Rim clamp for home use

[signcrafter]

I do enough work on cars to start looking into a rim clamp. I'm not getting into the tire business and dont plan on using it but maybe a few times a month. Bought an autel tpms sensor tool and some new sensors last week to replace one in my car and one in another car. After a few guys hearing I can now do tpms sensor replacement I have the tool paid for and want to look into a rim clamp. I'd use it for sensor replacement and also tire repair on my own vehicles and maybe even new tires on my own vehicles. And I'm sure once people hear I have it I will get asked to do things for them. Which I'm good with to help pay for the machine but not looking to be using the machine everyday.

So I'm not looking for a top of the line machine. Not a fan of cheap tools but also doesnt make sense to spend 3000 or more on something that is going to sit there most of the time collecting dust.

Thinking 1000 to 1500 bucks would be a good range that would be justifiable for having a rim clamp at home. I looked on greg smith website last night and they have one for 1000 that will do 20" rim's and one for 1500 that will do 24" rim's.

https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-TC211-Tire-Changer

https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-TC221-Tire-Changer

Dont have a ton of experience with rim clamps so not really sure if there's any differences between the machines besides how big of a tire you can change? Any other places to look for rim clamps in my price range? I have looked for used ones and not too much out there around me. Also not sure what would be better, a cheaper new one or an older nicer one that comes out of a shop that works it hard all day everyday?

Thinking either of the machines I linked to would work fine for me and last a long time for how little I'd use them.

Any suggestions or advice on getting a rim clamp for home use? Thanks.

 

[IndyGarage]

I've had one of those for about 7-8 years. I bought it used, but it came from Greg Smith originally. It works fine. I've probably done a couple hundred tires in that time. I think it saves me a ton of time and money.

When I bought it, the guy had let it sit for awhile and the seal on the bead breaker cylinder had come loose and it didn't work - that's why he sold it to me. He hadn't put any oil in the air and the seal had pushed off the ram. Other than that, it's worked perfect for me.

I can't really see the difference between the two of them other than the diameter wheel you can do. I think mine's equivalent to the cheaper one. I've personally never had to do anything that mine can't handle, although my 285 x 20 tires for my truck were about at the limit.

 

[signcrafter]

I've had one of those for about 7-8 years. I bought it used, but it came from Greg Smith originally. It works fine. I've probably done a couple hundred tires in that time. I think it saves me a ton of time and money.

When I bought it, the guy had let it sit for awhile and the seal on the bead breaker cylinder had come loose and it didn't work - that's why he sold it to me. He hadn't put any oil in the air and the seal had pushed off the ram. Other than that, it's worked perfect for me.

I can't really see the difference between the two of them other than the diameter wheel you can do. I think mine's equivalent to the cheaper one. I've personally never had to do anything that mine can't handle, although my 285 x 20 tires for my truck were about at the limit.

Thanks for the real world review. I dont think I would want to touch anything bigger then 20s personally. It says it will do a 39" tire so I dont see me needing anything bigger then that either. So that one for 1000 bucks should be fine for me. There's a greg smith about 40 minutes away from me so after I get back from vacation next week I'll go look at one and hopefully bring it home.

 

[toplessHO]

have you considered a good used name brand machine?

 

[dalejrfan88]

I have had an Atlas 221 for about 7 years, its been a great machine! Its nothing fancy, but its done everything I have asked it to do.

 

[IndyGarage]

Thanks for the real world review. I dont think I would want to touch anything bigger then 20s personally. It says it will do a 39" tire so I dont see me needing anything bigger then that either. So that one for 1000 bucks should be fine for me. There's a greg smith about 40 minutes away from me so after I get back from vacation next week I'll go look at one and hopefully bring it home.

They sell a bunch of them. I've also got one of the wheel balancers. I've looked at the name brand stuff and I can't tell much difference in construction quality from mine.

I've met Greg personally at his store here in Indy and you can tell he wants to sell decent stuff at a good price. I think you'll be happy with it.

 

[Super Mech]

If you’re going I get a tire machine I would seriously look into a wheel balancer also. It’s nice to do everything in house. A tire machine and balancer usually go hand in hand anyway.

 

[signcrafter]

If you’re going I get a tire machine I would seriously look into a wheel balancer also. It’s nice to do everything in house. A tire machine and balancer usually go hand in hand anyway.

Eventually that would be the plan. Dont want to spend that much money right now. Will get the rim clamp now to help with tpms sensor replacement and other jobs. Then when that has paid for itself I will look into a balancer.

 

[Super Mech]

Eventually that would be the plan. Dont want to spend that much money right now. Will get the rim clamp now to help with tpms sensor replacement and other jobs. Then when that has paid for itself I will look into a balancer.

