How to Find a Tire Machine That Fits Your Needs AND Your Budget

Tire change-over season is right around the corner. Is your equipment fit for the job?

Today's wheels are bigger (up to 24" in OE sizes) and tires are lower profile with stiffer sidewalls. These require tire mounters with assist arms to help press down the stiff sidewall and no-contact mounting to avoid damaging the rim. Bead-breakers also need more pressure to handle these tough sidewalls, particularly run-flat tires. Older tire machines are quickly becoming obsolete in this business.

Ideally, a tire machine will last you years and stay up to date with new wheel and tire technology. It will be able to handle wheel sizes up to 24" and overall diameters of 40". Centre-post mount is the latest in wheel-clamping technology. Assist arms are a must to deal with stiff sidewalls. "No-contact" beading is necessary to avoid damaging the wheel or injuring the tire. Hydraulic lifts to raise the heavier wheel/tire assemblies from floor to mounting-level are a wise investment to reduce worker injuries from back strain.

It's also important to consider how much you'll be using the machine. If it's working all day long and over-time during tire season, get something at, or near, the top of the line. Heavy-duty motors and labour-saving extras will pay off in higher productivity and more revenue generated by the machine for you.

If tire mounting isn't a big part of your business, a mid-level machine machine will provide years of reliable service and ease of use. Also, it won't be obsolete before you're ready to replace it.

Don't forget about service and replacement parts. After purchasing a tire mounter, you want to be sure you have a reliable and affordable source of replacement parts, such as mount-demount heads, protectors, jaws, regulators, etc. Some equipment brands supply spare parts at gold-plated prices. Other, cheaper, brands have no parts and service at all, and parts can be impossible to source, short of buying a whole new machine.

Prema Calgary carries the widest line of tire-changers and wheel balancers. From an economical starter/back-up package to the top-of-the-line, latest-technology Mondolfo Ferro "Raptor ". It all depends on your needs in order to define the right machine for your operation.

? Call Jimmy "the Wheel" at 403-708-8160 if you're looking for the right tire machine for your shop.