 delivered for both:
Or, the Katool KT-T830 changer with assist arms, and balancer KT-B700 for $1988 delivered:
I messaged both sellers to ask about liftgate delivery, as I don't have a forklift. No response yet.
I'm pretty sure the balancers are almost the same, likely from the same factory, but with slightly different control panels. Vevor has free return shipping and seems to have slightly better reviews. Katool does not offer free return shipping and reviews seem slightly worse, which may explain the price delta. I'd rather pay a few bucks more for better customer service and return policy. I'm having a hard time telling if there is any significant feature difference between Katool and Vevor tire machines (assuming the balancers really are basically the same).
Anyone have direct experience with the specific models above? I'll be changing mostly passenger car tires, 15-18" diameter, nothing below 35 series aspect ratio. Same as everyone else on this thread, I'm fed up with the local tire shops not balancing stuff correctly even though they have a $25k Road Force Elite balancer. Asking them to always dynamic balance with SmartWeight shut off helps, but they're always in a hurry and I always end up with vibration.
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" Question: Hello, I do not have a forklift at my residential delivery location. Is liftgate delivery available, and how much does that cost? Thank you! "
Dammit - I hate this place. I will just keep repeating "I do not have room in my shop. I do not have room in my shop."So far this is the combo I have sitting in the cart, looks like it will do a vast array of tires.
Yeah, but it's not as amusing as starter fluid. Did it once (long story) at gas station on the NJ Turnpike coming home in the wee hours of the morning after patching a tire on a car I had just bought and was driving home. The guy running the gas station almost had a heart attack. LMAO
Sounds like you have your answer on what the better buy is (Katool).Got a response from both vendors on eBay.
Vevor:"Thanks for your email. Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you. We currently do not provide forklift services, and this requires you to communicate with the courier separately. We hope you understand. "Katool:"Hi, I will deliver the goods to your residential address for free, and I will also provide liftgate service for you at no extra charge."
Between the lower cost AND the free liftgate delivery, I'm leaning towards the Katool combo. Liftgate fees could be $75-$100 (or more), making the total price ~$2650 Vevor vs <$2000 for Katool. I also do not want to mess with freight depot pickup, which requires renting a trailer, then using a cherry picker to get the crates off the trailer. I have a pallet jack, so a liftgate delivery to my concrete pad would be ideal.
I sent the same message to both vendors. Katool answered exactly what I asked, Vevor did not, or there was a language barrier. Both sellers are based in China with USA distribution warehouses. Katool might have hired someone with better Engrish skills.
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