Tire machine?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 169
Likes: 20
From: Westlake Ohio
Tire machine?
Hey gang, has anyone done research on buying a tire machine? I would like to see if there is a used unit that can do C3 and C6 wheels and what the price range might be on one of these? TIA
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 579
From: Pittsburgh PA
any machine that can do a c6 wheel can do a c3 wheel. a c3 rally rim is just a basic steel wheel and just about ANY tire machine every made can handle that.
i have a used hoffmann i bought out of a tire shop.
two things
1- rim clamp machine (not older center post).
2- can handle larges wheels- 20" plus
search your local craigslist and you can find a used one. some guys ask crazy money, but you can find good machines for under $1,000. just dont buy an old coats machine, you see tons of them for sale, and most wont handle large rims. a lot of tire machines pre- 2000s couldnt handle anything over like an 18" rim.
i have a used hoffmann i bought out of a tire shop.
two things
1- rim clamp machine (not older center post).
2- can handle larges wheels- 20" plus
search your local craigslist and you can find a used one. some guys ask crazy money, but you can find good machines for under $1,000. just dont buy an old coats machine, you see tons of them for sale, and most wont handle large rims. a lot of tire machines pre- 2000s couldnt handle anything over like an 18" rim.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 579
From: Pittsburgh PA
i did a search since you are near cleveland on the local clist
you DONT want one like this :
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/pts...717821208.html
you do want something like this (provided it can go large enough) :
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls...725630826.html
you DONT want one like this :
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/pts...717821208.html
you do want something like this (provided it can go large enough) :
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls...725630826.html
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 169
Likes: 20
From: Westlake Ohio
It's a cost and convenience matter. 5 in my household all drive. I have 11 cars on premises now. 3 track cars that have tires as consumables. I guess the consumables are the deciding factor.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 706
Likes: 294
From: New Jersey
i did a search since you are near cleveland on the local clist
you DONT want one like this :
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/pts...717821208.html
you do want something like this (provided it can go large enough) :
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls...725630826.html
you DONT want one like this :
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/pts...717821208.html
you do want something like this (provided it can go large enough) :
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls...725630826.html
I still remember that bar/lever that goes over the center post coming back at me, and hitting me right between the eyes.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,910
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Regarding the OP, I'm interested too in what prices guys are asking on the newer type machines. I looked around for several years but could never find one that I could justify paying the high asking price. About twenty years ago I finally said to hell with it and just welded up a manual changer stand, and have done dozens of tires on it over the years, ranging from 15" to 18". It's good exercise, and I save myself 10-15 bucks each time I need to fix or swap a tire. I've also got a simple bubble balancer that's served me well over the years on both my daily driver vehicles and my track wheels for the Corvette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,004
Likes: 104
From: NC
Yeah, I remember that. I did close to a thousand tires with one of those machines in my teens and early twenties (I used to put a chalk mark on the wall after every tire I pulled or replaced on a rim). The bead bar always scared the hell outta me, and I always one hand on it in case it wanted to fly off.
Regarding the OP, I'm interested too in what prices guys are asking on the newer type machines. I looked around for several years but could never find one that I could justify paying the high asking price. About twenty years ago I finally said to hell with it and just welded up a manual changer stand, and have done dozens of tires on it over the years, ranging from 15" to 18". It's good exercise, and I save myself 10-15 bucks each time I need to fix or swap a tire. I've also got a simple bubble balancer that's served me well over the years on both my daily driver vehicles and my track wheels for the Corvette.
Regarding the OP, I'm interested too in what prices guys are asking on the newer type machines. I looked around for several years but could never find one that I could justify paying the high asking price. About twenty years ago I finally said to hell with it and just welded up a manual changer stand, and have done dozens of tires on it over the years, ranging from 15" to 18". It's good exercise, and I save myself 10-15 bucks each time I need to fix or swap a tire. I've also got a simple bubble balancer that's served me well over the years on both my daily driver vehicles and my track wheels for the Corvette.
It paid for itself twice over in not only $ but the time to take tires to a shop.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,910
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I picked up a manual changer and a nomar bar and goodies few years back. For something I don't use often the extra time it takes to change a tire doesn't justify the costs of a regular changer.
It paid for itself twice over in not only $ but the time to take tires to a shop.
It paid for itself twice over in not only $ but the time to take tires to a shop.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 210
From: Detroit MI
I have an Atlas TC411 rim clamp machine that I split the cost with two other guys about 10 years ago or so for about $600 off ebay. It's not the best machine, but it does the job for just about anything I need to do. It will accommodate 18x12's and 335's, and also accommodates the large diameter of my truck tires. I've saved a ton of money over the years mounting my own tires. I typically don't bother balancing my race tires, but for anything that needs balancing I'll just take them in after I've mounted the tires.
edit: The machine could take on wider wheels with a spacer added between the arm and base.
edit: The machine could take on wider wheels with a spacer added between the arm and base.
Last edited by 69autoXr; Oct 26, 2018 at 11:38 AM.