Have a track car and need to change tires frequently? Or maybe your workshop needs a new tire changer? Here are the best ones we could find!
If you live in a cold-weather climate, know your way around cars and own a garage, it’s very likely that changing tires is part of your scheduled maintenance a least twice a year. And of course, the same goes for professional mechanics working in independent repair shops and dealerships — installing winter tires on new cars sold or replacing them on returning customers’ cars is an important source of income, being a large part of the workload, especially before and after winter.
Consequently, being able to rely on a good tire changer can really make the difference between a good and a bad “tire season.” Indeed, specific models come with several features aimed at speeding up the process, increasing the user’s productivity, and in all honesty, just making your life much easier. Installing low-profile tires on big and shiny 18″ wheels is already a hassle enough not to have to do it using an old piece of machinery, always on the verge of scratching that precious chrome finish. Thankfully, those days are behind us now, and you can easily pick up a tire changer more than capable to do most of the heavy lifting for you.
However, tire changers aren’t cheap, and when making such a significant investment, it is essential to take a minute to think about what you really need and how much you can spare. Hence, we have curated and reviewed 7 of the best tire changers available online to ensure your hard-earned money doesn’t go to waste.
As usual, we tried hard to include models from all ends of the spectrum and ensure there is a little something for each and every one of you — no matter whether you change tires twice a year or 40 hours a week in the shop.
1.APO-300 Semi-Automatic Swing Arm Tire Changer
The APO-300 tyre changer is a swing-arm style tire changer designed for home garages and light use in repair shops. It employs an electro-pneumatic system to assist you in changing tires efficiently. So, in theory, all you have to do is press a few pedals and watch the magic happen (it’s a bit more complicated than that but you get the point).
More specifically, the APO-300 tyre changer comes with four pneumatic clamps and a side-mounted bead breaker capable of exerting 5,500 lbs. of force to separate even the stickiest beads from any wheel. It also comes with all the other parts and hardware for the pneumatic system, including a water separator, lubricator, and pressure regulator to ensure it lasts for years to come.
Worth mentioning, you can use Titan’s tire machine to change tires up to 37.8″ in diameter, provided the wheel diameter is between 12″-21″ for inside mounting and between 10”-18” for outside jaw mounting — pretty much a standard in the automotive industry.
Titan’s APO-300 tyre changer tire changing machine is super easy to use, thanks to the common but quite efficient swing-arm design and rugged clamps to hold the tire securely at all times. Of course, this design is nothing new and if you’ve worked in a repair shop before, you’ve probably used one like this at some point.
The APO Automotive is your standard run-of-the-mill tire changer for personal and occasional professional use and that’s pretty much all there is to say about it. Still, it may not come with fancy features, but it does the job and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. If you are looking for a pretty decent model for a small repair shop or a residential garage, this model is well worth considering. On the other hand, if you run a tire shop and change tires day in, day out, we have better ones for you below.
Highlighted features
- Electro-pneumatic swing-arm style tire changer
- Max, tire diameter: 37.8”
- Max. wheel diameter: 10”-21” (o.d.) and 12”-21” (i.d.)
- Operating pressure: 116-145 PSI
- Tire changer dimensions: 71.5” x 38” x 31.5”
Pros
- Comes with a water separator, lubricator, and pressure regulator
- Easy to operate
- Four pneumatic clamps for secure mounting
- Budget semi-automatic tire changer
- One-year limited replacement parts warranty
Cons
- Might be a bit basic
2. APO-302IT Economic Swing-Arm Tire Changer
In many ways, APO-302IT tire changer bears a striking resemblance to the previous model; both use a swing-arm style architecture with four pneumatic clamps and accept the exact same tire sizes. The similarities don’t stop there; even the pneumatic system is pretty much the same, with double-acting cylinders mounted below the turntable to operate the clamps. You also get a bead breaker attachment on the side to separate the tire from the wheel before mounting it on the turntable surface.
The APO-302IT tire changer can accommodate tires up to 38″ in diameter with wheel width falling anywhere between 3″-11″. You can clamp the wheel from the inside if its diameter is between 12″ and 21″ and outside clamping is also possible within the 10″-18″ wheel diameter range — I told you they were quite similar, right?
To be honest, those two are pretty much interchangeable. They are both good at what they do and are some of the most common models in repair shops out there. The design may be a bit outdated but it’s been more than tested and retested again.
Overall, the APO-302IT tire changer is extremely easy to use, won’t break the bank, and will last you for years. I wouldn’t really recommend it for heavy-duty industrial use, but it is perfectly suited for home garages and small repair shops looking for a budget tire changer.
Highlighted features
- Electro-pneumatic swing-arm style tire changer
- Max. tire diameter: 38”
- Max. wheel diameter: 10”-18” (o.d.) and 12”-21” (i.d.)
- Operating pressure: 125 PSI
- Tire changer dimensions: 74.33” x 33.46” x 49.21”
Pros
- Great budget option
- Perfect for home garages or light-duty use
- Comes with necessary accessories
- Tested-and-true swing-arm design
- Easy mounting and dismounting of the tire
- Add-on accessories available
- High-pressure bead breaker on the side
Cons
- Cannot change motorcycle or ATV tires
3. APO-3256 Leverless Tire Changer — Premium Pick
The APO-3256 is as close as you can get to a fully-automatic tire changer and features a three-function assist arm to help you dismount low-profile and other challenging tires in a jiffy. Indeed, while other tire changers require the use of a metal bar to pull out the tire from under the lip (which can be quite dangerous at times), the synthetic rollers present on the support arm will hold the tire wall back while the duck seats or unseats the bead from the wheel — magic!
If you still aren’t impressed by the APO-3256, wait till you hear about its party trick. Just like every other model, our tire changer comes with four pneumatic clamps to mount your tire securely; however, these clamps feature powerful integrated bead blaster jets to seat the bead after mounting the new tire — and yes, I know that every tire changer mentioned above also has integrated bead seaters, but they’re not even close to this one. The powerful bead blasters on this model are just otherworldly and they work like wonders.
If your repair or tire shop specializes in working on low-profile, run-flat, off-road, or stretch tires, Tuxedo’s leverless tire changer is by far your best bet. The additional assist arm eliminates the need for a loose metal bar and makes your work environment significantly safer for you and the expensive wheels.
Highlighted features
- Electro-pneumatic tilt-back style leverless tire changer
- Max. tire diameter: 41”
- Max. wheel diameter: 11”-24” (o.d.) and 13”-26” (i.d.)
- Operating pressure: 115-145 PSI
- Tire changer dimensions: 58.2” x 41.3” x 41.3”
Pros
- Convenient and easy-to-use tilt-back design
- Three-function assist arm for effortless operation
- Bead blaster jets integrated within all four clamps
- 5,500 lbs. of bead breaking force
Cons
- Occupies significant real estate
- On the pricier side
