Tire Changer

[Skyking1992]

Hi all,

I posted this in the general tool discussion area, but did not get much response, so I'm trying again.

I'm looking to buy a used tire changer. I haven't done a lot of research yet, but I've been looking on ebay and craigs list. Any recommendations? Should I stick with a known brand like Coats or are the no names brands any good. I see that Coats makes both electric and air driven turn tables - any advantage to one or the other?

I change 17" tires on aluminum rims several times a year (sticky tires for autocrossing). I do not have any run flat tires, but I suppose that is what every car will have some time in the future.

Thanks for all your help.

Skyking1992

 

[Zeroek]

Coats in the best in my opinion. At the dealer I work we got a GM brand one. I guess it's GM brand but it *****. And when I worked at sears the Coats machine was great. You'll probably need to have a good amount of air to run the machine as well.

 

[homer]

I worked at a few tire shops for many years and with many machines and can say that Coates is the best way to go. Get the electric turntable and pneumatic helper arm if you can, it makes low profile tires easy once you learn to use it. One trick I learned from racing Speedworld Challenge and US Rally is to let low profile and race tires sit out in the sun for a little while and don't forget to flip them to get the other side. Once they are hot they go on like butter with some sort of tire lube of course.

 

[MikeN]

I have a "cheapy"... basically the Harbor Freight one. No real issues, and years of use.

 

[car99r]

I have a "cheapy"... basically the Harbor Freight one. No real issues, and years of use.

Mike,
Can you do motorcycle wheels on that thing? I have been kicking around the idea of picking one up but not sure if it will fit my needs.

 

[JOHNMAN]

Look for automotive equipment dealers in your phone book. Most also deal in used equipment. (That is where mine came from).

Mine is a used Coats rim-clamp tire changer. It cleaned up really well and since I am the only one using it, it will stay nice for years to come. When they delivered it they said if we ever get tired of it they would buy it back. It's still in great shape after 12 or so years.

HINT: Get an extra tire iron. Two irons are better than one.

 

[Vicegrip]

Look for automotive equipment dealers in your phone book. Most also deal in used equipment. (That is where mine came from).

Mine is a used Coats rim-clamp tire changer. It cleaned up really well and since I am the only one using it, it will stay nice for years to come. When they delivered it they said if we ever get tired of it they would buy it back. It's still in great shape after 12 or so years.

HINT: Get an extra tire iron. Two irons are better than one.

Spot on for 2 irons!

I have a coats 5030 that spent many years in a large dealership. I got it for free by being in the right place at the right time. I dropped $125 in parts and rebuilt it top to bottom to get back in good shape. The Coats 5030 series is a workhorse and parts are and always will be plentiful. Used my lift to get it out of the back of my truck.

 

[Skyking1992]

OK, I've found a John Bean model 8950 changer, priced under $1000. Table is air powered. Are there any advantages or disadvantages of the table being air or electric powered? Anything to look for on this particular machine? I may go look/buy it on Friday.

Thanks,
Skyking1992

 

[MikeN]

Sorry man... yes, we do mostly motorcycle tires on it actually.

Mike,
Can you do motorcycle wheels on that thing? I have been kicking around the idea of picking one up but not sure if it will fit my needs.

 

[OldCarGuy]

There‘s no justification for owning a tire changer, let alone a new one. But after my last go around at the tire store, I purchased a new Ranger RX-950AT tire changer. It’s cost about $2400.00 including shipping. However their RX-950 is about $400.00 less and is the same machine without the assist arm. Then you may ask why did I purchase a new one? I figured that I’d save time shopping around and wondering what problems would come along with a used changer. Most likely I would have spent nearly as much and now I have a warranty and readily available parts.

A good companion to the tire changer is my new DTS-1000 wheel balancer. Cost in the neighborhood of $1500.00 including shipping.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Sice 419. That's what i learned on. Still the best machine i've ever used. Never needed assist arms or anything like that.

Two levers and some experience, i did 22" low-profiles on one of those, with a metal shoe and two levers. Never scratched a wheel or torn a bead with it.

 

[car99r]

Sorry man... yes, we do mostly motorcycle tires on it actually.

Thanks for the response Mike. I have been looking at a few models locally on ebay and hoiping to pick something up in the next few months. I will be watching that model going forward.

 

[Skyking1992]

Thanks everyone for the help. I ended up buying the John Bean 8950 machine for $800. Haven't actually used it yet, but it looks to be in pretty good shape.

Old Car Guy - Thanks for your input. I value your opinion. I've seen the pictures of your shop and car collection. I'm in awe!

I may be one of the exceptions for making a tire machine pay for itself. My wife and I are avid autocrossers (both of us are past national champions). We go through a set of tires in three to four weekends. We're on our third set this year. I mail order my tires, so it's one trip to the tire shop to drop off wheels and tires. Then another trip to pick them up. Also with my own machine, I may be more inclined to flip the tires inside to outside on the rims to equalize the wear. This usually gets at least one more weekend out of a set of tires. Not something I'd necessarily spend $40 to $80 dollars to do, but with my own machine I might. Plus there is the added convenience of being able to change tires at any hour (I'm a night owl) and not be tied to shop hours.

Again, thanks all for the help

 

[JOHNMAN]

Congratulations on your new acquisition.

We too justified our tire changer and balancer. We track one of our cars and I change tires on all my vehicles now. It's so much more convenient to just buy tires and mount them myself.

I'm sure it will still take some time for the units to pay for themselves, but I don't have to worry about loosing center caps, getting wheels damaged, or changing a tire at odd times of the day.

I think you will like your changer. Try to get a second tire iron. It makes mounting track/autocross tires MUCH easier.

I worked in a tire shop and learned how to change tires when I worked there. I learned about the 2-tire iron trick at a racetrack. A tire vendor had their machines set up and were mounting and balancing race tires. The guy was using 2 irons and it seemed to make all the difference in the world (some of those race tires have very stiff sidewalls). I ordered a second tire iron the following Monday. It works like a champ.

The only drawback to an air powered table as opposed to an electric table is air consumption. If your compressor is big enough, it won't make any difference either way.