Tire changers

Tire changers for cars, trucks, motorcycles

A modern car tire is difficult and difficult, and often impossible to replace manually. Tire changers facilitate the work of a mechanic, speed up tire changes, work quickly and reliably. Sometimes they are called tire changers. These are basic equipment for a car service.

But what is the best, and not in general, but for you? There are dozens of brands on the market, the eyes run wide, and the prices are different for everyone. Unfortunately, often the products of different companies differ only in the nameplate and paint color, especially in the budget segment. which wheels are made!

But do not despair - Well Craft has prepared a small guide to help you understand the device and functions of tire changers and choose the one that suits you best. There is also a brief description of the manufacturers whose installations we sell. a company that has been supplying equipment for workshops since 1999. To quickly jump to a section of interest, simply click on the text link with its title.

• Design and principle of operation
• Car and motorcycle tire service
• How to remove tires
• How to put on a tire
• Automatic and semiautomatic
• Tire stand for trucks
• Accessories and accessories for tire changers
• What to look for when choosing a tire changer
• Brands of tire changers we sell
• Budget segment
• Middle class
• Premium segment

Design and principle of operation

It is easier and more convenient to mount a tire on a horizontal rim. This is how tire changers for cars and motorcycles are designed, but truck wheels are too heavy to be lifted manually even to a small height. Therefore, machines are designed for them, to which the wheel only rolls up and is located vertically.

Tyre service for cars and motorcycles

A rotating mounting table is installed on the bed, an L-shaped console hangs over it with an mounting head moving up and down on the rod, there is a release lever on the side of the machine, also called a mounting shovel

Machines for tires of cars and motorcycles are made according to the same scheme, but since the design of their wheel disks is different, special tire changers are produced for motorcycles.

How tires are removed

The auto mechanic opens the nipple and releases air, clamps the wheel between the frame and the mounting shovel that is maximally removed from it and squeezes the tire bead, first from one side and then from the other side - they stick to the wheel disk of modern tubeless tires It is impossible to squeeze the bead manually: a force of 15,000 newtons (one and a half tons) A self-centering four-jaw pneumatic clamp mounted in the machine table fixes the wheel from the outside (by the edges of the disk) or from the inside (by surprise) 20 inches, inside - from 12 to 22 inches.

The mounting head together with the stand can move left-right or back and forth It can also move vertically, adjusting to the width of the disc Having installed it at a distance of several millimeters from the rim, the assembly worker pry the tire bead with a mount and put it on the mounting head Presses the pedal and the mounting table starts to rotateWorking the head removes the tire bead from the edge of the rim, the wheel is turned over and the operation is repeated.

How to put on a tire

The mechanic puts the tire on top of the disk fixed on the mounting table, and installs the head, after which he presses the pedal. The table starts to rotate and the lower edge is put on, then the upper edge is put on in the same way. low pressure The tire is bursting with air, its edges fit snugly against the disk - now the tire can be inflated to the required pressure It is impossible to inflate a tubeless tire without preliminary expansion with air Rigid low-profile tires are difficult to inflate even in this way The machine must be equipped with an explosive pumping device - this is a system of nozzles in the cams of the mounting table clamping mechanism connected to a pneumatic receiver The operator presses the pedal - air enters through the nozzles under high pressure, bursts the tire and its edges fit snugly to the rim.

Automatic and semiautomatic

The simplest and cheapest tire changers are semi-automaticTheir head is manually controlled and fixed with a lever, the console stand is fixed, which is not very convenient to use. The performance is low. But this design is very simple and inexpensive, as well as maintenance and repair. Electric motor and pneumatic control instrument - three foot pedals.

Automatic machines are more convenient and productiveBut they cost at least $ 400 more Have a console that leans back or returns to its original position when the fourth control pedal is pressed Mounting head is controlled automatically Convenient, labor productivity increases In addition to the usual rotation speed 6 revolutions per minute, have a second, usually doubled speed. The second speed is rarely used, only with a large influx of customers.

