When you're looking to get staff trained in doing the work needed on a customer's automobile in record time, you'll want them to have good training on equipment like tire changers. Although the real "tire changers" are the people who do the job every day, they are assisted by manual tire changer machines that also shoulder some of the load with features that neatly accomplish various parts of this often tedious task.

A good solid mechanic's course, involving tire changing machines as part of a comprehensive overview in repairs, can be just the ticket for this kind of training. Business leaders looking for solutions online can find:

1. Programs from colleges and related types of schools on using portable tire changer machines and other gear.

2. More from trade schools and vocational training venues.

3. Public web info from blogs and articles, including some on using specialty machines like motorcycle tire changer tools or other changers for diverse vehicles.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find courses on the use of tire changers from colleges and other schools

Lots of colleges and schools in nearly every U.S. state have legitimate programs on training auto mechanics for the tools they use every day. Find programs that focus on vehicle tire changer tools and other aspects of dealing with rotating, balancing, aligning and patching tires to keep road-worthy cars on the road.

I recommend: Find detailed information about many aspects of the tire changer's job as well as pointers toward some educational programs at EarnMyDegree. Find more from sites like the career match guide at Wisconsin Mentor.

Get more from trade schools for tire changers vocational training

Other trade schools offer more in programs for auto mechanics who may regularly use a pneumatic tire changer or other similar tool. Find out what critical aspects of working with tires are covered in these courses, including new balancing and aligning technologies that your staff may be called to work with in the field.

I recommend: Choose from many trade schools across the nation at Trade Schools Directory to find one that handles courses on heavy duty tire changer tools and other aspects of auto repair. Find more at Directory of Schools.

Look for info on tire changers from info pages

The web also offers a diverse set of guides and instructional pages on tire changers and other equipment. Use these to get tips on what various types of tire changers do, what various models look like and how they are built.

I recommend: Get info in choosing the best tire changer parts from this online article. Get an overview of tire changers and visuals from the page at Yahoo!Glue.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For any kind of tire changers education and training, make sure that applicable OSHA and federal safety standards are addressed. Part of training new workers on tire changing machine equipment is dealing with any safety issues that can be reasonably expected during the course of the job.

As time passes, tire changers become more sophisticated, so that tire changing is as easy as possible for the operator. This means that it's now easier than ever to improve your service and boost revenue.

Many people who own a tire shop also provide on-call services for people who need a tire changed or repaired after hours. This applies to both vehicle and motorcycle drivers. Therefore, if you have a manual portable tire changer and a motorcycle tire changer you will have more customers, conduct on-call sessions more efficiently and be more profitable.

1. Find tire changer suppliers who offer high quality industrial tire changing machine for use inside your tire shop.

2. Use a portable tire changer to make on-call service jobs more efficient.

3. Buy a motorcycle tire changing machine so that you can offer additional services and therefore get more customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase an industrial tire changing machine for use in your shop to perform work quickly and easily

Because tire shops charge by the job, the quicker you can finish tire changes the more money you will make. Therefore, purchase a heavy duty tire changer that will almost automate the entire tire changing process for you.

I recommend: Look at the selection offered by Hunter Engineering Company. Their tire changers have many different capabilities and features to meet your needs. You can also purchase the tire changer parts and accessories you need for your Hunter tire changer. Compare prices with those quoted by America's Pride Inc., which offers wholesale prices.

Use a portable tire changer to change customer's flat tires out on the road

Increase your profit margin by providing on-call services after hours to customers with flat tires. To provide these services, you will need a quality portable tire changer.

I recommend: Harbor Freight Tools, which began doing business in 1965, offers an inexpensive portable tire changer that has the ability to handle tires of various sizes. Consider the manual tire changer sold by Northern Tool + Equipment, which you can use in your shop or during on-call services.

Meet the needs of more customers when you have a motorcycle tire changer

If you have a tire changer specifically made to change motorcycle tires, then you can change motorcycle tires in your shop or out on the road. Most of these tire changers have an attachment that allows you to stabilize them using your trailer hitch receiver.

I recommend: No-Mar Enterprises, LLC offers three different motorcycle tire changers, the least expensive of which is The Classic Model. You can affix it to the floor of your workroom, or use the portable hitch mount for on-call jobs. Consider the motorcycle tire changer offered by Wikco.Com Inc., which you can also affix in your garage, or carry in your work vehicle.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember to read the owner's manual for each tire changing machine that you purchase so that you know how to use them. In addition, make sure you use safety precautions so that you don't injure yourself or others.

When it's time to patch, replace or inspect a tire, you can take a vehicle to the shop or quickly take a look at it yourself. Businesses with a stake in either two- or four-wheel transport, especially those with considerable fleets, often use manual tire changers to help staff become good at fixing tires quickly. To become more familiar with these machines, take a look at some of the terms of the trade.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hitch mount

Many options for tire changers can fit onto the hitch of a truck for portability. This simple adaptation also allows for easier storage.

I recommend: Find examples of hitch-mount tire changers on this page at Web Bike World.

Mount/demount bar

Different tire changers have different types of systems. Some feature a 'mount bar' or similar piece of equipment for getting tires on and off rims. These bars can have different features for allowing extra care in working with rims.

I recommend: Take a look at how this No-Mar Mount/Demount bar includes specialized gear to avoid marking up rims.

Breaking the bead

Breaking the bead means separating the tire from the wheel flange. Breaking the bead on the tire is something that many tire changer users report as a problem spot. Online training guides can show how to accomplish this step in getting the tire off the rim.

I recommend: For more on breaking the bead, check out this YouTube clip.

Tire balancer

When a tire has been worked on, it will need to be rebalanced. Tire balancers do the work of getting tires calibrated correctly for normal wear on the road. The trick of tire balancing is a big part of running a great auto shop, and knowing about tire balancing issues helps staff diagnose a vehicle.

I recommend: Find guidance on tire balancer options at Wheel Balancing 101.

Rim clamp

The rim-clamp tire changer is a common model of this kind of machine that uses a 'clamping' piece to edge the tire off the rim. Lots of shops offer these models for doing quick and easy tire repair. Find out more with visual online pages that detail how this kind of tire changer works.

I recommend: Check out the Greg Smith Equipment Guide to Using a Rim Clamp Tire Changer for more on this type of device.

Motorcycle tire changer

These popular designs come in portable sizes that owners can haul around for fixing motorcycle wheels on the road.

I recommend: Take a look at motorcycle and multi-use tire changer designs and product info from Wicko.