Good plan. Once you have both it will be a real time saver not having to send wheels out for balancing. I recommend getting a couple of extra irons for prying down the sidewalls of some of the lower profile tires. They can be a real bear sometimes.

 

[PoorOwner]

How did you do the tpms without the machine ?
Very stiff to push the sidewall down few inches to expose the sensor..
Again I don’t trust anything I see on you tube. People using pick axe of sorts to break the bead.

 

[IndyGarage]

Good plan. Once you have both it will be a real time saver not having to send wheels out for balancing. I recommend getting a couple of extra irons for prying down the sidewalls of some of the lower profile tires. They can be a real bear sometimes.

I have several cubes of 2x2 about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick that I use to hold the bead down on my machine on stiff sidewall tires. I also have one of those plastic bead holders, which cost $50 and do the same thing as the wood blocks, but is easier to use.

You just insert them just behind the mounting head and as the tire gets mounted and they hold the bead down. On really tough tires I use 2-3 of them. Then simply use your iron to push the bead down and remove them after they get about 2/3 the way around the tire from the head.

I had no trouble with this method mounting the 315 35 18's on the back of my Porsche.

The only other tool you might consider is a cheetah - if the tire machine doesn't come with a bead blaster. Once in awhile - very rarely - I have a tire which is difficult to get the beads to close up and get them aired up.

Like I said, that's rare, but when that happens I pull my cheetah out and it pops them right on.

 

[Mustang415]

I just bought a used Coats rim clamp a week ago. It needs a clamping cylinder rebuild, it’s $20 for the rebuild kit and it arrived yesterday.

I figure word will get out about my machine too, but I do worry about liability. Anybody have any thoughts about that?


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[IndyGarage]

I figure word will get out about my machine too, but I do worry about liability. Anybody have any thoughts about that?


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I would say it's no more than any other tools you might use to fix somebody else's car. If you are doing it for money, you might want to buy business insurance if you are worried about liability. Personally I only use my tools for myself family and a few close friends.

 

[Super Mech]

I have several cubes of 2x2 about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick that I use to hold the bead down on my machine on stiff sidewall tires. I also have one of those plastic bead holders, which cost $50 and do the same thing as the wood blocks, but is easier to use.

You just insert them just behind the mounting head and as the tire gets mounted and they hold the bead down. On really tough tires I use 2-3 of them. Then simply use your iron to push the bead down and remove them after they get about 2/3 the way around the tire from the head.

I had no trouble with this method mounting the 315 35 18's on the back of my Porsche.

The only other tool you might consider is a cheetah - if the tire machine doesn't come with a bead blaster. Once in awhile - very rarely - I have a tire which is difficult to get the beads to close up and get them aired up.

Like I said, that's rare, but when that happens I pull my cheetah out and it pops them right on.

Good call on the head blaster. Even the ones built into the machine don’t have enough output to seat stiff sidewalls sometimes.
I e. Even known to seat some tires without monitors with some gas and a match. That stunt will keep you on your toes for sure.

 

[signcrafter]

I have looked at the cheetah blasters before and if needed will get one of those since the two cheaper rim clamps from greg smith do not have bead blasters on them. Once I get the rim clamp I will see how it does and go from there. Thanks

 

[gungatim]

my neighbor has an import machine he bought new and says he likes it after 2 yrs. I forget the name but it's not the Greg Smith but likely similar. only think I would worry about is replacement parts if needed when not buying a name brand.

Personally I have a coats Rim Clamp machine I bought used and abused, sat outside for a while and was missing parts. between buying the machine, rebuilding everything including a new air motor and dump valves, i'm into basically a brand new Coats machine for a bit under $900. I looked at the Greg Smith ones a dozen times before that but figured i'd be better off with a used name brand but that's just me...

 

[ovilla]

Look for a COATS Rim clamp machine with a robo arm. COATS machines are like Maytag washing machines and can be found in any tire shop and you can get parts all day on eBay - really cheap too. I paid $500 for my first machine (COATS 5060EX) and it needed new o-rings on the bead blaster ($50 on eBay). My second machine ($550 for a COATS 7060EX-EH3) had a stuck transmission which I simply took apart and cleaned myself. Wheel weights (clamp on it sticky weights) are pretty reasonable from Greggsmithequipment.com. Order their combo box with all the weights and maybe a box or two of grey sticky weights and you’ll be set for a long time. For schrader valves you can get them from Amazon for about $20 for a 100 pack. Dispose of old tires at a Wallmart auto center for $1.50 per tire - any size too.

