Tire mounting machines

G

gran racing

Super Moderator
I'm getting quite tired of paying ~ $25 per tire for mounting & aligning. There are a couple of places that will do it for less, but they also involve a 1/2 hour drive, drop them off and come back another day. In the end the cost savings is minimal when everything is factored and just not worth it.

On the sandbox someone had a similar thread, and this system was mentioned:
http://rogerkrausracing.com/pages/rkrmountingsystem.html

I spoke with the shop and they deal with several race teams who use them at the track such as Indy Lites. For just myself, it's probably not the smartest investment considering the break even time frame. The other big factor if is just how challenging it would be to mount 14" 225s on 6" rims using that or other similar machines. Anyone here have experience with that or other similar machines?

I also looked through Craigslist and eBaymotors to see what air powered units might be available, but nothing at a semi-reasonable price.

Anyone here mount their own tires?
 
I have a smaller/cheaper version of that & its a pain to use, except on small tires (wheel-barrow, etc). I have a local shop that lets me mount/balance for free if I do it. However, I go to Walmart. They charge me $5 to mount & $5 to balance. I drop them off, shop, & they are ready in an hour. You would have to mount a lot of tires to get your money back on a machine, not to mention loss of garage space.
 
I got a deal with a local store of a major chain. I put their logo on my car, list them as a sponsor on my entry forms, and put my car on display when they has a tent sale once or twice a year, and he mounts and balances all my tires, free. I also gave him a nice framed picture of the car to hang in the store.
 
Andy Bettencourt said:
Kessler has no tire machine?
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Nope. It's neither cost-effective nor time-effective to bust and balance your own tires. You *may* save money in the long run, but it's a time-sucker. Find someone local willing to cut you a deal and use your time better spent on more important things. See "comparative advantage".
 
gran racing said:
Plus he doesn't have a rental fleet. I can see it making sense for your shop though Andy.
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What if you 5 went in on it? Then you can change your own tires and save the money if you have the extra time...and he can bill people for his work. $25 per tire is like $200/hour.
 
Andy Bettencourt said:
What if you 5 went in on it?
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You assume all five of us have that kind of motivation... ;) I don't want to bust my own tires, Jeremy barely has time to piss let alone work on the car, Jeff's too...ahem..."busy" with his girlfriend, and Kessler can make a lot more money doing others things.

Now, if Dave is willing to do all the work for all five of us, then hell yeah I'm in for a fifth!

;)
 
I bought a used machine last year for $600. and a HF balancer for $60.
Takes no time to change tires and it beats Humping tires to someones shop!:rolleyes:
Lots of guys who sell machines take old units in trade.
 
I have a HF machine that is now 5 or 6 years old and still going strong. My dad & I went in on it together and between the two of us doing race & street tires for ourselves I considered to be well paid off (I used $5 per tire on or off for my math). I think that we paid about $1200 for it delivered.

The balancer is a bubble type, I think it came from Northern Equipment. Not expensive. Works fine for race tires, some street car tires are a bit bumpy at 75mph+, but most are OK.

Once you get the hang of it, it doesn't take that much time and it is so much handier than having to lug the tires somewhere, then go back & pick them up. Yes it takes time, but from start to finish, how long does it take to make two trips to the tire shop? I like it from the perspective that I can do it when ever I need to, not at someone elses schedule or will.
 
I bought a HF mounter/balancer for $999.00 each Plus a 20% coupon, $1600 plus tax.... BUT i own a Biz and sell tires.......They seam to be good tools! had them for 2 years now....
 
There are two Walmarts near me and neither do anything with tires. Called a bunch of shops, spoke with owners, offered cash....least expensive I found is $16 per tire but they want to see the tires first. Their hours suck though. Couldn't make it before work or after. Maybe on a Saturday.
 
I do Race Tires for beer usually...... I know I am not the only shop owner that races & drinks.....Use Beer to initiate the proposal when you walk in to an independent shop W/tire machine...... Smaller shop the better......
 
I bought a used tire mounting machine last fall, $500. quickly de-greased and sanded. Painted it with a hammer finish. Looks brand new. Last month I bought a used Electric high speed balancer, $450. Painted that also. It will take 10-12 sets before it pays for itself but it is so nice to own. There were some set of tires that were not good enough to race but good for track days and practice. But having to pay someone to mount and dismount made it not worth saving them. Now I can save tires that still have life in them and mount them at no cost.
 
everytime i look at doing this i then ask myself "and just where would you put this in the magically shrinking garage?"
 
My local tire shop sold me their old rim clamp machine cheap if I promised to never show up with another cantilever slick to mount on a 6" rim. 10 years ago and still paying for itself. They usually get 300-500 trade in so they are happy to sell you their old stuff.
 
"and just where would you put this in the magically shrinking garage?"
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My wife often asks me when did our basement become another garage? That's where a tire mounting machine would go at my house.

What places besides Craigs list and eBay are good for finding a decent used tire mounting / balancing machine?
 
Dave
Call TEC in N. Attleboro MA, Glen, he's a racer as well.
888.594.7800 they sell new and may have tradeins.
 
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