No-Mar Cycle Hill Tire Changers

[RedOak]

I realize that there are more than a few tire changer threads on the GJF, but I was looking for some updated information on the No-Mar brand and, specifically, if I can get feedback on their "Cycle Hill" line of manual tire changers.

Specifically, I'm looking for folks who've employed the No-Mar Cycle Hill manual tire changer for alloy car wheels (18" in our case) as opposed to what was recommended when I called the company directly. I guess it goes without saying, but the person I spoke to recommended their "Professional" line, which, naturally, cost exponentially more to purchase and to ship.

If you've used the No-Mar brand manual tire changers for alloy car wheels, I'd appreciate your feedback and, if you happen to be using the more economical Cycle Hill line, your thoughts would be even more helpful to us.

Thank you kindly for your time ~ Red

 

[bwringer]

This probably isn't much help, but at a motorcycle show a while back, the No-Mar folks were demonstrating their wonder machine with a Corvette wheel and tire.

 

[RedOak]

This probably isn't much help, but at a motorcycle show a while back, the No-Mar folks were demonstrating their wonder machine with a Corvette wheel and tire.

bwringer..... Thanks for the response. Do you happen to recall which line/type it was? As you may know, they have differing categories and, obviously, a very wide spread of prices.

 

[nafterclifen]

I have the NoMar Jr Pro model. Got it about 10 years ago. Looks like it's not available anymore. But it appears to be very similar to the Classic HD.

I haven't used it in quite some time but when I did use it, it was used primarily for changing motorcycle tires. Which it did very well, no problems. I would use it right now for a motorcycle tire if I needed to. Anything else, I won't bother.

I have used it to change some car, truck (265/65/17) and 15" trailer tires with it. Even with skills and experience, it wasn't fun. The trailer tire was no problem. The truck tires were a b!tch! Hardest part was breaking the bead. At the end of the day, it wasn't worth the aggravation. I take the tires/wheels to a place with a no-touch machine.

If you're still interested in pursuing the No-Mar option, here are some tips. Their standard mount/demount bar is OK. But there are MUCH better options that make the process MUCH easier, such as the "Mojolever." You need lube, no doubt about that. Cold temps make the process harder, for sure. Low profile tire are stiffer which means harder to do. I'd say the process is 25% tools and 75% technique. It's a learning experience. You might want to give up the first time because it's not easy.

 

[nafterclifen]

PM me if you have any specific questions. I don't know your location but if you happen to be local, you're welcome to try it out.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

I do have any experience with the Cycle Hill version, but I do have some experience with the Classic HD, or one that looks identical to the Classic HD anyway. A relative bought one about 10 years ago. While it's much better than doing them by hand, it still is kind of a pain to do car tires on. He used it for his car tires once, then took the next set to Costco. However, we've both done several motorcycle tires on it.

I later bought a used Hunter tire machine and balancer for not much more than just the No Mar and it's lightyears better than the No Mar for both motorcycle and car tires. In fact, the last few times my relative has needed to do motorcycle tires, he's taken then wheels off and driven then 25 minutes over to my house to use my machine instead of going out to his shed to use his No Mar. When it comes to car tires, it's not even a close comparison. They are super easy on the Hunter.

You can pick up used quality used tire machines for not much more than a No Mar pretty often. Heck, mine was barely more for the tire machine and balancer, which you'll also need if you want to do car tires. So I'd look for one of those instead.

 

[bwringer]

bwringer..... Thanks for the response. Do you happen to recall which line/type it was? As you may know, they have differing categories and, obviously, a very wide spread of prices.

Sorry, I don't recall details. It was at one of the first few MotoGPs in Indianapolis, so that would have been 2008-2010 or so. They may not have had as many variations back then.

 

[f575gtc]

I have their grey Classic HD model and have done anything from 14 inch miata wheels with racing tires, to normal 16 inch passenger tires all the way up to 18 inch truck tires.


A few things, for the exception of normal soft walled passenger car tires the machine will be a work out.

When I did a set of 18 inch off roading truck tires it tested the limits of the machine's wheel size and also my limits, it was a work out that left me sore the next day.

Anything performance oriented will be a bit of a hassle too, the stiffer the side wall the more effort you will need to put in. Also if you try putting a tire on a wheel that is too wide for that wheel, i.e 205/50/15 on a 6 inch wide wheel you will end up pinching the wheel clamps between the wheel and tire as you pop on the tire and it will make you miserable.


That being said still beats doing them manually by hand with traditional bars and it is leaps and bounds better than the HF tire changer, I have never scratched a wheel with it.

A few tips, the Classic HD has the bead breaker mounted up top which makes working with car tires a bit difficult, because of its angle bigger tires require consistently removing the wheel locks so I can put the wheel close enough to the breaker so it doesn't launch the tire out at you, their pro model has the floor mounted one which would work better but you are closing in on automatic tire changer price territory there.

Buy tire lube and use a bunch of it, it will make your lift so much easier.

Don't buy the tire clamps from them, Amazon sells them for like $10 a pair much cheaper but the "yellow thing" from no mar helps

Make sure the tire is in the drop center of the wheel, this is the hardest part to get used to, if you try popping on a tire and it is not in the drop center on the opposite end there won't be enough stretch in it and you will spin the wheel off the clamps with all the force

At the end of the day this thing has still saved me money I paid about $400 for it about 8 years ago and have done several sets of tires. Around here it costs about $60 to get a set to tires mounted.

If you have the space go automatic no touch, but if you don't "like myself" this is probably the best alternative there is, I have floor anchors in the concrete of my garage and move the changer when ever I am not using it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Anything performance oriented will be a bit of a hassle too, the stiffer the side wall the more effort you will need to put in. Also if you try putting a tire on a wheel that is too wide for that wheel, i.e 205/50/15 on a 6 inch wide wheel you will end up pinching the wheel clamps between the wheel and tire as you pop on the tire and it will make you miserable.

That being said still beats doing them manually by hand with traditional bars and it is leaps and bounds better than the HF tire changer, I have never scratched a wheel with it.

I learned on an ancient Coats that only had pneumatic bead breaker, everything else was muscle.

On any manual machine it is 25% muscle 25% equipment (lube, levers, spoons, etc) and (at least) 50% technique.

I can't find it now, but there is a YouTube video where a guy removed and install 4 full size truck tires in less than 5 minutes ! He use a sledge type (duck-bill) bead breaker,

and a 6' lever and and some shorter spoons. Vice Grips are great for keep the bead down and preventing it from "walking".

 

[theoldwizard1]

Tractor trailer tires. 4 off, 4 on in under 4 minutes !

Yes, he is using that huge "duck's head" sledge on aluminum rims ! And the levers are only 3' !!