Tyre changing machines

[skattrd]

Does anyone have any advice on these?

My B-I-L is looking to buy one for the garage and I've said I'll go in on it with him as I'm needing to change tyres on various vehicles quite frequently. We're not bothered about wheel balancers, just the actual bead breaker/tyre changer. He's got one of the old school manual ones, but it's getting a bit difficult for him due to having a dodgy shoulder.

 

Cheap as possible is the criteria, three phase and needing compressed air is fine, as these are available in the garage. We were considering a local second-hand Hoffman one that'll do up to 20" wheels, but even s/hand it's nearly a grand, but it's supposed to be a good un.

 

Whilst looking around for various s/hand ones I saw Automech new ones for the same sort of price for a used branded one, are these shit and best avoided?

 

 

http://www.automotechservices.co.uk/product-category/tyre-machines/

[garbaldy]

I bought mine second hand from one of the local tyre fitters as he said they change them every few years, it's a corgi which he said are expensive new.

That was two years ago now and it's more than paid for it self on my own tyres.

[CreepingJesus]

The Automech ones seem to turn up in tyre fitters' vans, which would suggest they're light and compact. I'd imagine they only use them for car and van tyres, cos they do truck and bus tyres the basic way.

I've used purely mechanical ones in the past, and even without pneumatic assistance, the long lever and blade make light work of the job.

[Mr A Lawrence]

Here's a pic of my tyre changer.

 

You can see most of it on the floor,

 

The rest is holding the camera.

[Jim Bell]

Did you let Bub have a go on your tractor?

[panhard65]

I have no experience of the new changers but I bought an old air powered one. It does the job but can get a bit messy with alloys. If all you are doing is steel wheels with standard type tyres go for a used machine but if you will be doing a lot of alloys a new one without a few years worth of wear in everything would be best. A balancer is also a good idea  unless it is only for off road or stuff that never usually goes any faster than 50. Unbalanced wheels can be a right pain if you try cruising at 55

[Kiltox]

If you do go with Automotech let me know how you get on - I fancy one of their full rise scissor lifts

[skattrd]

It's a local tyre fitters that's selling off the Hoffman as it's about 3 years old, and apparently that's when they get rid, but it isn't cheap. That said they're about £4k new

 

The Automech is tempting due to the price, but I'm wary of the quality. It'd only be used for half a dozen tyres a week (at most) and only ever car/van tyres, so it's probably good enough.

 

He had a couple of tyres to do on steel wheels this morning, which were done with use of manual bead breakers and levers, but it's a pain in the arse. We try not to use them on alloys as they'd possibly damage the rim.

He already has a tyre balancer, so not bothered about that, although if cheap enough wouldn't say no to newer one.

[Kiltox]

Half a dozen tyres is an hour's trade use, I can't see the cheaper new machines being so bad they couldn't put up with that!

[skattrd]

He's an old school garage and just does the odd tyre for MOTs and the like, so I agree with you on the newer one. I've pinged Automech an email asking about commercial warranty

[Kiltox]

Keen to hear how they are in terms of customer service etc even if you don't go with them

[michael1703]

I've got a corghi, you find that most machines are made by the same company and rebranded.

 

Italian made stuff is good, a Hoffman/sun/snap on are all made by the same Italian company

[Stixy]

I have the manual type with air bead breaker and i love it  , tyres seemed to be a lot easier to do when i was a teenager though , except for mini's  

[matty879]

that automech is identical to the wilsons machine i recently sold,fantastic bit of kit,just re stickered,theyre all made in the same factory,different paint or stickers,ive seen the same machine,branded as a hoffman for £900.00 more,its all chinky shit now,even sealey are gullible to it now