Tire changer

[JeremyS]

Any recommendations for buying a tire changing machine (like this http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/tirechanger/ )? I've seen the usual chinese suspects on ebay, but if I'm going to spend a grand on one of these I want to be sure of quality. Any experience with them? I'd actually prefer a used US machine, but decent ones seem to be few and far between.

 

[chevy302dz]

If you look around you can probably a older Coats cheap, most shops are switching over to the to the new style like the ones in your link.

 

[kartracer55]

Ive only used a snap on, so I cant help too much BUT! make sure the machine will not scratch up the rims... On some machines the bar used to help "pry off" the tire can scratch and chip the finishes on wheels, and I know this first hand.

Jim

 

[Rickster]

I the old-school days when I worked in a tire store one summer, we had to use the hand powered version for all the mag and aluminum wheels. Just a post with a round base and you had a bar that fit over the center pole that we would jump up and push down on to break the bead loose. Then another bar to flip the tire bead over the rim edge and then walk around the tire to pull the bead off the wheel.