Tire machine recommendations

[Frankenchevy]

Looking at opinions for new or used tire machines. Looking to keep it under $1000 if possible.

I’ve been eyeing a Coats 20/20. Is this a decent basic machine?

 

[squaredeal91]

Those are good for most but not as good for aluminum wheels for scratching reasons. If you can try to find an overhead style machine. They are much more versatile and can mount/dismount wheels with reverse drop and do larger wheels h tires.
Heck I wish I had any kind of tire machine myself so if its a good deal id jump on it and maybe upgrade later.

 

[Sad Sack]

20/20 is ok, a 40/40 is newer and a little better. These are best for steel wheels. Overhead style is optimal for aftermarket wheels but pricey.

 

[legopnuematic]

It seems that the Chinese knockoff Coats rim clamp machines work well enough and priced well. Same for the balancers.

A Corghi touch-less machine is way overkill, but a super nice machine (and price reflects that)

 

[legopnuematic]

Talk about tire machines reminds me of this:

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[fast 99]

Coats post machines will only work on 17" and smaller wheels. I just tried an 18"on a 40-40A didn't work. Bottom spoon will not clear wheel bead. That being said they do make nylon protectors for the tire bar. Aluminum and even TPMS can be done if careful, have done it. Lots of lube.

Been looking a rim clamp machines. Name brand machines seem to be in the 6-9k range or more. Much too expensive for occasional use. There are a few available used on various sites but after being around a tire shop there's no way I would buy a used machine unless tested first. They are complicated machines with lots of parts to wear out and break. There are prone to problems. Shop I work at has 3, enough to back up the back up. Owner won't sell me the oldest one.

 

[Normmus]

I had a Coats 20 20 for a while, sold it because I wasn't using it enough to justify the space it occupied. It was ok but if was buying now I would get the knockoff chinese overhead type. The tire guy who installed my last set had one and according to him the name brand parts fit on it

 

[89Suburban]

Sub'd to this thread.

 

[Sad Sack]

Coats post machines will only work on 17" and smaller wheels. I just tried an 18"on a 40-40A didn't work. Bottom spoon will not clear wheel bead. That being said they do make nylon protectors for the tire bar. Aluminum and even TPMS can be done if careful, have done it. Lots of lube.

Been looking a rim clamp machines. Name brand machines seem to be in the 6-9k range or more. Much too expensive for occasional use. There are a few available used on various sites but after being around a tire shop there's no way I would buy a used machine unless tested first. They are complicated machines with lots of parts to wear out and break. There are prone to problems. Shop I work at has 3, enough to back up the back up. Owner won't sell me the oldest one.

Good info to know on the 40/40 about wheel size, thanks.

 

[edgephoto]

The old Coats machines work great on stock wheels, especially steel ones. Before you inflate the tire loosen the big nut.

In the 80s when I started my career the dealer I worked at had a Coats 10/10 and we used it on the Volvo alloy wheels and the Ford cars and trucks up to E/F350 with no issues. On the Volvo alloys if you did not loosen the big nut before inflating the tire it would break the center of the wheel.

I opened my own shopping 1991 and had a Coats 10/10. Within a couple years wheels were changing and it no longer was good. We bought a Coats rim clamp. I forget the model. It did well but the newer wheels (20" +) are a bitch even with the state of the art Hunter or Corghi machines. Tires have such low sidewalls there is no flex which makes it difficult.

If you want a machine figure out what your use is and buy what works.

 

[Frankenchevy]

If you want a machine figure out what your use is and buy what works.

Besides trailer wheels and tires…15-18” wheels with 31-40” tires. Maybe the occasional lower profile car tire.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

My coats 20/20 works pretty good. Definitely can be rough on the wheel lips. I believe the biggest tire it would do is a 36, mayyyyyybe a 37. For the bead breaker to work "properly". Wouldn't do anything but steel without a well thought out lip protector setup.

This is a 35x12.50r15, just about maxed out on diameter.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[78C10BigTen]

Ive used an old 40/40 at work alot... max to 17" maybe 18 depending on tire profile. Idk about wheel abuse bc we scrap the alum wheels we take them off of so... But ive un mounted and mounted my own wheels on it and am happy with it.

 

[Ricko1966]

Besides trailer wheels and tires…15-18” wheels with 31-40” tires. Maybe the occasional lower profile car tire.

If you aren't going to be doing a lot of tires,a 60.00 harbor freight manual machine with $100.00 worth of mods is hard to beat for the price. IMHO they are worthless garbage as they come. But after adding a good bead breaker to it ($40 from speedway) and a Duckbill kit to it ($60.00) ebay and drilling the base for lugs to hold the wheel down,and welding the mounting base and mounting it to something very Solid. They work pretty good and should do everything you mentioned.

 

[Old Guy Bill]

The 40-40 was the one to get... but that was a long time ago...
My pal has two of them they both need repair/parts but it isn't economical because they won't do the majority of today's wheels.