Another tire Machine thread, HELP!

[pumalex]

OK, i'll try to make this short, i will be doing maintenance on a fleet of about 8 cabs who change tires 3 times a year. I will also be doing my personnal cars and friends and family so this is going to be a really light duty use of the machines.

The thing is that i have a Porsche and a couple of friends who have race cars and wide wheels (19x11 on mine for example). So from what i understand, it is impossible to change a tire on such a wheel if you don't have all those assist arms.

I want to buy used as i don't want to spend 5k on a new set of average quality, i beleive i can buy used and have better quality of the brand at least.

Two options on the table for the tire changer, one is to use a regular one and have a shop do my fancy wheels and the other is to buy the fancy machine right now.

For the regular type, what i have found in the classifieds so far that looks interesting are:

Corghi 9820 for 1350$
Corghi 2000 for 1300
Hofmann 1610 for 1100$
Hofmann 3300 for 900$
coats 5030e for 1000$
coats 5060e for 1800$

For the types with the extra arms for the wider rims and run flats i can have
Corghi 2019 for 2800$
Coats 9010E for 2500$
technotlift TC2000 (this is a chinese type i beleive but almost new) 2000$

So, given my situation, would you pay the extra money to get a fancy machine or just send the harder tires to a real tire shop?

If aynyone has comments on those machines or experience or knowledge on what is different from a model to the other, please HELP! I am so lost, i know nothing about those machines and what to get the best quality/price deal.

I'll make an other thread later for the balancer to keep it sample.

thanks a lot

 

[Skyking1992]

pumalex,

I have a John Bean (Snap on) machine. No extra arms or assists. I regularly change tires for my Corvette. I run 18 x 10.5 rims and 315-30-18 Hoosier tires. I have no problem mounting or dismounting tires due to not having the extra arms. Run flat low profile tires might be tougher. The only problem I have is the machine is not quite tall enough. When I get the tire off the rim, the combined height of rim and tire is right at the height of the arm. I have to yank a little to get the tire out from under the arm. If my rim were even another 1/2 inch tall, I think I would be in trouble. I have thought about making a 1 inch spacer to lift the entire upper assembly up. My explanation is probably clear as mud - I'll see if I can get some pictures tomorrow.

Skyking1992

 

[pumalex]

thanks for the feedback, if i was able to save myself the headache of having all the extra arms, that would be nice as i don't care about the run flats. Anyone else has similar experience? I have never mounted or removed a wheel so i have no clue to be honest.

thanks

 

[Graham08]

I've mounted a bunch of right rear tires for my pavement sprint car on a Coats 4040. They go on a 15" x 18" rim. The only "special" piece required for the tire machine is an extension on the center post.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Coats 4040 are great for steel rims. With some extra padding and careful operation you can use them one aluminum rim without scratching them up also.

That machine will last a lifetime.

 

[mattmankow]

Being that you've never mounted or dismounted a tire before... Get the 4040 to do the cab tires (usually under $500, and bulletproof), and leave the fancy wheels to the professionals. They damage them, they buy them.
What about balancing?

 

[tdkkart]

If the Taxi-cab thing is gonna be a long term deal, that's over 100 tires/year if you throw in repairs, plus your's and your buddy's stuff, I'd be taking a serious look at a new machine with the goodies you need. Screw up a couple high $$$ rims and you'll wish you had.
I'd spring for a Coats, I've seen some reliability problems with some of the off-shore stuff, and it's not like I see alot of tire changers, so if I see the issues there's probably a trend.

 

[pumalex]

Being that you've never mounted or dismounted a tire before... Get the 4040 to do the cab tires (usually under $500, and bulletproof), and leave the fancy wheels to the professionals. They damage them, they buy them.
What about balancing?

I will need a balancing machine too, just didn't want to put too much variables in one thread... i'll look into balancer after, i am already pretty confused.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... i am already pretty confused.

Simple. Get an older machine for steel wheels, including steel racing wheels.

Send your friend with nice aluminum wheels somewhere else.

 

[MG44]

I have two tires machines, a TC950 and a Coats 20/20. The TC950 is actually a very nice machine for being chinese built, I have had it for over 3 years that machine probably changes 20 tires a week. We aren't a tire shop per say, but we up sell a lot of tires as a service to our customers. The TC950 is advertised to handle a 15" wide rim. It has a bead seater on it which is handy on truck tires. The machine was under $1600 brand new.

I also have a Coats 20/20 that we have had for ever. A Coats 20/20 will handle up to a 17" rim, and any NAPA carries the protector sleeves for the mount/demount bar to use on aluminum rims. I am not sure how WIDE of a rim you can do on it, but I know I have done atleast 9 inch rims without a problem, I wouldn't see an issue with a few other inches. My machine does not have a bead seater, but I think some did come with them. I don't know about finding one for under $500 because in my area these old Coats machines still command a high $$$ amount.

As far as tire balancers, I have been in this business for a while. A spin balancer is a spin balancer is a spin balancer, unless you are getting into road force. I currently have an Accuturn that is about 6 years old and works fine. It will do up to 24" wheels. Some balancers are so cheap ($1100) new that it is not even worth buying used. I did buy my Accuturn used only because I knew the shop it came from, and they upgraded only because they made too much money last year, and the tax man told the owner he better buy something.

 

[Graham08]

The Coats machine I was using didn't damage my wheels, which are aluminum, but I could see how they might if you had something with clear coat or anodizing on the outer rim.

 

[mattmankow]

I have a very used 40/50 in home garage. Basically same as 20/20, 40/40, etc. I've done 16" dually wheels, 17" Subaru alum, and a lot of the generic steel stuff. For a cab fleet with steel wheels it would be perfect. I bought it for $350 from a votech that upgraded their equipment.
I also have an older Hofmann balancer. This was top dollar in its day. Great balancer from ebay $600.
I would still recommend you to sub out the race stuff. I have used a lot of tire machines when I was still working on cars as a profession, and there is much room for problems with the low profile tires. Experience is key here, and you won't get much. IMHO