Tire Machine?
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Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 82
Likes: 8
From: Pittsburgh PA
Tire Machine?
I’m looking to add a tire changing machine to my garage. I’ve been doing a ton of research and it seems doing Corvette wheels and ZP tires does not fit many brands. So I got the brilliant idea to ask my C7 brethren, do any of you have a rig in your garage that you would recommend?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: NEW WINDSOR NY
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Hope you can find what you are looking for - Hunter is the best and perhaps you could find a used one in good condition at a reasonable price. Surely some tire store/dealership is ready to upgrade from their existing machine and can offer a good price on a machine that can handle a Corvette wheel.
8th Gear
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Antelope Valley
So I have the Ebay Mayflower/xk usa tire changer with the helper arm. It works well on regular sidewalls, but those stiff sidewalls are a pain in the ***. It doesn't have any problems breaking the beads and removing the tires on the stiff sidewalls, but mounting them is troublesome, plus I'm still learning.
Just for reference, I have the Kolbalt quiet tech 26 gallon air compressor. I can demount a full tire with the bead breaker with the air compressor turning on halfway through, but I'm able to continue working. The turn table is controlled electrically and the clamps are pneumatic. The machine itself takes up the same space as a washer machine.
The best thing to get would be the center mount that that has the leverless demount head. It will do much of the work for you. Obviously their very expensive. If not getting that, get one with a helper arm.
I have the harbor freight bubble balancer. That thing works like a charm. Maybe one day if I feel the need I'll buy a balancer machine.
I don't have a corvette yet, so I don't have any experience changing those tires.
Just for reference, I have the Kolbalt quiet tech 26 gallon air compressor. I can demount a full tire with the bead breaker with the air compressor turning on halfway through, but I'm able to continue working. The turn table is controlled electrically and the clamps are pneumatic. The machine itself takes up the same space as a washer machine.
The best thing to get would be the center mount that that has the leverless demount head. It will do much of the work for you. Obviously their very expensive. If not getting that, get one with a helper arm.
I have the harbor freight bubble balancer. That thing works like a charm. Maybe one day if I feel the need I'll buy a balancer machine.
I don't have a corvette yet, so I don't have any experience changing those tires.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 910
Likes: 431
From: MN
I swap between all season and snow tires on my SQ5, have them on separate rims so only need to 'mount' tires every 4-5 years. Makes more sense to drop $1000 on a second set of rims than much more on the machines, when the local shop mounts tires for very little $$$.
On the other hand, we go through lots of motorcycle tires, which are far easier to change, so it made sense to spend a couple hundred on HF changer and various tools.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,984
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From: Bonneville Salt Flats
As a many decade racer who never needed my own tire machine, I cannot help but wonder what you are doing that requires one at home? Just curious... 
Good luck with whatever you're up to. 
Good luck with whatever you're up to.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,817
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From: Blacksburg Va
Before I retired 10 yrs ago I was an auto tech and did all our tires of course. At the time the most difficult ones I did were Hoosier A7 autocross tires in 315-30/17. Tough work tires were the first runflats on the Lexus SC430. I hate paying $35 per to have tires done but even if I could afford that Hunter machine I don't think I'd bother. These low profile stiff sidewall are a b---h. So I find a good guy and take care of him w/ tips.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2022
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From: Indiana
When i swapped rims I was charged a bit more from my local guy. Saw me gander at the receipt a bit. Said he had to charge me extra because my tires (C7 Z51) took two people to get mounted and more time. Then "To put it simply, they're a real bitch". I had to laugh.
You can afford to have an awful lot of tires done for the cost of a tire machine.
You can afford to have an awful lot of tires done for the cost of a tire machine.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI
That might take another machine? Unless you want to do the bubble and balance thing. Seriously, unless you are doing a lot of tires, IDK how it is ever going to pay for itself. Even if I can get a good one for $2000, I would have to do a lot of them to make it worth it.
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I can vouch for the fact that low profile/run flat tires are a bitch to install even with a quality machine
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
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From: Toronto
I had to get a plug a few years ago. Went to my favorite tire shop. Got there and he saw 30 series run flat and said he wouldnt do it until their Hunter machine was fixed. They were doing jobs with their older machine in the interim but will not do run flats with it. Too high risk of additional labour cost and potential damage to rims.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 3,856
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From: nashville TN
went to a quality shop to have the runflats removed for a set of contis. machine never touched the rims I was there watching. when all said and done the r/f tires themselves chipped the paint on the rim edge on all 4 wheels! cant blame the tech he did as careful a job as he could. the machine did what bit was supposed to do. the tight sidewall tires just would not cooperate.
Race Director
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From: SE WI
Team Owner
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From: Hartford WI
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2019
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From: Silicon Valley
This. So much this.
OP, let me say something and I hope to hell this sinks in deep. I am a professional auto technician. I have mounted and balanced hundreds if not thousands of tires over my quarter century long career. I currently am an exotic car dealership technician and deal with almost nothing but very wide and low profile tires. Last time I did the two rear (335/25-20) ZP tires on my own Corvette was the hardest I’ve struggled with tires in a long time. I used a Hunter Auto34S, which I believe cost the shop just under $20k. I have super high shop air pressure. I have very good tire mounting lube. And still it was a nerve racking struggle.
If Corvette run flats are this big of a hassle for a seasoned professional using the best equipment, just what are you hoping to accomplish in your garage with a budget tire machine?
Save your money and just live with the fact that this is not a thing you can do yourself.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Hartford WI