Anyone who drives is aware of the difficulties faced while changing tires manually. The unnecessary exertion of the workforce and inefficiency in the task can be daunting. Hence, many garages and mechanic shops rely on pieces of equipment called tire changers. Although they are comparatively expensive, they boost productivity and are especially helpful in high-volume garages and mechanic shops.
Purpose of tire changers
Tires, especially the ones for larger vehicles, can be heavy, and it can be nearly impossible for human resources to mount and re-mount the tires, considering the vehicle’s weight. Hence, with the use of tire changers in mechanic shops, it can be a fast, easy, and hassle-free process.
Some of the components of tire changers include:
- Rim clamps
- Foot pedals
- Tabletops
- Bead loosening structures
- Mounting and dismounting mechanism
One of the significant benefits of a tire changer is to easily mount and dismount tires from a vehicle, mainly used in garages, by automobile dealers, mechanic and merchandise stores, vehicle repair and automobile maintenance shops, etc.
Types of tire changers
Based on the size of tires and their efficiency, tire changes are of different types:
- Manual tire changers: These devices are the ones that amateurs and regular people use to occasionally change tires in times of need. They demand a lot of human exertion and power and are also used by small service garages.
- Heavy duty tire changers: They are large pieces of equipment that service bigger tires belonging to heavy-duty vehicles. They work with wheels up to 142cm and tires up to 229cm. They comprise hydraulic four-jaw chucks that support servicing agricultural tractors and other off-road construction vehicles.
- Motorcycle tire changes: These are the smallest of all tire changes because the tires they work on are of small sizes. They work on a simple bead-losing system, where the rim clamping is done manually. They also work with wheels as small as 10.”
- Swing arm tire changers: These are the toughest to work with and serve the more oversized vehicles in the market. The adjustable four tabletop jaws provide a large surface area for clamping. They also have high-grip jaws that add torque to protect the wheels while working on them. Although they are time-consuming, they compensate in terms of efficiency.
- Title back changers: These tire changers are more practical and efficient than swing arms. Due to the tilt-back mechanism, it is easier to work with more extensive, industrialized tires. When the fitting is completed, the entire equipment moves back and adjusts the tire accordingly.
- Leverless tire changers: These are also called touchless tire changers and are simple devices that work on flat tires up to 22”. Although they are simple to use, they demand training before use. Since they can lift heavy rims independently, their efficiency is top-notch.
Conclusion
Depending on your need, you can purchase any of these tire changers mentioned above. Make sure to stick to modernized tire changers, not limited to serving new vehicles only from branded manufacturers.