 

[ovilla]

You also need a balancing machine. Once again I highly recommend COATS. I have a COATS 1050 that can balance anything up to 50” in diameter and no more than 152 pounds. Plus it will do static and dynamic balancing. Best part is that I can calibrate it at home too. Pay attention to which machine you buy. They’re all 220 volt and mostly 3 phase but if you’re patient you’ll find one that’s 220 single phase. I actually started with my balancer first and then got my tire changer. Look around and you’ll find them pretty cheap. I paid $350 for mine.

 

[ovilla]

Just one word of advice that’s very important. Make sure to carefully consider the biggest wheel diameter that you want to change. Nowadays you want a machine that can do 20” at a bare minimum.

 

[PoorOwner]

Just one word of advice thAts very important. Make sure to carefully consider the biggest wheel diameter that you want to change. Nowadays you want a machine that can do 20” at a bare minimum.

This is true. Seems like even a new corolla or civic comes with some machined wheels with "low" profile tires these days.

You also lose some of the clamp specs doing outside clamping.
If you measure a 18" wheel it's actually like 19.x" at the lip.

 

[signcrafter]

Look for a COATS Rim clamp machine with a robo arm. COATS machines are like Maytag washing machines and can be found in any tire shop and you can get parts all day on eBay - really cheap too. I paid $500 for my first machine (COATS 5060EX) and it needed new o-rings on the bead blaster ($50 on eBay). My second machine ($550 for a COATS 7060EX-EH3) had a stuck transmission which I simply took apart and cleaned myself. Wheel weights (clamp on it sticky weights) are pretty reasonable from Greggsmithequipment.com. Order their combo box with all the weights and maybe a box or two of grey sticky weights and you’ll be set for a long time. For schrader valves you can get them from Amazon for about $20 for a 100 pack. Dispose of old tires at a Wallmart auto center for $1.50 per tire - any size too.

You also need a balancing machine. Once again I highly recommend COATS. I have a COATS 1050 that can balance anything up to 50” in diameter and no more than 152 pounds. Plus it will do static and dynamic balancing. Best part is that I can calibrate it at home too. Pay attention to which machine you buy. They’re all 220 volt and mostly 3 phase but if you’re patient you’ll find one that’s 200 single phase. I actually started with my balancer first and then got my tire changer. Look around and you’ll find them pretty cheap. I paid $350 for mine.

Just one word of advice thAts very important. Make sure to carefully consider the biggest wheel diameter that you want to change. Nowadays you want a machine that can do 20” at a bare minimum.

I'm not going into the tire business. I've been watching the sale sites and haven't found anything worth buying. Most of them are beat to **** and still way to expensive. If I could find something decent for a decent price I would jump on it. But so far a brand new import unit looks pretty good for just home use. Also I think 20" rim capacity will be just fine for me. Like I said I'm not a full service tire shop, also live in a smaller town. So if anyone I might be doing tires for has bigger rims then they can go to a tire shop. As for balancers that is in the plans but not for a while. Once the rim clamp pays for itself then I will pick up a balancer.

 

[ovilla]

Before you buy anything just make sure you can buy any spare parts that you’ll eventually need. Find out where you can buy o-rings for the bead blaster cylinder and air valves or at a minimum the small o-rings that go inside the air valves. Air lines can be bought anywhere but everything else may be tricky to source or you might have to buy it directly from the MFG. You just want to be able to buy any part you need for it in say 5-10 years in the future. Buying a brand name machine will ensure that you can do that. Also, don’t be afraid of machines that look old and beat up. Tire shops never clean up their machines so they all eventually look like ****. These machines are mostly commercial grade and will work for a very long time (and last even longer in your garage with limited use) and are easy to restore, both mechanically and cosmetically too.

 

[IndyGarage]

As far as I can tell, the name brand machines these days look like they are made in the same china factory as all the other machines. I can't tell a bit of difference, and I've looked. They are not any "heavier duty".

You can buy spares for Atlas at Greg Smith, they sell them.

As far as a left side arm, whether it is necessary or not? When I first started using my machine, I thought maybe I did.

Then I figured out how to do the same thing with a couple extra irons and those blocks of 2x2 I described above. There hasn't been anything I can't mount or demount yet, and that includes medium duty truck tires, all kinds of car tires, including very low profile tires and even motorcycle tires.

It probably takes me a minute or two longer than a machine that had all the extra arms, but I get it done.

I slung tires for a short stint when I was in high school on one of the old coates center clamp machines - I still see those for sale from time to time - and the rim clamp machine is worlds better.

The only thing I would agree with Ovilla on is the balancer. Once you get the changer, you'll wish you had a balancer. I figure I save about 200-300 a set of tires doing them myself. You can find an old Snap on WB240 manual spin balancer for $250 if you keep your eyes open. I've had a couple of them and they work good. I did upgrade to an Atlas spin balancer and it's a bit easier, but I don't think a lot better.