Tire stand for trucks

The large mass and dimensions of truck wheels make it inconvenient, and often impossible, to use conventional machines. Therefore, special stands are produced for mounting truck and bus tires. Their main difference is that the mounting table is installed vertically, and the machine consists of two blocks on a common base. The tire bead pressing force reaches 40,000 Newtons ( four tons) In addition to stationary, there are mobile tire changers for trucks They are more expensive, but you can change the tire right on the track, saving time.

Accessories and additional equipment for tire changers

Plastic nozzles for pneumatic clamping cams - allow you to increase or decrease the maximum diameter of the processed discs (usually 5 inches up and 2 inches down).

Plastic nozzle on the release lever - designed to protect aluminum rims from scratches, which are damaged by a steel "shovel".

Antijam-system - a special device (function of the machine), provides a more gentle operation of the release lever (paw) - less wear, longer service life.

Multi-roller ("third hand") - an additional working head that squeezes the tire bead on the side opposite to the working head, is required when working with hard low-profile tires.

Booster - a device for "explosive" tire inflation, hard low-profile tires can only be inflated in this way.

What to look for when choosing a tire changer

• At least a third of modern tires are rigid low-profile tubelessAnd their share continues to growTo work with them, you must need a "third hand" and an explosive pumping deviceThe latter can be replaced with a manual booster, but this is less comfortable.

• The machine itself or the pneumatic gun must have a pressure limiter

• When choosing a machine, pay attention to the maximum allowable diameter of a wheel with a tireUsually it is 1000 millimeters for machines with a horizontal mounting table, if it is exceeded, the tire will rest against the console rack In the case of a vertical wheel mount, this parameter is larger, but also limited.

• Anti-jam system and a plastic nozzle on the wringer lever are very desirable.

• Two-speed automatics are much more productive than single-speed automatics and are therefore recommended for workshops with a large flow of customers.

• For a branded car service, you need to buy equipment homologated (recommended for use) by the corresponding car manufacturer.

Brands of tire changers we sell

Since 1999 we have been trading in tire fitting equipment, and during this time we have selected five, in our opinion, the best brands that produce machines for various purposes and represent all price categories.

Budget segment

The most inexpensive tire changers are only made in ChinaProducts of different brands are similar to each other like twinsTherefore, in the lower price segment we offer only one brandSAFE machines do not have any branded features, their main advantage is low price car service with a small flow of customers, somewhere in the outback

Middle class

Tire changers of European origin are considered the best. In this price category, we offer products from two German companies that are highly reliable, well-equipped and inexpensiveATH-Heinl was founded in 1991 as a family business. Rosenberg (Bavaria), production is now concentrated in China, quality is strictly controlled in accordance with European standards The machines are standardly equipped with advanced options, such as an anti-jam system The secret of success is the constant updating of the model range, high quality not only of machines, but also of service.

The youngGerman company Well Kraftis stepping on the heels of its fellow competitorsAnd this is really a good job: its products are not inferior either in equipment or quality, but are noticeably cheaper. This is the result of careful optimization of business processes. Like everything the companies presented in this review, Well Kraft produces a wide range of equipment for car services Tire changers are of various designs and purposes: automatic and semi-automatic, for car tires, for trucks, even mobile

Premium segment

Uncompromising quality is the hallmark of high-end equipment represented by two Italian companiesNot only development but also production concentrated in EuropeFASEP began in 1969 with a wheel balancing machine, and now produces a wide range of equipment for car services The products meet international quality standards, automation technologies are being widely introduced, the company even produces a series of “super-automatic” tire changers, but there are also ordinary semi-automatic machines in its model range.

Ravaglioli products are the most expensive, but also the most titled among the presented companies. Its tire fitting equipment is homologated (approved) by many well-known car and motorcycle manufacturers - Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chevrolet, Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Ferrari, Harley-Davidson, Honda, MAN, Mercedes, Opel, Toyota, Volvo and this is not a complete list The reasons for this recognition - the widest range, high reliability and functionality - Ravaglioli machines work with almost any tire, including special ones like PAX car service.